An interesting little article in the December 2010 issue of the ABA Journal compares the U.S.'s ratings in "rule of law" index, as compared to other countries. Id., "Playing Catch-up," James Podgers. The authors observes that the U.S. rates "no lower than 11th among the 35 countries covered by the index on any of nine key principles," but that it typically ranks among the lowest when compared to its "high-income and regional peers," and it "breaks the top three in only one category."
Specifically, the U.S, rated as follows on the 9 key factors:
Factor 1: Limited governmental powers: 9th (Sweden was 1st, Netherlands 2nd, Australia 3rd)
Factor 2: Absence of corruption: 10th (Sweden was 1st, Netherlands 2nd, Australia 3rd)
Factor 3: Clear, publicized and stable laws: 9th (Sweden was 1st, Netherlands 2nd, Japan 3rd)
Factor 4: Order and security: 9th (Singapore was 1st, Japan 2nd, Australia 3rd)
Factor 5: Fundamental rights: 10th (Australia was 1st, Sweden 2nd, Netherlands 3rd)
Factor 6: Open government: 3rd (Sweden was 1st, Netherlands 2nd)
Factor 7: Regulatory enforcement: 8th (Sweden was 1st, Netherlands 2nd, Australia 3rd)
Factor 8: Access to civil justice: 11th (Singapore was 1st, Sweden 2nd, Netherlands 3rd)
Factor 9: Effective criminal justice: 7th (Australia was 1st, Japan 2nd, Sweden 3rd)
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