AREA 1A

GENERAL GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION SPENDING

AREA 1B

TRANSFERS AND SUBSIDIES AS PERCENTAGE OF GDP

AREA 1C

GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND INVESTMENT

AREA 1D

TOP MARGINAL TAX RATE

AREA 1Di

TOP MARGINAL INCOME TAX RATE

AREA 1Dii

TOP MARGINAL INCOME AND PAYROLL TAXES

This component is measured as general government

consumption spending as a percentage of total
consumption. The rating for this component is equal
to: (Vmax - Vi) / (Vmax - Vmin) multiplied by 10. The
Vi is the countrys actual government consumption
as a proportion of total consumption, while the Vmax
and Vmin were set at 40 and 6 respectively. The
1990 data were used to derive the maximum and
minimum values for this component. Countries with
a larger proportion of government expenditures
received lower ratings. In contrast, as the ratio
approaches the maximum value, the ratio moves
toward zero.

This component is measured as general government

transfers and subsidies as a share of GDP. The
rating for this component is equal to: (Vmax - Vi) /
(Vmax - Vmin) multiplied by 10. The Vi is the
countrys ratio of transfers and subsidies to GDP,
while the Vmax and Vmin values are set at 37.2 and
0.5 respectively. The 1990 data were used to derive
the maximum and minimum values for this
component. The formula will generate lower ratings
for countries with larger transfer sectors. When the
size of a countrys transfer sector approaches that of
the country with the largest transfer sector during
the 1990 benchmark year, the rating of the country
will approach zero.

Data on the number, composition, and share of

output supplied by State-Operated Enterprises
(SOEs) and government investment as a share of
total investment were used to construct the zero-to10 ratings. Countries with more government
enterprises and government investment received
lower ratings. When government investment was
generally less than 15% of total investment,
countries were given a rating of 10. When
government investment was between 15% and 20%
of the total, countries received a rating of 8. When
government investment was between 20% and 25%
of the total, countries were rated at 7. When
government investment was between 25% and 30%
of the total, countries were assigned a rating of 6.
When government investment was generally
between 30% and 40% of the total, countries
received a rating of 4. When government investment
was between 40% and 50% of the total, countries
were rated at 2. A rating of zero was assigned when
government investment exceeded 50% of total
investment. In cases where government investment
data were unavailable we used qualitative data on
the scope of SOEs to assign ratings. Also, in some
cases, this rating was estimated from the Global
Competitiveness Report questions: "State-owned
enterprises in your country: (1 = Play a dominant
role in the economy ; 7 = Have little or no role in the
economy)", and "State-owned enterprises in your
country: (1 = Are heavily favoured over private
sector competitors ; 7 = Compete on an equal basis
with the private sector)".
Top marginal tax rate (and income threshold to which it applies).
Countries with higher marginal tax rates that take effect at lower
income thresholds received lower ratings based on the matrix
below. The income threshold data were converted from local
currency to 1982/1984 US dollars (using beginning-of-year
exchange rates and the US Consumer Price Index). These figures
include sub-national rates if applicable.
Countries with higher marginal income and payroll (wage) tax
rates that take effect at lower income thresholds received lower
ratings based on the matrix below. The income threshold data
were converted from local currency to 1982/1984 US dollars
(using beginning-of-year exchange rates and the US Consumer
Price Index). These figures include sub-national rates if applicable.
United Nations National Accounts; European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, Transition Indicators.

