Land of the Free

Tallinn

IMAGINE a country with a flat tax and a currency fixed to a generally recognized standard, but with no tariffs and no government deficits. Imagine further that it has a beautiful historic capital, miles of unspoiled beaches, and agriculture unsullied by modern industrial methods. If such a country were also a solid democracy and a candidate for membership in the European Union, would one not be tempted to invest a few dimes in its dynamic stock exchange? Incidentally, its citizenry is encouraged to own guns, but you have to pass a psychological and an aptitude test to get a license. You read it here first: All these things are true of Estonia, the northernmost of the Baltic states and once the smallest republic of the Soviet Union.

RS

About the Author

Radek Sikorski

Tallinn

IMAGINE a country with a flat tax and a currency fixed to a generally recognized standard, but with no tariffs and no government deficits. Imagine further that it has a beautiful historic capital, miles of unspoiled beaches, and agriculture unsullied by modern industrial methods. If such a country were also a solid democracy and a candidate for membership in the European Union, would one not be tempted to invest a few dimes in its dynamic stock exchange? Incidentally, its citizenry is encouraged to own guns, but you have to pass a psychological and an aptitude test to get a license. You read it here first: All these things are true of Estonia, the northernmost of the Baltic states and once the smallest republic of the Soviet Union.