Economic Freedom & Inequality : A Survey of the Empirical Literature

While economic freedom has been linked to positive outcomes such as economic growth and well-being, studies examining its relationship with income inequality have produced inconsistent results. The chapter reviews empirical research published in peer-reviewed journals indexed in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) that employ multidimensional measures of economic freedom. It also discusses studies that investigate specific dimensions of economic freedom, including private property rights, regulation, and privatization. In addition to economic inequality, the chapter highlights a growing body of research exploring the link between economic freedom and other forms of inequality, such as happiness, health, and gender and racial disparities