At the launch event for the Social Progress Index Time Series (1990–2023), hosted by CEO Michael Green, our expert panel analyzed key insights from 34 years of global development. Here is a quick recap.
Research Director Jaromir Harmacek presented findings from the new Index showing incredible long-term gains, including lifting dozens of nations out of deprivation as the number of low-performing countries (<40 in SPI score) dropped from 47 to just 7 since 1990. The conversation quickly moved to how economic growth alone no longer guarantees societal progress. As panelist Elmira Bayrasli noted, decades of development policy overemphasized physical infrastructure while ignoring civil society and human rights, a trend reflected in the Index as the Opportunity dimension peaked in 2012 and dropped 2 points by 2023.
The discussion also included a quick overview of high-income countries, with MIT’s Scott Stern contrasting U.S. and European trajectories and UNDP Chief Economist Philip Schellekens analyzing Asia-Pacific trends. The Social Progress Index Time Series shows that while the lowest-performing region, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the highest-performing region, North America, narrowed the regional gap by 11 points since 1990, massive structural divides persist.
Meanwhile, social innovator Jeroo Billimoria urged a shift toward resilient local economies over top-down fixes. Closing with a critical warning, Catriona Laing highlighted how AI-driven disinformation threatens the information people need to hold leaders accountable. When citizens lose access to the truth, trust in government erodes, triggering a dangerous descent into populism and authoritarianism.
Progress differs widely across regions and countries. Convergence remains gradual, and gaps remain large.
Watch the full conversation above and use our new interactive tool to see how your country is performing!
At the launch event for the Social Progress Index Time Series (1990–2023), hosted by CEO Michael Green, our expert panel analyzed key insights from 34 years of global development. Here is a quick recap.
Research Director Jaromir Harmacek presented findings from the new Index showing incredible long-term gains, including lifting dozens of nations out of deprivation as the number of low-performing countries (<40 in SPI score) dropped from 47 to just 7 since 1990. The conversation quickly moved to how economic growth alone no longer guarantees societal progress. As panelist Elmira Bayrasli noted, decades of development policy overemphasized physical infrastructure while ignoring civil society and human rights, a trend reflected in the Index as the Opportunity dimension peaked in 2012 and dropped 2 points by 2023.
The discussion also included a quick overview of high-income countries, with MIT’s Scott Stern contrasting U.S. and European trajectories and UNDP Chief Economist Philip Schellekens analyzing Asia-Pacific trends. The Social Progress Index Time Series shows that while the lowest-performing region, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the highest-performing region, North America, narrowed the regional gap by 11 points since 1990, massive structural divides persist.
Meanwhile, social innovator Jeroo Billimoria urged a shift toward resilient local economies over top-down fixes. Closing with a critical warning, Catriona Laing highlighted how AI-driven disinformation threatens the information people need to hold leaders accountable. When citizens lose access to the truth, trust in government erodes, triggering a dangerous descent into populism and authoritarianism.
Progress differs widely across regions and countries. Convergence remains gradual, and gaps remain large.
Watch the full conversation above and use our new interactive tool to see how your country is performing!
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