Culture, freedom and economic growth: Do cultural values explain economic growth?

Economic freedom, the ability of a society to conduct business in an unfettered manner without government intrusion, is a key determinant of economic success, but national culture, too, is thought to play a significant role in shaping a nation's business environment. This article combines data from a benchmark report, the Index of Economic Freedom, with two competing measures of national culture to posit a significant relationship between measures of culture, economic freedom, and economic growth. We discuss the implications of this relationship for business and for further academic research.