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

New Atlanticist Mar 18, 2025

The Gaza cease-fire is over. What’s next from Israel, Hamas, and the US?

By Atlantic Council experts

In the early hours of March 18, Israel launched air strikes on Gaza, ending the two-month cease-fire. Atlantic Council experts answer pressing questions about the resumed conflict.
Conflict Israel
Scaling up the transatlantic partnership from security to prosperity: Economic resilience in Eastern Europe

New Atlanticist Mar 17, 2025

Enough carrots for Putin. For better negotiations, serve ‘maximum pressure’ instead.

By Benjamin L. Schmitt, Richard L. Morningstar, and Daniel Fried

Since Russia appears content for negotiations to move slowly, the Trump administration should turn up the pressure with new sanctions.
Conflict Economic Sanctions
Scaling up the transatlantic partnership from security to prosperity: Economic resilience in Eastern Europe

Issue Brief Mar 13, 2025

Present without impact? How the Middle East perceives China’s diplomatic engagement

By Jonathan Fulton

Despite economic advancements and high-profile diplomatic engagements, China’s influence remains largely economic rather than political, Jonathan Fulton argues.
China Economy & Business

Content

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
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Experts

Fellow

Jacob Heilbrunn

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Media Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Elmar Hellendoorn

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Defense Policy Dutch

Staff

John E. Herbst

Senior Director

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Ernst Jan Hogendoorn

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa East Africa

Staff

Daniel Hojnacki

Assistant Editor

Belarus Central Asia

Staff

Lisa Homel

Associate Director

Europe Center

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia
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Events

Online Event Tue, July 29, 2025 • 10:30 am ET

One year later: Venezuela’s presidential election and the road ahead
Americas Civil Society Corruption Democratic Transitions
Online Event Wed, July 30, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

What did (and didn’t) happen at the EU-China Summit
China Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy