What is freedom? Can we measure it? Does it affect policy? This book develops an original measure of freedom called 'Autonomy Freedom', consistent with J. S. Mill's view of autonomy, and applies it to issues in policy and political design. The work pursues three aims. First, it extends classical liberalism beyond exclusive reliance on negative freedom so as to take autonomous behavior explicitly into account. Second, it grounds on firm conceptual foundations a new standard in the measurement of freedom that can be fruitfully coupled with existing gauges. Third, it shows empirically that individual preferences for redistribution and cross-country differences in welfare spending in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are driven by the degree of 'autonomy freedom' that individuals enjoy. By means of an interdisciplinary approach and a sophisticated econometric methodology, the book takes an explicit stand in defense of freedom and sets the basis for a liberalism based upon people's actions and institutions.

‘The Economics of Freedom is an interesting work of both philosophically inspired social science and empirically informed political philosophy. The authors construct a measure of autonomy freedom on the basis of data in the World Value Survey and compare how worldwide differences in attitudes correlate with social welfare policies. This book will intrigue researchers in comparative politics, welfare economics, political economy, and political philosophy.’

Luc Bovens - London School of Economics

‘At last theories of freedom meet with empirical evidence. Using a sophisticated social choice account of Millian autonomy, Bavetta and Navarra measure how free people feel they are comparatively across nations. A great achievement.’

Keith Dowding - Australian National University

‘This important work offers not only a masterful survey of the philosophical literature on liberty but also an important contribution to our understanding of the value of choice, the measurement of freedom, and implications of individual autonomy for the understanding and reform of social institutions. The authors’ conception of ‘autonomy freedom’ is an imaginative and illuminating contribution to political theory and to the theory of freedom in particular.’

Chandran Kukathas - London School of Economics

‘Uniquely combining philosophical analysis, economic theory, and empirical research, The Economics of Freedom constitutes an important contribution to our understanding of the nature and value of freedom.’

Martin van Hees - University of Groningen, The Netherlands