Liberales Institut

Founded in 1979, the Liberal Institute pursues as its mission the research and dissemination of the ideas of liberty. The Institute advances the Swiss tradition and culture of individual freedom, peace, openness and political diversity and furthers the development of the liberal intellectual tradition. Private autonomy on the basis of property and contract and the free exchange of ideas and products on open markets in a non-centralized institutional environment serve as guiding principles.

The Liberal Institute is Switzerland’s first independent think tank. Federal in spirit and international in outreach, it operates in four languages: German, French, Italian and English.

At the core of the activities of the Liberal Institute lie numerous book publications and online publications, as well as a series of public and private events. The institute oversees targeted programs for young talents from politics, science, journalism and business, such as the annual Liberty Summer School. In doing so, it cooperates with target-related organizations throughout Switzerland and internationally and publishes numerous scientific indexes, such as the Economic Freedom of the World Index and the Property Rights Index.

The Liberal Institute presents every year the Röpke Prize for Civil Society to individuals who have made significant contributions for the culture of liberty in Switzerland. At its Zurich site, the Institute maintains a multilingual Library of Liberty, which is available to students, researchers, and other interested parties.