The Heritage Foundation released today its 2018 Report on the Index of Economic Freedom, rating Macao’s economy as “mostly free” for the tenth consecutive year. The SAR’s overall score of economic freedom is 70.9, higher than 70.7 recorded in 2017 and well above the world and regional averages, making its economy the 34th freest among 180 economies. In the Asia-Pacific region, Macao is ranked 9th out of 43 economies, just behind Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Chinese Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.
Based on 12 attributes, the Report assesses the degree of economic freedom of individual economies around the world. Macao receives relatively high score in attributes such as fiscal health, government spending, trade freedom, investment freedom, tax burden, monetary freedom and financial freedom.
The Foundation’s 2018 Report says that as a free port, Macao has long benefited from global trade and investment. Other growth areas include finance, insurance, and real estate. The entrepreneurial environment is generally efficient and streamlined, and property rights are generally respected. Taxation is low and relatively efficient.