Economic Freedom of the World

9/29/2014 9:58
For Country United States
1970
Area
Area
Area
Area
Area
Area

1A
1B
1C
1D
1Dii
1Di

1975

1980

1985

5.1
8
8
0

5.2
7.1
8
0

5.5
7.2
8
8.3
0

5.5
6.7
8
4

0
7.7

7.4

2000
General government consumption spending
Transfers and subsidies as a percentage of GDP (1B)
GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND INVESTMENT
Top marginal tax rate
Top marginal income and payroll tax rates
Top marginal income tax rate

7.1

2001

6.6
6.8
6.5
8
6.5
7
7
6.2
7
5.9

6.6
6.8
8
7
7
7

5.6
5.3
5
2000

2001

2002

2003

1990

1995
5.7
6.7
8
6.5
6
7

2002

2002

6.2
6.3
8
7
7
7

2003
6.5
6.7
8
7
7
7

2001

2000

2003

2001
6.6
6.5
8
7
7
7

2004
6.4
6.7
8
8
8
8

2004

6.6
6.8
8
7
7
7

2005
6.4
6.7
8
7.5
7
8

2005

2002

2006

6.5
6.7
8
7
7
7

2006
6.3
6.7
8
7.5
7
8

2007

2003

2008

6.4
6.7
8
8
8
8

2007
6.3
6.7
8
7.5
7
8

2009

6.3
6.7
8
8
8
8

2010

2011

Genera

Transfer

GOVERN

Top marg

Top marg

Top marg

010

2004

2005
6.4
6.7
8
7.5
7
8

2008

2006
6.3
6.7
8
7.5
7
8

2009

2007
6.3
6.7
8
7.5
7
8

2010

2008
6.3
6.7
8
8
8
8

2011

General government consumption spending

6.1
5.9
5.9
6
Transfers and subsidies as a percentage of GDP (1B)
6.4
5.9
5.7
5.8
GOVERNMENT
ENTERPRISES
AND7INVESTMENT 8
8
7
Top
7 marginal tax rate
7
7
7.5
Top
marginal
income
and
payroll
tax
rates
7
7
7
7
Top
marginal
income
tax
rate
7
7
7
8

2011

2009
6.1
6.4
8
7
7
7

5.9
5.9
7
7
7
7

2010

2011
5.9
5.7
7
7
7
7

6
5.8
8
7.5
7
8

Economic Freedom of the World

9/29/2014 9:57
For Country United States
1970
NY.GDP.PCAP.KD
GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
GC.XPN.GSRV.ZS
MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS
GC.XPN.TRFT.ZS
GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS
GC.TAX.GSRV.RV.ZS
GC.TAX.YPKG.RV.ZS
GC.TAX.INTT.RV.ZS
GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS

20,548.00

1975
22,395.90

1980
25,509.50

1985
28,562.10

1990

1995

2000

31,898.50

33,874.00

39,545.00

5.30%

3.80%

3.00%

2001
39,583.60
19.60%
12.60%
3.10%
62.30%
12.50%
3.20%
56.70%
1.00%
32.40%

2002
39,935.00
20.40%
13.40%
3.40%
63.30%
10.40%
3.50%
52.10%
1.10%
43.50%

2003
40,603.90
21.00%
14.30%
3.70%
62.90%
9.80%
3.50%
51.30%
1.10%
46.20%

2004
41,629.70
20.90%
15.10%
3.90%
62.00%
10.00%
3.50%
51.70%
1.10%
47.10%

2005
42,516.40
21.20%
12.70%
4.00%
63.60%
11.20%
3.20%
55.30%
1.10%
47.30%

2006
43,228.10
21.10%
12.80%
4.00%
63.90%
11.90%
2.80%
57.00%
1.00%
46.50%

2007
43,635.60
21.40%
12.50%
4.00%
63.50%
11.90%
2.40%
57.40%
1.10%
46.80%

2008
43,069.60
23.10%
12.90%
4.40%
62.80%
10.40%
2.60%
53.30%
1.20%
55.50%

2009
41,366.30
26.50%
12.10%
4.80%
65.00%
8.50%
3.00%
47.50%
1.00%
67.70%

2010
42,001.00
26.90%
12.40%
4.80%
66.10%
9.20%
2.80%
50.20%
1.20%
76.80%

2011
42,446.80
26.10%
12.10%
4.70%
65.60%
10.10%
3.00%
54.90%
1.30%
81.80%

2012

2013