2024 FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY INDEXES LAUNCH - 2024 is set to shape the global trajectory of freedom and prosperity for years to come, as nearly half of the world’s population is voting in elections in sixty-four countries, representing over half of the global gross domestic product.

According to the 2024 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes, while economic freedom has generally improved over the past decade, two-thirds of countries have seen a decline in political freedom. In the meantime, the COVID-19 pandemic’s lasting impact is evident in the Prosperity Index, with health, income, and education indicators still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels.

With today’s global challenges—including renewed armed conflicts, democratic backsliding, and rising authoritarianism—democratic institutions, individual liberties, prosperity, and well-being are under threat.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 06/25/2024