Freedom and Prosperity Center @ACFPCenter

LIVE | 2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes launch x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

🚀 The 2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes report is now live! 📉 Since 2012, political freedom has been falling around the world. Now the rule of law is significantly eroding too. The report lays out what's at stake and what governments can do about it: 🔹 The rule of law is a prerequisite for prosperity: countries with weak rule of law rarely reach high-prosperity status. 🔹 Developing economies should treat it as a core development priority, investing in legal capacity and public-sector integrity. 🔹 Advanced economies must guard their own foundations by protecting judicial independence and legal predictability. Read the full report ➡️ t.ly/zg5Mq

⚖️ Join us tomorrow for the launch of the 2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes and discover what nearly 30 years of data reveal about the relationship between freedom, the rule of law, and long-term prosperity. The data will be presented by our Senior Advisor and Navarra Center for International Development (NCID) Non-Resident Fellow Ignacio Campomanes and moderated by our Senior Fellow Nina Dannaoui-Johnson. And later Colin Buckley of @BritishIntInv will speak to the case that without deeper rule-of-law and economic reforms, the foundations for economic growth don't hold up. 🗓️ Wednesday, July 15 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET | Washington, DC — virtual attendees welcome. Register here ➡️ t.ly/DxHBR

🌍 Aid and investment can transform societies, but only when they actually work on the ground. At this week's launch of the 2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes, our panel "From theory to practice: making aid and investment work" brings together leaders turning development theory into real results in some of the world's most challenging environments. Honored to be joined by: 🔹 Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth from @UNHCRUkraine 🔹 Carrie Parrott Monahan from @MCCgov 🔹 Jim Richardson from @USGLC 🔹 Moderated by our Senior Director James Mazzarella 🗓️ Wednesday, July 15 | Atlantic Council, Washington, DC. Virtual attendees welcome. Register here ➡️t.ly/DxHBR

📉 For the sixth time in seven years, the rule of law is declining worldwide, and the economic cost is steep. Rarely do countries with weak rule of law ever reach high prosperity status. This analysis comes from the 2026 edition of our Freedom and Prosperity Indexes, which we're launching next week. The event will unpack what eroding rule of law means for freedom, security, and prosperity around the world. 🌍 🗓️ Join us Wednesday, July 15, 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC! Virtual attendees welcome. Register here ➡️ t.ly/DxHBR

🌍 Democracy is retreating in the regions that matter most to US security and prosperity. But the tools to reverse it are proven, and they work. In a new report closing out our Future of Democracy Assistance series, Nonresident Senior Fellow Patrick W. Quirk, Ph.D. lays out an actionable blueprint for US democracy assistance through 2028: how to counter global adversaries, shore up fragile democracies, and deliver real returns for American taxpayers. 📖 Read the report ➡️ t.ly/_TsnM

📢 REGISTER NOW | The 2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes launch is coming up on July 15! 📅 Wednesday, July 15, starting at 1:30 p.m. ET 📍 Atlantic Council headquarters, Washington, DC (or virtually) Register today and learn more ⬇️ t.ly/uc8Gh

📽️ United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has officially announced his intention to resign this fall. Earlier this month, Will Mortenson explored pressure on Starmer and the economic challenges plaguing the UK. 📈 Explore the #FPIndexes data ➡️ t.ly/JKYdB

📽️ WATCH | After Armenians voted for greater alignment with Europe on June 7, Will Mortenson uses the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes to examine the economic and governance challenges that lie ahead. 📈 Explore the #FPIndexes data ➡️ t.ly/JKYdB

🇬🇧📽️ WATCH | With pressure mounting on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Will Mortenson uses data from the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes to explore the economic challenges facing the country. 📉 Explore the #FPIndexes ➡️ t.ly/JKYdB

📢 We are delighted to welcome Poppy Hendrickson to the Freedom and Prosperity Center as our summer 2026 Intern! Poppy joins us with a BA in International Relations and French from Wheaton College, IL, alongside experience across the nonprofit, international relief, and advocacy sectors. Most recently, Poppy lived and worked in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she contributed to program development, grant writing, and stakeholder coordination to sustain humanitarian programming across the country. We are excited to have her join us and look forward to the meaningful work ahead 🎉

On April 9, the Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center hosted the second annual Global Prosperity Forum, bringing together policymakers, scholars, and private sector leaders to discuss global development, democracy, and shared prosperity. The Forum featured an #ACFrontPage conversation with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, alongside discussions on development finance, democracy assistance, critical minerals, and country spotlights on Iran, Venezuela, Syria, and Tunisia. We also launched the Entrepreneurship Policy Initiative and unveiled the third edition of the Atlas, featuring 11 country case studies and new insights from the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes. ▶️ Watch the sessions: t.ly/K5Tst ▶️ Learn about EPI: t.ly/wGMeF ▶️ Explore the data: t.ly/HmMtB

🏆🔍❓Before the weekend hits, a trivia question for you... Which country saw the biggest improvement in our Freedom Index this year? 💬 Drop your guess in the comments before checking the answer.

📽️ WATCH | Nina Dannaoui-Johnson uses data from the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes to break down how freedom levels act as a determinant of borrower discouragement, and how to improve conditions for SMEs worldwide. Explore the #FPIndexes ➡️ t.ly/JKYdB

LIVE NOW | Trade over aid: Prosperity for the US and the developing world x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

📢 READ | Are liberal democracies better equipped to promote social and economic equality? Find out what the data says by reading Yi Zhou's full piece in our Voices of the Future series ⬇️ t.ly/cqyRf

📢 READ | How can information and communication technologies economically empower women in Senegal and across Sub-Saharan Africa? Read the full piece by Aminata Niang in our Voices of the Future paper series ⬇️ t.ly/Q_qCu

📢 NEW PAPER SERIES | We are excited to launch our Voices of the Future paper series, highlighting research on key global trends in freedom and prosperity from the next generation of policy leaders. Explore the project and the first three papers⬇️ t.ly/oBVoX

Earlier this month, the @ACFPCenter hosted the Global Prosperity Forum, bringing together policymakers and industry leaders to explore actionable solutions for global development. Watch the key highlights ⤵️

🇭🇺 📽️ WATCH | On April 12, Hungarians voted to oust Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power. Will Mortenson uses the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes to look at how Peter Magyar's new government can reverse democratic decline. Explore the #FPIndexes data ➡️ t.ly/hLffV