Prosperity in emerging markets

The Freedom and Prosperity Center sheds light on the challenges faced by emerging markets and offers practical solutions to attract more investment, improve the business climate, enhance competitiveness, and stimulate job creation.

Flagship project

Women for Prosperity

Women for Prosperity—a project by the Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center—is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs around the world and driving real policy changes with lasting effects.

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Research and publications

New Atlanticist

Jul 30, 2025

For emerging markets, the biggest threat isn’t reduced aid. It’s financial volatility

By Achilles Tsirgis

Emerging markets’ sovereign and corporate bonds are under strain, largely driven by erratic fiscal and trade policy signals from Washington.

China Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Jul 11, 2025

Developing and emerging economies should double down on trade liberalization

By Markus Jaeger

The fate of the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs may be unclear—announced and immediately suspended in early April; now set to take effect in July—but it is reasonably clear what emerging and developing economies should do: Resist protectionism, strengthen macroeconomic resilience, and attract foreign investment to navigate rising US trade barriers and uncertainty.

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

Report

Mar 10, 2025

How greater freedom empowers entrepreneurs and expands access to credit

By Jérémie Bertrand, Nina Dannaoui-Johnson, Annie (Yu-Lin) Lee, Caroline Perrin

Access to credit is vital for SMEs, yet barriers like high collateral and discriminatory lending hinder growth, especially for women-led firms. Data shows freer economies reduce borrower discouragement. Legal protections, economic deregulation, and gender-sensitive policies improve access. Case studies from New Zealand, Singapore, and Kenya highlight how strategic reforms bridge credit gaps and drive growth.

Corruption Freedom and Prosperity

Report

Sep 23, 2024

How Zimbabwe can achieve its vision of prosperity

By Nina Dannaoui, Joseph Lemoine, William Mortenson, James Storen

Empowering women and attracting foreign investment will be critical in helping Zimbabwe make its vision of prosperity a reality.

Africa Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Apr 15, 2024

How Bangladesh can achieve its vision of prosperity

By Nina Dannaoui-Johnson, Joseph Lemoine, Annie (Yu-Lin) Lee

Bangladesh is forging ahead with its Vision 2041, aiming to transform into a developed and prosperous country by 2041.

Bangladesh Freedom and Prosperity

Report

Mar 15, 2024

Attracting foreign direct investments

By Jérémie Bertrand, Joseph Lemoine, Dan Negrea, and Caroline Perrin

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a pivotal objective for countries seeking to bolster their economic development and global competitiveness. By delving into the relationship between freedom and FDI using the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes and examining institutional mechanisms to influence investment, we shed light on the dynamics that determine a country’s attractiveness to foreign investors.

Economy & Business Freedom and Prosperity

Related events

Public Event

Women for prosperity Zimbabwe

The first stop for the Women for Prosperity project.
Africa Women
Public Event Mon, March 6, 2023 • 1:00 pm ET

How free markets shape global development

What’s the connection between freedom and prosperity and how does it play out in development?

China East Asia Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

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Experts

Fellow

Jérémie Bertrand

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business English

Fellow

Caroline Perrin

Nonresident Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business English

Fellow

Joseph Lemoine

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Africa Economy & Business

Staff

Nina Dannaoui-Johnson

Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Annie (Yu-Lin) Lee

Nonresident Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

East Asia Rule of Law

Former staff

James Storen

Former Assistant Director

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Democratic Transitions Elections

Explore our other pillars

Freedom and prosperity indexes

The Freedom and Prosperity Indexes analyze twenty-nine years of data taken from 164 countries to better understand how a strong rule of law, political freedom, and market economy provide the surest path to durable prosperity.

Freedom and democracy

Through data-driven analysis, targeted research initiatives, and strategic convenings, the Freedom and Prosperity Center explores how political freedom and democratic principles contribute to economic well-being and societal progress.

Human flourishing

Seeing as true prosperity goes beyond economic metrics, the Freedom and Prosperity Center focuses on enhancing individual well-being by advancing policies and initiatives that foster personal development, dignity, and the holistic growth of societies.

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Explore the program

The Freedom and Prosperity Center aims to increase the well-being of people everywhere and especially that of the poor and marginalized in developing countries through unbiased, data-based research on the relationship between prosperity and economic, political, and legal freedoms, in support of sound policy choices.

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