Truth Graf went from PTA president to a prison cell. A series of stressful and traumatic events culminated in Truth's drug addiction, and she spent seven years in prison. Yet through all of this, she found redemption and is now a passionate advocate for justice reform. And Georgia Center for Opportunity is one of the local nonprofits helping make a difference. We invite you to attend the virtual short film premiere of In Search of Truth: Georgia’s Criminal Justice Reform on Tuesday, December 15 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. 

The Centre for Civil Society (CCS) produced the Quality of Regulation report in 2019 to put India on a more sophisticated path of lawmaking. In 2020, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade included many of the key principles that CCS recommended in their annual action plan, such as considering if proposed legislation is necessary and business-friendly—marking a shift towards ‘smarter regulation’ for one of the country’s largest regulators.

Fundación para el Avance de la Libertad (Fundalib) continues to see city governments in Spain follow recommendations made in their Index of Economic Freedom of Spain’s Cities, a project that won the 2020 Europe Liberty Award. The city of La Laguna publicly implemented tax reforms to increase its ranking in the index, and Lieutenant Mayor Alejandro Marrero has even said, “Thanks to the work so far carried out, we have been able to go up in this index, and according to the publishing organization [Fundalib] this translates into higher prosperity for our city, with more freedom to work, consume, and invest."

The response to COVID-19 has instigated a dual-crisis. Beyond the pandemic itself, serious suffering has been inflicted by heavy-handed government policies across the world in general and in the United States in particular. With just a microphone and a camera, the Pelican Institute captures the emotions of small business owners whose lives have been forever altered by onerous government shutdowns. The Pelican Institute’s Daniel Erspamer discussed their approach to telling these stories on the latest episode of AtlasNexus.

While 49 states have some form of balanced budget provision (all except for Vermont), only 11 truly have enough money to pay all of their outstanding bills, according to Truth in Accounting’s annual Financial State of the States, which brings attention to impending financial disasters at the state level. Read the report, or listen to CEO Sheila Weinberg discuss the findings on AtlasNexus.

A measure that would recognize out-of-state medical licenses—in light of the strain that COVID-19 has put on the medical sector in Arkansas—is making its way through the state’s legislative process. The Arkansas Policy Foundation has called for Good Samaritan laws to allow licensed doctors and nurses to volunteer across state lines to ease the burden placed on overworked medical professionals. 

“America has lost one of its greatest economists and public intellectuals,” writes Donald J. Boudreaux for the Wall Street Journal. “A one-time cabdriver who grew up poor in Philadelphia, Walter [Williams] knew injustice—and understood the way to fight it wasn’t by emoting but by probing and learning...The economics profession boasts many excellent minds, but it has precious few with the ability and interest to do rigorous research and to engage the public with its results...From his appearance on Friedman’s PBS program ‘Free To Choose’ (1980) through his stints as guest host of Rush Limbaugh’s radio program to his syndicated column, Walter brought economic lessons to life in a way few others could.”

Click here to listen to a talk Dr. Williams delivered at an Atlas Network event in 1994. 

Asociación de Contribuyentes del Perú has worked since 2016 to reform Peru’s water and sanitation sector. A trilogy of short films is the latest to draw attention to the gaps in public policy and problems that prevent vulnerable groups of Peruvian citizens from accessing clean and usable water. Read about the heroic story of Marisol, a low-income mother who lacks consistent access to water.

“We're so excited to welcome Jean-Claude and Tom to the board,” said Atlas Network’s CEO Brad Lips. “Their rich history in the liberty movement and devotion to personal freedom and dignity around the world will help take our impact to new heights in the years ahead."

Atlas Network President Matt Warner joined C-SPAN’s Washington Journal on Thanksgiving to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted foreign aid. During the conversation, Warner highlighted the inefficiencies of the current top-down aid model, what to expect from the incoming administration, and introduced listeners to Atlas Network’s newest project, Dignity Unbound.