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Cato Courses is a dynamic online learning platform designed to teach the ideas of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
Engage with core concepts through immersive lessons that make learning stick.
Converse with historical guides like Socrates and Bastiat to deepen your understanding.
Test your knowledge with challenging quizzes that explore and reinforce key ideas.
Our Courses
Dive into key topics shaping the world today, built to make classical liberal
ideas engaging and relevant.
Explore the remarkable pace of the world’s progress and the key drivers of success.
Learn how immigrants have long advanced America’s freedom and prosperity.
Journey through the evolution of the criminal justice system and how to create a more just society.
Dive into the extraordinary pace of global progress propelling human advancement worldwide.
Examine the current state of education and innovative solutions.
Discover the system that has lifted billions out of poverty and expanded individual freedom.
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Cato Courses made complex ideas accessible and genuinely fun to learn. The AI chatbots are a game-changer!
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As an educator, I'm impressed by the quality and depth of the content. It's a fantastic resource for introducing students to the ideas of liberty.
Dr. Sarah Lee
Economics Professor
I finally understand the nuances of globalization. The platform is engaging and respects the learner’s intelligence.
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Engage in free AI-powered conversations with history's greatest champions of liberty. Ask questions, explore ideas, and deepen your understanding of freedom.
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What is Cato Courses?
Cato Courses is a free online learning platform designed to help students, educators, and lifelong learners explore the ideas that shape a free and flourishing society. In today’s digital-first world, people increasingly rely on interactive tools, videos, and accessible online content to understand complex topics. Yet many platforms offer incomplete or one-sided explanations of markets, institutions, and public policy.
Cato Courses fills this gap by offering free, high-quality, self-paced courses built on the Cato Institute’s long tradition of evidence-based research. The platform introduces essential concepts related to individual freedom, limited government, free markets, innovation, and human progress, making these principles easy to discover and apply.
Designed primarily for learners ages 16 to 25, Cato Courses features clear, concise modules supported by interactive quizzes, real-world examples, and AI-powered chatbots that help students think critically and evaluate claims for themselves. Rather than pushing predetermined answers, the platform encourages independent reasoning and thoughtful engagement with topics such as:
Capitalism and economic freedom
Globalization and trade
K–12 education and school choice
Criminal justice reform
Human progress and innovation
Immigration and opportunity
Whether someone is new to these ideas or looking for a deeper understanding, Cato Courses offers a modern and engaging way to learn about the principles that support a free and open society.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does lifetime access sound? Once you create a free account, you have unlimited access to every course, quiz, and chatbot on Cato Courses. You can return anytime and continue learning at your own pace on any device you use.
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Cato Courses is completely free. The platform is funded by partners of the Cato Institute who believe in expanding access to high-quality learning about individual freedom, limited government, free markets, and peace. There are no fees, subscriptions, or hidden costs.
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Cato Courses is designed for anyone who wants to understand the ideas that support a free and open society. The platform is especially helpful for:
Students and young professionals who want to explore new ideas and build a strong foundation in economics, policy, and human progress.
Think tank staff and policy experts who want clear, accessible explanations to support research and professional work.
Civic and community leaders who want reliable, evidence-based content to inform public discussions.
Advocates and organizers who want stronger arguments and a deeper understanding of the principles they promote.
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Yes. Cato Courses is beginner friendly. The platform is designed for learners who may be encountering these ideas for the first time. Each course starts with clear explanations, real-world examples, and short, accessible modules. Whether you are completely new to these concepts or looking to strengthen your understanding, you will find the material easy to follow and rewarding to explore.
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You do not need anything to get started. All course materials are provided for you. Some learners like to keep a notebook for reflections or key ideas, but it is completely optional.
About the Cato Institute
For more than 40 years, Cato has led the charge for liberty in our nation and around the world. The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization—or think tank—that creates a presence for and promotes libertarian ideas in policy debates.
Our mission 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, free markets, and peace.
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