The concept of loosely Markov dynamical systems is introduced. We show that for these systems the recurrence rates and pointwise dimensions coincide. The systems generated by hyperbolic exponential maps, arbitrary rational functions of the Riemann sphere, and measurable dynamical systems generated by infinite conformal iterated function systems are all checked to be loosely Markov.2000 Mathematics subject classification: primary 37C45; secondary 37C40, 37F35, 37A25.