Mission statement
The Freedom and Prosperity project seeks to advance economic development through the promotion of economic freedom, the rule of law, and representative government as the best path for countries to reduce poverty and achieve prosperity for their people.
We seek to foster an inclusive dialogue with regional partners from across the globe on how to advance prosperity and improve the quality of life for people in developing countries. We will work with these partners to marshal the evidence and make a persuasive case that good political and economic institutions are essential for sustained improvements in standards of living.
This project is of particular relevance today as authoritarian, state-led capitalism is being falsely promoted as a superior alternative to economic freedom, the rule of law, and representative government.
This project begins from the premise that there are three essential ingredients for sustained economic development:
- Economic Freedom: An economic system in which free markets predominantly determine prices and the allocation of goods and services.
- Rule of Law: A legal system that protects property and contract rights and prevents corruption and the arbitrary abuse of power.
- Representative Government: A political system in which leaders are elected and political and civil liberties are protected.
To advance this case, we will:
- Collaborate with think tanks, universities, and academic experts around the world to take stock of existing research and to stimulate and produce our own original research in support of the project’s core objectives.
- Engage with political leaders, policymakers, civil society and business leaders, scholars, journalists, and students, particularly in developing countries. We will organize and engage through international conferences and other public events at which current and former political leaders from around the world, as well as noted scholars, endorse economic freedom, the rule of law, and representative government. The project will reach a broad public audience through an active social media campaign.
- Develop and publish an annual Freedom and Prosperity Index that measures countries’ progress on freedom and prosperity. A primary measure of economic development is per capita gross domestic product (GDP). We will also gauge economic development by taking into account other indicators, including: poverty rates, education levels, access to health care, gender and economic equality, and environmental protection.
Asia Workshop
Africa Workshop
Middle East Workshop
Latin America workshop
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The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world.
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