Freedom and Prosperity

Freedom and Prosperity

Do countries need freedom to achieve prosperity? Do democracies or autocracies have the better answers for the aspirations of their people? With the goal of increasing the prosperity of the poor and marginalized, the Atlantic Council is seeking to answer these defining questions and explore the relationship between freedom and prosperity in developing and developed nations.

The Freedom and Prosperity Center aims to increase the prosperity of the poor and marginalized in developing countries and to explore the nature of the relationship between freedom and prosperity in both developing and developed nations.

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Content

UkraineAlert

Sep 21, 2023

Anti-corruption progress in Ukraine and Moldova is vital for EU integration

By Olivia Yanchik

Ukraine and Moldova stand at a crossroads as both countries seek to strengthen their institutions to stamp out corruption and accelerate their integration with Europe, writes Olivia Yanchik.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Sep 20, 2023

Ukraine’s wartime resilience portrayed on stage in Washington

By Jacob Heilbrunn

Ukraine's remarkably resilient response to Russia's full-scale invasion has captured the world's imagination and has now inspired a quirky stage adaptation by Kyiv-born playwright Sasha Denisova, writes Jacob Heilbrunn.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Sep 19, 2023

What would it take to hold elections in Ukraine?

By Peter Erben, Gio Kobakhidze

Calls for elections in Ukraine are premature and do not take into consideration the extremely unfavorable wartime conditions that make it virtually impossible to stage a free, fair, and safe vote, write Peter Erben and Gio Kobakhidze.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

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

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

Freedom and prosperity in Eastern Europe

By Dan Negrea, Joseph Lemoine, Yomna Gaafar

Eastern European countries that experienced more political, economic, and legal freedoms enjoy greater prosperity today. Conversely, those which progressed less on the path of freedom are also less prosperous.

Democratic Transitions Eastern Europe

The Freedom and Prosperity Equation

Sep 18, 2023

Scaling up the transatlantic partnership from security to prosperity: Economic resilience in Eastern Europe

By Clara Volintiru, Camelia Crişan, and George Ștefan

Achieving long-term prosperity and stability in Eastern and Central Europe requires strategic engagement by Western allies. Economic resilience is crucial and requires three overlapping lines of effort: increasing European integration; transitioning to a new economic model; and engaging all societal actors in the pursuit of sustainable and shared prosperity.

Eastern Europe European Union

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

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
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Experts

Fellow

Kimberly A. Reed

Distinguished Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business Freedom and Prosperity

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Timothy Robinson

Principal Economist, Nathan Associates

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Freedom and Prosperity

Staff

Moussa Traoré

Director, Entrepreneurship Policy Initiative

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Africa Economy & Business