The lack of efficiency that characterized the economic policies of developing countries has prompted several economists to recommend a massive disengagement of the state of economic activity. Economic freedom is advanced as an alternative to development strategies more effective. Our work shows that the index of economic freedom hides the importance of its components and mask the importance of state intervention in developing countries. Through the method of Hansen, 2000, we show that for sizes of the State relating to scores above 5,956 (depending on the construction of the index of economic freedom), public investment should have a positive effect on growth.