Report

Oct 4, 2023

Running out of road: China Pathfinder 2023 annual scorecard

By Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center and Rhodium Group

The China Pathfinder project examines whether China’s economy is converging or diverging with the world’s leading open market economies.

China
Digital Policy

Issue Brief

Sep 26, 2023

A roadmap for the Caribbean’s energy transition

By David Goldwyn, Eugene Tiah, and Wazim Mowla

Caribbean countries are in desperate need of an energy transition. Disproportionately high electricity costs impede economic development, stress public finance budgets, and harm the competitiveness of tourism and other industries.

Americas
Caribbean
Image of the Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin, during a dramatic sunset. RudyBalasko via IStock

Report

Sep 20, 2023

The US, EU, and UK need a shared approach to economic statecraft. Here’s where to start.

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Nicole Goldin, Mrugank Bhusari, Sarah Bauerle Danzman, Ambuj Sahu, and Daniel McDowell

The economic statecraft landscape is becoming more complex as transatlantic partners increasingly leverage the tools to counter transnational threats. There is a growing need to understand how these tools are used, by whom, and when, as well as their intended and real impacts worldwide.

Economic Sanctions
Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Sep 19, 2023

Unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential

By Aubrey Hruby and Fatima Ezzahra Mengoub

The ongoing digital revolution in Africa presents a valuable opportunity to revolutionize the continent’s food systems.

Africa
Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Sep 19, 2023

Less freedom, weaker states, more conflict: can that cycle be broken?

By Patrick W. Quirk and Owen L. Myers

Why and how advancing freedom (political, economic, and judicial components) is the surest way to advance sustainable stability and associated prosperity.

Democratic Transitions
Freedom and Prosperity

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Dimensions of freedom and economic performance

By Ignacio Campomanes

Democracy can be strengthened significantly if we can rigorously show that free societies are also superior to autocracies in producing higher overall prosperity. Defining the attributes of liberal democracies is essential to understand the relationship between freedom and prosperity.

Freedom and Prosperity
Macroeconomics

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Introduction: The continuing debate about freedom and prosperity

By Dan Negrea, Brad Lips, Kris Mauren

Freedom and prosperity are strongly correlated, and freedom is necessary for sustained economic growth. Some authoritarian regimes have enjoyed some economic success, but the Chinese development model does not provide a sustainable path to prosperity and comes at the expense of human rights and individual freedoms.

Democratic Transitions
Economy & Business

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Pathways to economic prosperity: Theoretical, methodological, and evidential considerations

By Markus Jaeger

Economic development is a complex, multi-causal phenomenon and it is useful to consider how different elements, including policies and institutions, interact to produce sustained economic growth. Depending on the situation, various reforms can nudge nations toward certain paths.

Freedom and Prosperity
Macroeconomics

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

How prepared are conflicting world orders for the next wave of technological innovation?

By Julio Amador Diaz Lopez

Protecting rule of law, free markets, and diversity of people and ideas remain essential to harnessing new technologies—the key to prosperity in our time.

Entrepreneurship
Freedom and Prosperity

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Prosperity: Freedom and its twin, cooperation

By Michael Klein

Societies need freedoms to prosper, but cooperation is just as important for firms and markets to reach their full potential. The challenge is about finding a balance between the two.

Economy & Business
Freedom and Prosperity

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

The quest for freedom and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa

By Khémaies Jhinaoui

Following the Arab Spring, the lack of realism and inexperience of ruling regimes hindered progress. Three key lessons: the quest for freedom does not have to be radical; gradual reform is more effective, and foreign influence shapes the struggle for regional freedom and prosperity.

Democratic Transitions
Freedom and Prosperity

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Who came first: Freedom or prosperity? An inquiry about liberty and well-being

By Vladimir Fernandes Maciel, Ulisses Monteiro Ruiz de Gamboa, Paulo Rogério Scarano, and Julian Alexienco Portillo

The symbiosis between freedom and prosperity: a virtuous cycle (higher levels of freedom and prosperity lead to more freedom and prosperity) and a vicious cycle (lower levels of freedom and prosperity lead to less freedom and prosperity), with these cycles tending to reinforce each other.

Freedom and Prosperity
Macroeconomics

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

The causal relationship between economic freedom and prosperity

By Jamie Bologna Pavlik, Benjamin Powell, and Andrew Young

Economic freedom not only correlates with prosperity but is an important cause of prosperity. Meaningful increases in economic freedom have been shown to lead to large increases in GDP per capita, supporting Adam Smith’s assertion that increased economic freedom is an essential ingredient for greater prosperity worldwide.

Economy & Business
Freedom and Prosperity

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Freedom, prosperity, and human development in Egypt: Why does freedom matter?

By Mohamed M. Farid

Egypt’s development over the last 15 years has been limited by heavy-handed government intervention and poorly thought-out public spending. To go forward, Egypt must reduce the role of the state in the economy, implement free-market reforms, and focus public investments on human capital.

Economy & Business
Freedom and Prosperity

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Violence against journalists: A tool to restrict press freedom in Mexico

By Sergio M. Alcocer and Jeziret S. González

Violence against human rights defenders and journalists is a long-term struggle for Mexico and happens every day with almost total impunity. Without freedom of the press, prosperity cannot be fully achieved.

Freedom and Prosperity
Human Rights

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

The role of elites in driving towards long-term prosperity: The case of Kenya in Sub-Saharan Africa

By Luis Ravina Bohórquez

Investigating the role of elites in ensuring a country’s prosperity and development. Strong institutions and government policies are crucial to this process as they have the duty to empower society with the necessary tools to question nepotism and corruption.

Freedom and Prosperity
Political Reform

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

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

The freedom and prosperity equation: Government interventions in Nigeria

By Danladi Verheijen

The Nigerian government should prioritize assuring economic and legal freedoms, with a focus on reducing its involvement in the economy and enhancing its role in providing security.

Freedom and Prosperity
Nigeria