Ideas for
Prosperity
Tomorrow’s leaders need better, bolder ideas about how to make our society freer and more prosperous. That’s why the Civitas Institute exists, plain and simple.
Through research, commentary, and public outreach, we explore all aspects of a free and vibrant society, including economic dynamism, individual flourishing, civic virtue, and constitutionalism.
The Civitas Institute is part of the School of Civic Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin.
Independent thought, civil discourse, free speech, reasoned deliberation and intellectual curiosity are central to our ethos.
The Civitas Institute takes its name from The University of Texas at Austin motto, Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis, a condensed Latin rendering of Mirabeau Lamar’s famous statement that a “cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy.”
This origin reflects both the university’s institutional heritage and the Institute’s interest in the link between knowledge and liberty.
Our history
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We are dedicated to exploring the ideas and institutions that create flourishing societies.
The Miracle of Economic Growth
Frey's book reminds us that progress is not self-sustaining — it depends on political courage, institutional adaptation, and the constant defense of the sphere of liberty.
Hydrocarbons Aren’t Disappearing
Credit ratings agencies remain enamored with the energy-transition myth — risking yet another green bubble for investors.
China’s Engineers, America’s Lawyers, and the Hearts of Men
Dan Wang's newest work is indispensable not only for Americans interested in China but also for those who are concerned about the direction of their own country.
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