How a Canadian think tank became a global force for free-market public policy

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1974 to challenge government intervention, the Fraser Institute has grown into a major libertarian voice. While it consistently ranks among the world's top think tanks, its research on topics ranging from tobacco regulation to healthcare wait times has frequently sparked intense debate among scientists and public health officials.

Established in Vancouver by economist Michael Walker and businessman T. Patrick Boyle, the Fraser Institute was created with the mission to study and communicate the impact of competitive markets. Its origins are often linked to a desire to counter the provincial NDP government of the time. Over the decades, it has evolved into a registered charity governed by a board of directors primarily composed of prominent corporate executives and financial leaders.

The institute is perhaps best known for its extensive series of self-published reports and indices. These include the Economic Freedom of the World index, which ranks nations by their degree of economic liberty, and the Human Freedom Index, produced in partnership with the Cato Institute. Domestically, the organization is recognized for its annual reports on Canadian healthcare wait times and its school report cards, which rank academic performance based on standardized testing results.

Despite its high ranking in the University of Pennsylvania's Global Go To Think Tank Index, the institute has faced significant criticism. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, it received funding from tobacco companies, leading to accusations that it was attempting to discredit scientific evidence regarding second-hand smoke. Critics have also challenged its research on tobacco taxation, arguing that claims linking taxes to increased smuggling are exaggerated. The institute maintains that it is an independent, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting individual choice and personal responsibility.

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