Cato Podcast The Global Freedom Slump
Dec 16, 2025
Join Matt Mitchell, a Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute, as he explores alarming global trends in freedom measurement. Nine in ten people are experiencing declines in personal, economic, and civil liberties, with populism and pandemic measures causing chaos. Discover how well-being is linked to freedom, and why documenting these changes matters. The U.S. drop to 15th in the Human Freedom Index sparks discussion about market impacts on personal liberties. They also examine the ripple effects of restrictions and the crucial role of economic freedoms in promoting better societies.
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Global Freedom Trajectory
- Global human freedom rose until ~2007 then declined steadily, with a sharp pandemic-era drop.
- The 2020 pandemic set global freedom back more than two decades and recovery remains weak in 2023.
Widespread Decline Across Populations
- Nine out of ten people experienced declines in human freedom since 2019.
- For every country that increased freedom, about three saw decreases, affecting all regions and income levels.
Growing Inequality Of Freedom
- The freest countries show signs of recovery while the least free continue downward.
- Inequality of freedom grew: only 14% live in the top quartile and ~40% in the bottom quartile.