The mission of the Cato Institute 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, and peace

In 2024, Cato publicly shared the principles that have long guided our mission—principles rooted in individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. These principles include the beliefs that liberty is the highest political value and a moral imperative; that it is the exercise of power, not freedom, that requires justification; and that the free individual, possessing both moral worth and rights, is the fundamental unit of society.

These principles are our North Star, shaping everything we do.

They’re not just words on a page, a mission statement to frame and forget, or a business memorandum to be filed away. These are the values we live by, the founda-tion of Cato’s work, and the ideals we fight for every day. We put them into practice—ensuring that they inform debates, shape policies, and reach new audiences.

This report shows how Cato is turning principle into progress—challenging government overreach, advanc-ing pro-liberty reforms, and equipping policymakers, scholars, and citizens with the tools to defend freedom.