This week, the Archbridge Institute—a nonpartisan, independent public policy think tank—released its first-ever international social mobility index, the most comprehensive measure to date of the key barriers affecting upward mobility. Titled “Social Mobility Around the World,” the global analysis ranks 132 countries on three pillars: “Entrepreneurship and Growth”; “Institutions and Rule of Law”; and “Education and Civil Society.” Switzerland ranks first in 2026, followed by Denmark and Norway, while the United States lands at fourth and the United Kingdom slips to 20th overall.
Where the EU as a whole generally struggles is with labor regulation. Seventeen of the 27 member states rank in the bottom half of the world on labor-market regulation. Rigid rules—such as high dismissal costs and limits on fixed-term contracts—make every new hire a costly bet for employers and harm young workers disproportionately. Ireland stands out as a counter-example, ranking 11th globally for more flexible labor regulations. It has low dismissal costs and decentralized bargaining relative to the rest of the region.
Business regulation is also a mixed bag. While 10 EU countries score in the top 20 in the world for light business regulation, six fall outside the top 60, including Greece, Italy, and Bulgaria. Estonia’s path from a post-Soviet state shows that better policies can expand opportunities for citizens. It has the lowest business-regulation barriers in the EU (and third in the world), helped by a digital state that lets companies register and file online.
Social mobility is at the core of human flourishing, and it is best advanced by reducing government barriers so that people can build better lives for themselves. If the EU wants more of its citizens to climb the economic ladder, two reforms stand out—each with a working model inside the EU.
Continue reading at Brussels Report.
Justin Callais, PhD, is Chief Economist at the Archbridge Institute. He leads the institute's "Social Mobility in the 50 States" project and conducts original research on economic development, upward mobility, and economic freedom. Dr. Callais received his Ph.D. in economics from Texas Tech University and his B.B.A. in economics from Loyola University New Orleans. He serves as an economic consultant at Callais Capital Management, and he is co-editor of Profectus Magazine, an online publication dedicated to human progress and flourishing. In addition, he publishes a regular newsletter on Substack titled "Debunking Degrowth."
Economics of Flourishing
This week, the Archbridge Institute—a nonpartisan, independent public policy think tank—released its first-ever international social mobility index, the most comprehensive measure to date of the key barriers affecting upward mobility. Titled “Social Mobility Around the World,” the global analysis ranks 132 countries on three pillars: “Entrepreneurship and Growth”; “Institutions and Rule of Law”; and “Education and Civil Society.” Switzerland ranks first in 2026, followed by Denmark and Norway, while the United States lands at fourth and the United Kingdom slips to 20th overall.
Where the EU as a whole generally struggles is with labor regulation. Seventeen of the 27 member states rank in the bottom half of the world on labor-market regulation. Rigid rules—such as high dismissal costs and limits on fixed-term contracts—make every new hire a costly bet for employers and harm young workers disproportionately. Ireland stands out as a counter-example, ranking 11th globally for more flexible labor regulations. It has low dismissal costs and decentralized bargaining relative to the rest of the region.
Business regulation is also a mixed bag. While 10 EU countries score in the top 20 in the world for light business regulation, six fall outside the top 60, including Greece, Italy, and Bulgaria. Estonia’s path from a post-Soviet state shows that better policies can expand opportunities for citizens. It has the lowest business-regulation barriers in the EU (and third in the world), helped by a digital state that lets companies register and file online.
Social mobility is at the core of human flourishing, and it is best advanced by reducing government barriers so that people can build better lives for themselves. If the EU wants more of its citizens to climb the economic ladder, two reforms stand out—each with a working model inside the EU.
Continue reading at Brussels Report.
Justin T. Callais
Justin Callais, PhD, is Chief Economist at the Archbridge Institute. He leads the institute's "Social Mobility in the 50 States" project and conducts original research on economic development, upward mobility, and economic freedom. Dr. Callais received his Ph.D. in economics from Texas Tech University and his B.B.A. in economics from Loyola University New Orleans. He serves as an economic consultant at Callais Capital Management, and he is co-editor of Profectus Magazine, an online publication dedicated to human progress and flourishing. In addition, he publishes a regular newsletter on Substack titled "Debunking Degrowth."
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