Russia Almost Sold Alaska to This Tiny European Country Instead of the US

The Liechtenstein family has 'ruled' the microstate of Liechtenstein since purchasing it more than 300 years ago. Its economy, however, is among the freest in the world.

A beautiful panoramic view in Liechtenstein. Kenny Vogt/Liechtenstein Marketing

What conclusions might you draw from the following statistics?

At about 1,000 people per square mile, the population densities of Haiti in the Caribbean and Burundi in Africa are virtually identical. Yet, Haiti’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is four times that of Burundi ($1,100 vs. $264). Still, both are among the very poorest nations in the world and, not coincidentally, they are among the least economically free.