Sri Lanka Slips in Economic Freedom

Originally appeared in the The Island, Daily Mirror, Economy Next, Lanka Business online, NewsWire

Sri Lanka ranks 116 out of 165 jurisdictions included in the Economic Freedom of the World: 2023 Annual Report, released by Advocata Institute in conjunction with Canada’s Fraser Institute. The current ranking represents a decline in the economic freedom of the country which ranked 104th during 2020.

The report measures the economic freedom of individuals—their ability to make their own economic decisions—by analyzing the policies and institutions of 165 jurisdictions. The policies examined include regulation, freedom to trade internationally, size of government, legal system and property rights, and sound monetary policy. The 2023 report is based on data from 2021, the last year with available comparable statistics across jurisdictions.

Sri Lanka’s decline in score was driven by 4 out of the 5 sub indicators of economic freedom registering declines in their respective individual scores. These indicators are the size of government, access to sound money, freedom to trade internationally, and the regulation of credit, labour, and business. The only indicators that registered an improvement in its score is the indicator of legal system and property rights.

“The report captured a stark warning: Sri Lanka's economic freedom declined prior to the economic crisis of 2022, a testament to the vulnerability of nations with limited economic freedom in the face of economic turmoil. If the country is to recover, Sri Lanka must prioritize economic growth within the framework of maximising economic freedom for its citizens to trade, work, and transact freely in a stable monetary and fiscal environment” said Dhananath Fernando, Chief Executive Officer at the Advocata Institute.

The number one spot is now occupied by Singapore, followed by Hong Kong, Switzerland, New Zealand, the United States, Ireland, Denmark, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Other notable countries include Japan (20th), Germany (23th), France (47th) and Russia (104th).

Venezuela once again ranks last. Some countries such as North Korea and Cuba can’t be ranked due to lack of data.

The Fraser Institute produces the annual Economic Freedom of the World report in cooperation with the Economic Freedom Network, a group of independent research and educational institutes in nearly 100 countries and territories. It’s the world’s premier measure of economic freedom.

The report was prepared by Professor James Gwartney of Florida State University and Professors Robert A. Lawson and Ryan Murphy of Southern Methodist University.

According to research in top peer-reviewed academic journals, people living in countries with high levels of economic freedom enjoy greater prosperity, more political and civil liberties, and longer lives.

For example, countries in the top quartile of economic freedom had an average per-capita GDP of US$48,569, compared to US$6,324 for bottom quartile countries. Poverty rates are lower. In the top quartile, less than one per cent of the population experienced extreme poverty (US$1.90 a day) compared to 32 per cent in the lowest quartile. Finally, life expectancy is 81.1 years in the top quartile of countries compared to 65 years in the bottom quartile.

“Where people are free to pursue their own opportunities and make their own choices, they lead more prosperous, happier and healthier lives,” Fred McMahon, Dr. Michael A. Walker Research Chair in Economic Freedom with the Fraser Institute said.

See the full report at www.fraserinstitute.org/economic-freedom.

About the Economic Freedom Index

The Fraser Institute produces the annual Economic Freedom of the World report in cooperation with the Economic Freedom Network, a group of independent research and educational institutes in nearly 100 countries and territories.

Economic Freedom of the World measures how policies and institutions of countries support economic freedom. This year’s publication ranks 165 countries and territories. The report also updates data in earlier reports where data has been revised.

For more information on the Economic Freedom Network, datasets, and previous Economic Freedom of the World reports, go to www.fraserinstitute.org/economic-freedom.

The Government Should Rethink the Minimum Room Rates Policy

Originally appeared in the Daily FT, Daily Mirror, Daily News, Lanka News Web

The Advocata Institute expresses concern over the recent proposal by the Sri Lankan Authorities to impose minimum room rates on hotels in the city of Colombo.  

This proposal, set to take effect from October 1st 2023, stipulates rates of USD 130 for 5-star hotels, USD 100 for 4-star hotels, and USD 80 for 3-star hotels. While the authorities argue that this measure aims to counter underpricing by higher-tier hotels, this policy threatens to undermine the growth and vitality of the tourism sector. It places an unnecessary burden on hoteliers already grappling with the challenges posed by the global pandemic and subsequent economic crisis. Further, it undermines the country’s competitiveness in the regional tourism market.  

Pricing acts as a reflection of the quality of services offered by hotels and serves as a differentiating factor. If prices fail to accurately represent the services provided, customer dissatisfaction can ensue, especially when compared to more competitively priced options in neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. This is supported by a comment made by the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) which states that “before implementing such prescribed rates, it is crucial to generate demand and interest in Sri Lanka...Adopting these rates will render Sri Lanka uncompetitive and result in a loss of clients, even when compared to hotels in New Delhi, with which they are currently competitive”.

Sri Lanka has previously attempted to implement price controls between 2009 and 2019, following lobbying by a segment of  hoteliers aiming to compete more effectively against 5-star rated hotels. However, this policy failed due to numerous violations resulting from inadequate monitoring and enforcement by the authorities. Many hotels, including those that initially advocated for the government's proposed room rates, have not complied with the established rates, as alleged by the former Minister of Tourism, John Amaratunga. 

The imposition of minimum room rates restricts hotel owners' flexibility in setting prices in accordance with market demand and effectively stifles healthy competition among various establishments. The tourism industry experiences fluctuations in demand that correspond to seasonal and weekly trends. Such demand patterns necessitate the ability for hotels to tailor their pricing strategies to capitalize on peaks and optimize profitability.

Every hotel has its unique room pricing considerations depending on factors such as location, size of the hotel, market demographics, level of competition, and type of service offered to name a few. The uniform imposition of minimum rates disregards the diverse range of hotels and accommodations available in Sri Lanka, catering to various budgets and preferences. This one-size-fits-all approach disregards the crucial factor of consumer choice. Imposing minimum room rates on a certain type of accommodation whilst disregarding alternate forms of accommodation available within the city of Colombo such as guest houses and Airbnbs, undermines the effectiveness of this policy.  

Furthermore, hotels do not solely rely on revenue from room occupancy; rather, the occupancy of rooms paves the way for alternative sources of income such as from food and beverages, along with the provision of other hotel-related services. For example, a leading hotel in Colombo earned 77% of their revenue from food and beverages in contrast to the 19% earned from accommodation services in 2022. Therefore, when the government intervenes in one component of a hotel’s business model, it disrupts the interconnected methods of revenue generation.  

Further, the foundation for these minimum rates—star classifications—is itself flawed. This system primarily relies on quantitative factors, often overlooking qualitative aspects such as service quality and ambiance. The inability to quantify these vital attributes compromises the accuracy of the classification.

The tourism industry in Sri Lanka has historically played a crucial role in the country's economic development, providing employment opportunities, promoting cultural exchange, and contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings. However, the recent decision to enforce minimum room rates could deter these potential visitors who are seeking affordable accommodation options, particularly given the publicity international vloggers have given Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Further, this approach stifles innovation within the hospitality sector, and ultimately leads to reduced tourist arrivals and negatively impacts the entire value chain that relies on a thriving hospitality sector.

This policy undermines competition and oversteps in a serious way the role of government in a competitive market economy, the stated policy framework of the government. 

The Advocata Institute strongly urges Sri Lankan Authorities to reconsider this ill-advised proposal. 

By fostering an environment that embraces market competition, Sri Lanka can position itself as an attractive destination for travelers while allowing its hotels to thrive and cater to diverse consumer demands.