Uruguay is the country of the year, according to The Economist

The magazine chose Uruguay for the legalization of Gay marriage and the approval of the law that regulates the marijuana market.

The article describes the legalization of gay marriage as a “border-crossing policy, which has increased the global sum of human happiness at no financial cost”.

About the law that legalizes and regulates the production, sale and consumption of cannabis it says that ”this is a change so obviously sensible, squeezing out the felons and allowing the authorities to concentrate on graver crimes, that no other country has made it”.

“If others followed suit, and other narcotics were included, the damage such drugs cause in the world would be drastically reduced”.

According to the magazine these are “path-breaking reforms that do not merely improve a single nation but, if emulated, might benefit the world”.

About President José Mujica The Economist says that “with unusual frankness for a politician, he referred to the new law as an experiment” and highlights that “he lives in a humble cottage, drives himself to work in a Volkswagen Beetle and flies economy class”.

The magazine describes Uruguay as a “modest yet bold, liberal and fun-loving” country.