Issue briefs and reports

Issue briefs and reports

Our programs and centers deliver in-depth, highly relevant issue briefs and reports that break new ground, shift opinions, and set agendas on public policy, with a focus on advancing debates by integrating foundational research and analysis with concrete policy solutions.

Mexico “Mostly Free”? Mexico “Mostly Prosperous”?: Uncovering shades of gray in the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes

Global Energy Agenda Jun 8, 2026

2026 Global Energy Agenda full survey results

The Global Energy Agenda takes the pulse of the energy community, revealing expert views on global energy security, access, and sustainability.
Africa Americas
Mexico “Mostly Free”? Mexico “Mostly Prosperous”?: Uncovering shades of gray in the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes

Report Jun 1, 2026

Atlantic Council Commission on AI lays a roadmap for US leadership in the age of AI

By Atlantic Council experts

The flagship report of the Atlantic Council Commission on AI and US competitiveness, which presents an action-oriented roadmap for strengthening US domestic AI capacity.
Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity
Mexico “Mostly Free”? Mexico “Mostly Prosperous”?: Uncovering shades of gray in the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes

Issue Brief Jun 9, 2026

How global authoritarians sustain inequality

By Deng Liu

Authoritarian leaders across the world use targeted strategies to sustain inequality. But developing countries should instead pull from a variety of existing development models to create societal prosperity.
East Asia Freedom and Prosperity

Content

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Mexico “Mostly Free”? Mexico “Mostly Prosperous”?: Uncovering shades of gray in the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes

By Vanessa Rubio-Marquez

Freedom and prosperity are fragile ideals that depend on many factors that must be protected and consistently adjusted. Particular attention must be paid to countries where warning signs of decline are present.

Democratic Transitions Freedom and Prosperity

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Informality as an anti-measure of prosperity

By Elakiya Ananthakrishnan

Inefficient public institutions and weak rule of law lead citizens to conduct business outside of regulated markets. The resulting informality impact countries’ overall prosperity.

Freedom and Prosperity Political Reform

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Understanding India’s freedoms on the path to prosperity

By Prashant Narang and Parth J. Shah

Comparing India’s performance on the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes with others to identify improvement opportunities for India.

Freedom and Prosperity India

Issue Brief

Sep 18, 2023

Guarantees 2.0: Meeting climate finance needs in the Global South

By Ian Callaghan, George Frampton, Ken Berlin, and Frank Willey

Transforming global energy, manufacturing, and transportation systems for a net-zero future requires a huge investment, but current financial flows toward these goals are vastly insufficient.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
A man rides a boat past toll plaza amid flood water on main Indus highway, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Sehwan, Pakistan.

Issue Brief

Sep 15, 2023

Empowering Pakistan’s youth to address climate change risks

By Omaer Naeem

Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts like flooding and heatwaves. Empowering Pakistani youth in climate adaptation is critical as they will face intensified effects. This brief advocates for greater involvement of youth through grassroots organization, policy advocacy, innovative solutions, and strengthening international cooperation on climate action.

Civil Society Pakistan

Issue Brief

Sep 11, 2023

The draft ended fifty years ago. Can the all-volunteer force survive another fifty?

By James L. Jones, Jr., Arnold Punaro

Retired Marine Corps Generals James L. Jones and Arnold Punaro argue that in its current form the United States' all-volunteer force is on an unsustainable path.

Civil Society Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Sep 6, 2023

Strengthening financial inclusion in the Caribbean: Treating correspondent banking relationships as a public good

By Wazim Mowla

To bolster financial inclusion in the Caribbean, the United States must treat corresponding banking relationships as a public good.

Caribbean Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Sep 6, 2023

Alternative security futures in the High North

By David Auerswald

Climate change, combined with increasing geopolitical competition and hostilities, has focused renewed attention on national security interests in the Arctic. By 2035, how will those variables combine to influence the High North?

China Climate Change & Climate Action
Solar panels are pictured.

In-Depth Research & Reports

Sep 6, 2023

Policy memo: A NATO-style spending target could fund long-term decarbonization

By Ben Judah, Francis Shin, Rachel Rizzo, Théophile Pouget-Abadie

EU member states and like-minded allies should set national-level spending targets, each based on a percentage of their respective annual GDPs, for decarbonization-related purposes. This would provide the basis of an international coalition that would ramp up global climate spending and set a useful benchmark to anchor high-level diplomatic discussions on the subject.

Climate Change & Climate Action European Union

Report

Sep 6, 2023

Sleight of hand: How China weaponizes software vulnerabilities

By Dakota Cary and Kristin Del Rosso

China's new vulnerability management system mandates reporting to MIIT within 48 hours, restricting pre-patch publication and POC code. This centralized approach contrasts with the US voluntary system, potentially aiding Chinese intelligence. MIIT shares data with the MSS, affecting voluntary databases as well. MSS also fund firms to provide vulnerabilities for their offensive potential.

China Cybersecurity
Load More