Report Emphasizes Connection Between Property Rights and Economic Well-Being

2010 International Property Rights Index ranks 125 nations, 97 percent of world's GDP

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Property Rights Alliance is proud to announce the release of the 2010 International Property Rights Index (IPRI), which measures the intellectual and physical property rights of 125 nations from around the world.  This year, sixty-two international organizations partnered with the Property Rights Alliance and its Hernando de Soto Fellowship program to produce the fourth annual IPRI. 

The IPRI uses three primary areas of property rights to create a composite score: Legal and Political Environment (LP), Physical Property Rights (PPR), and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).  Most importantly, the IPRI emphasizes the great economic differences between countries with strong property rights and those without.  Nations falling in the first quintile enjoy an average national GDP per capita of $35,676, almost double that of the second quintile with an average of $20,087.  The third, fourth, and fifth quintiles average $9,375, $4,699, and $4,437 respectively.

"With regard to private property rights, PRA continues to champion the idea that physical and intellectual property are equally important in nature, and must be protected," states Kelsey Zahourek, PRA executive director. "Property rights contribute to increased levels of stability and provide people with the knowledge and comfort that their property will remain theirs."

Hernando de Soto, whose work in property rights lead to the inception of the IPRI, commented on the 2010 publication: "The fourth edition of the IPRI reveals encouraging signs of improvement in some countries, while also bringing attention to disturbing trends in others." 

The International Property Rights Index will provide the public, researchers and policymakers, from across the globe, with a tool for comparative analysis and future research on global property rights. The Index seeks to assist underperforming countries to develop robust economies through an emphasis on sound property law.

For more information, or to view the 2010 IPRI in its entirety, please visit www.propertyrightsalliance.org.

The 2010 IPRI International Partners include:

Adriatic Institute for Public Policy, Croatia -- Albanian Socio Economic Think Tank, Albania -- Alternate Solutions Institute, Pakistan -- Asociacion de Consumidores Libres, Costa Rica -- Austrian Economics Center, Austria -- Bishkek Business Club, Kyrgyz Republic -- Cathay Institute of Public Affairs, China -- CEDICE, Venezuela -- CEED, Montenegro -- Center for Free Enterprise, Korea -- CADI, Romania -- CLDS, Serbia -- Center for Mozambican and International Studies, Mozambique -- CIDAC, Mexico -- CEDAH, Burkina Faso -- Centre for Civil Society, India -- Centre for Policy Research, India -- CIIMA-ESEADE, Argentina -- Civita, Norway -- Competere, Italy -- EBI Think Tank Institute, Mongolia -- Eudoxa, Sweden -- European Coalition for Economic Growth, Austria -- F. A. Hayek Foundation, Slovakia -- F.A. v. Hayek Institut, Austria -- The Free Market Foundation, South Africa -- Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Germany -- Frontier Centre for Public Policy, Canada -- Fundacion Atlas 1853, Argentina -- Fundacion IDEA, Mexico -- Fundacion Libertad, Argentina -- Fundacion Libertad, Panama -- IMANI Center for Policy and Education, Ghana -- Initiative for Public Policy Analysis, Nigeria -- Institut Constant de Rebecque, Switzerland -- IDEAS, Malaysia• Institute for Free Enterprise (IUF), Germany -- Institute of Future Studies for Development, Thailand -- Institute for Market Economics, Bulgaria -- Institute for Public Affairs, Australia -- Instituto de Libre Empresa, Peru -- Instituto Liberdade, Brazil -- International Policy Network, United Kingdom -- International Research Foundation, Oman -- IIER, Iraq -- Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies, Israel -- Liberales Institut, Switzerland -- Libertad y Desarrollo, Chile -- Liberty Institute, India -- Limited Government, Nepal -- The Lion Rock Institute, Hong Kong -- Ludwig von Mises Institute, Poland -- Minimal Government Thinkers, Inc., Philippines -- The Nassau Institute, The Bahamas -- New Economic School, Georgia -- New Zealand Business Roundtable, New Zealand -- OHRID Institute, Macedonia -- Pal-Think for Strategic Studies, Palestine -- PAFERE, Poland -- Property Rights Alliance, United States -- Timbro, Sweden -- The Ukrainian Reform Support Foundation, Ukraine -- ZIPPA, Zambia

CONTACT: John Kartch, Property Rights Alliance, +1-202-785-0266, [email protected]

SOURCE Property Rights Alliance