Botswana scored 70.6 percent in the index, making its economy the 30th freest in the world. Mauritius is pegged at 76.9 percent.The Index of Economic Freedom measures economic freedom of 185 countries based on trade freedom, business freedom, investment freedom, and property rights.Botswana's overall score is 1.0 point better than last year, primarily due to continuing improvements in interventions against corruption and the management of government spending.
"Botswana's levels of economic freedom are consistently among the region's best. Its economy is diversifying, in large part because of foreign investment attracted by low taxes, political stability, and an educated work force. Botswana continues to set an example in the management of large endowments of natural resources," reads the report in part.The report further says the country's level of corruption is the lowest in Africa. "An independent judiciary enforces contracts effectively and protects property rights," the report reads in part. The country's competitiveness is underpinned by a relatively efficient regulatory environment and free trade policies while diamonds, the main contributor to the country's economy, have ensured adequate flows of foreign exchange, says the report. "The financial sector is fairly well developed, with an independent central bank and little government intervention. Although public debt remains low, the government has undertaken fiscal consolidation to reduce high deficits following the global economic slowdown."
