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Overcoming the Financial and Economic Crisis: The Rule of Law as the Key to Economic Freedom

The 2009 annual international conference of the Economic Freedom Network Asia was held at Siem Reap, the ancient and exciting city of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Over a 100 participants representing academia, think-tanks, industry, policy-makers, youth and others from almost 20 countries came together to network and exchange.

Set against the current global economic crisis, the theme of this year’s Conference was “Overcoming the Financial and Economic Crisis: The Rule of Law as the Key to Economic Freedom”.

The Conference was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Cambodia, H. E. Keat Chhon (duly representing the Prime Minister, H.E. Somdech Akka Moha Sena padei Techo HUN SEN) who warned to clearly distinguish between Rule of Law and Rule of Man.

The two-day Conference included keynote address, presentations from international Prof. White delivering the keynote address
Prof. White delivering the keynote address scholars and exhibitions. The Cambodian edition of the Economic Freedom Index of the World was also launched. Prof. Lawrence White from the George Mason University delivered the keynote address. Major presentations were made by Mark Mullins, former director of Fraser Institute-Canada and Michael Walker, a close associate of Milton Friedman-the creator of the Economic Freedom Index. From South Asia, Swaminathan Aiyar (CATO Institute), and Parth J. Shah (Centre for Civil Society) and Yavnika Khanna (Liberal Youth Forum) were the prominent speakers. In addition, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were also represented at the Conference.

This year, the Conference employed the Open Space Technology (OST) facilitation method, which Dr. Parth J. Shah, panelist from South Asia
Dr. Parth J. Shah, panelist from South Asia allows participants to identify specific issues, self-select into discussion groups and work on issues with individuals of similar interest. Another new feature—exhibitions—opened the information channel and induced learning and sharing of experiences across countries.

The Conference reinforced the power of ideas of the market—whether of goods or services or even ideas.

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