New Release: 2024 Country Atlas

2024 Atlas: Freedom and Prosperity Around the World

Twenty leading economists and government officials from eighteen countries contributed to this comprehensive volume, which serves as a roadmap for navigating the complexities of contemporary governance. 

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The Freedom and Prosperity Indexes

Interactive website

The indexes rank 164 countries around the world according to their levels of freedom and prosperity. Use our award-winning site to explore twenty-eight years of data, compare countries and regions, and examine the sub-indexes and indicators that comprise our indexes.

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Get the latest program developments, reports & research, and events.

Flagship report

2023 annual report

The 2023 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes measure the distribution of freedom and prosperity in 164 countries. The report explores the relationship between the two and identifies global and regional trends over the last twenty-eight years.

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2022 annual report

The Freedom Index and Prosperity Index are two separate indexes that rank one hundred and seventy-four countries around the world according to their levels of freedom and prosperity.

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Reports and issue briefs

Report

Apr 15, 2024

How Bangladesh can achieve its vision of prosperity

By Nina Dannaoui, Joseph Lemoine

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

Report

Jan 11, 2024

False promises: The authoritarian development models of China and Russia

By Joseph Lemoine, Dan Negrea, Patrick Quirk, Lauren Van Metre

Are authoritarian regimes more successful than free countries in offering prosperity to their people? The answer is decidedly no, yet China and Russia advertise the “benefits” and “promise” of their authoritarian development model. This paper showcases why and how the authoritarian development model is inferior to that of free societies.

China 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

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
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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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