The vision of the Cato Institute is a **free and open society** in which liberty allows every individual to pursue a life of prosperity and meaning in peace.
The vision of the Cato Institute is a **free and open society** in which liberty allows every individual to pursue a life of prosperity and meaning in peace.
## About Cato
For more than 40 years, Cato has led the charge for liberty in our nation and around the world. The Cato Institute is an assiduously nonpartisan and independent public policy research organization—or think tank—that creates a presence for and promotes libertarian ideas in policy debates. **Our mission is to keep the principles, ideas, and moral case for liberty alive for future generations, while moving public policy in the direction of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.**
We make liberty come alive for people by sharing our research and ideas in clear language, free of jargon. We find common ground and work with individuals and groups across the political spectrum in order to build a society that is freer, happier, and more prosperous. *We hope you will join us.*
---
## Who We Are
Our scholars and experts develop a portfolio of projects that drive tangible change in the near term while producing scholarship and research that bend the arc of ideas toward liberty in the long term. We are focusing on these key areas in order to achieve our ambitious mission and unify Americans behind the principles most of us can agree on—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Meet our leadership, scholars, and experts who embody the Cato Institute’s spirit and mission.
---
[### Leadership
](/about/leadership)
[### Scholars
](/experts)
[### Research
](/issues)
## What We Do
Since 1977, the Cato Institute has been one of the most effective voices in Washington, DC, advocating individual liberty. From media appearances in major outlets, conferences, and book publishing to top-quality research and engagement on Capitol Hill and with key agencies, Cato has successfully injected the libertarian perspective into mainstream policy debates in Washington, DC, and across the country.
---
#### In the Media
### In the Media
Cato scholars annually participate in hundreds of television, radio, and online interviews and are regularly cited in broadcasts and news articles, both in the United States and internationally. The ongoing and increased media presence of Cato scholars underscores the value that their independent and nonpartisan perspectives bring to policy issues and breaking news items.
[Browse Media](/search/category/multimedia)
#### Research
### [Research](/issues)
Research by Cato Institute scholars is published in books, academic journals, and Cato’s own policy studies and periodicals, including Regulation and Cato Journal. With sales and distributions of print editions in the tens of thousands, these publications are visited online millions of times annually from Cato.org.
[View Research](/issues)
[](https://www.cato.org/issues)
#### Publications
### [Publications](/publications)
Cato scholars play a key role in educating leaders, decisionmakers, and the public through sharply crafted and insightful op-eds regularly published and reprinted in newspapers and online news sites across the United States and around the world. Books from the Cato Institute have been praised by Nobel laureates, newspapers, political leaders, professional publications, and readers worldwide.
[View Publications](/publications)
[](https://www.cato.org/publications)
#### Social Media
### Social Media
Cato’s digital community has grown to nearly 1.6 million across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
[
Facebook
](https://www.facebook.com/CatoInstitute)
[
X
](https://twitter.com/catoinstitute)
[
Instagram
](https://www.instagram.com/catoinstitute/)
[
YouTube
](https://www.youtube.com/user/catoinstitutevideo)
[
LinkedIn
](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cato-institute/mycompany/)
[
TikTok
](https://www.tiktok.com/@catoinstitute)
[](https://www.facebook.com/CatoInstitute)
#### Student Programs
### Student Programs
Cato’s highly selective Internship program draws thousands of applicants each year for the more than 100 available positions. Also, through a wide array of programs and resources that inform, educate, and activate, Cato continually works to attract and energize liberty‐minded young people.
[About Student Programs](/student-programs)
#### Events
### [Events](/events)
Cato offers a wide array of events throughout the year—full day conferences, book and policy forums, film screenings, online programs, and more, where attendees hear from leading authorities, members of Congress, authors, scholars, and policy leaders and engage each other in discussion. Hundreds of thousands of visitors and participants engage with these programs annually.
[View More Events](https://www.cato.org/events/archives)
- In the Media
- Research
- Publications
- Social Media
- Student Programs
- Events
### In the Media
Cato scholars annually participate in hundreds of television, radio, and online interviews and are regularly cited in broadcasts and news articles, both in the United States and internationally. The ongoing and increased media presence of Cato scholars underscores the value that their independent and nonpartisan perspectives bring to policy issues and breaking news items.
[Browse Media](/search/category/multimedia)
### [Research](/issues)
Research by Cato Institute scholars is published in books, academic journals, and Cato’s own policy studies and periodicals, including Regulation and Cato Journal. With sales and distributions of print editions in the tens of thousands, these publications are visited online millions of times annually from Cato.org.
[View Research](/issues)
[](https://www.cato.org/issues)
### [Publications](/publications)
Cato scholars play a key role in educating leaders, decisionmakers, and the public through sharply crafted and insightful op-eds regularly published and reprinted in newspapers and online news sites across the United States and around the world. Books from the Cato Institute have been praised by Nobel laureates, newspapers, political leaders, professional publications, and readers worldwide.
[View Publications](/publications)
[](https://www.cato.org/publications)
### Social Media
Cato’s digital community has grown to nearly 1.6 million across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
[
Facebook
](https://www.facebook.com/CatoInstitute)
[
X
](https://twitter.com/catoinstitute)
[
Instagram
](https://www.instagram.com/catoinstitute/)
[
YouTube
](https://www.youtube.com/user/catoinstitutevideo)
[
LinkedIn
](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cato-institute/mycompany/)
[
TikTok
](https://www.tiktok.com/@catoinstitute)
[](https://www.facebook.com/CatoInstitute)
### Student Programs
Cato’s highly selective Internship program draws thousands of applicants each year for the more than 100 available positions. Also, through a wide array of programs and resources that inform, educate, and activate, Cato continually works to attract and energize liberty‐minded young people.
[About Student Programs](/student-programs)
### [Events](/events)
Cato offers a wide array of events throughout the year—full day conferences, book and policy forums, film screenings, online programs, and more, where attendees hear from leading authorities, members of Congress, authors, scholars, and policy leaders and engage each other in discussion. Hundreds of thousands of visitors and participants engage with these programs annually.
[View More Events](https://www.cato.org/events/archives)
---
##### Annual Reports
The Cato Institute annual reports document the past year’s productivity, growth, and high‐quality research grounded in the moral vision of a free and just society.
[View Annual Reports](/about/annual-reports)
# Join our mission: Become a Partner
[](https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3443) [](https://www.guidestar.org/profile/23-7432162)
Our mission and work are made possible entirely through the tax‐deductible contributions of Cato Partners, who share our commitment to a free and prosperous society. Individuals account for the vast majority of our support, with the remainder coming from foundations and corporations. We have never and will never accept a single cent from any government. We hope you will join us as a colleague in our mission.
[Benefits of Partnership](/support)
[Planned Giving](/support/planned-giving)
[Financial Information, Funding, and Independence](/financial-information-funding-independence)
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4957480/dfa4738a-9a67-4e9a-8914-bbd85fc50888) hbspt.cta.load(4957480, 'dfa4738a-9a67-4e9a-8914-bbd85fc50888', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"});
---