Economic Freedom: A No-Regrets Strategy to Reducing Global Energy Consumption

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 This empirical study exposes a relationship between greenhouse gas intensity, energy intensity and economic freedom. The level of a countrys economic freedom is a statistically significant and negative determinant of both energy intensity and greenhouse gas intensity. Countries with higher levels of economic freedom not only have more energy efficient and less carbon intensive economies, but over time these countries continue to decrease the amount of energy used and the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of production. The merits of free markets and economic prosperity should not be overlooked as a potential method for reducing carbon emissions