However, as the result of incomplete data, we were only able to derive summary ratings for 119 countries in 1997 and 111 in 1990. Data were assembled for each of the 25 components of the index. Since we wanted the ratings to be easily comparable across countries and time periods, they were placed on a scale from zero to 10.
Higher ratings are indicative of institutions and policies more consistent with economic freedom.
Countries with categorical characteristics more consistent with economic freedom are given higher ratings. For example, countries with few government enterprises are given higher ratings than those with widespread use of such enterprises. Vmax the maximum value for a country during the 1990 base year, and Vmin the minimum base-year value for the component. This formula is used to derive the ratings for all years. A country's rating will be close to 10 when its value for the component is near the base-year maximum.