In order to make it possible to defend both physical and intellectual property rights of people, the Property Rights Alliance developed an instrument allowing comparison between the nations by relative strengths of property rights they provide for their citizens. This instrument, the International Property Rights Index, is published since 2007 helping policimakers to make better decisions. The Index comprises 130 countries, comparing them by three core variables, that affect the resulting index, namely country's legal and political environment, recognition and enforcement of physical and intellectual property rights.