About the American Greatness Index (AGI)
Measuring America's progress through data-driven insights and comprehensive analysis
Rationale & Context
The emergence of powerful political slogans like "Make America Great Again" in 2016 prompted important questions about how we measure national greatness. Rather than relying on subjective interpretations, we developed the AGI to provide an empirical framework for tracking America's progress across multiple administrations.
Our visualization tool allows users to compare administrations objectively, seeing how different approaches to governance have impacted key metrics of American prosperity and well-being. By providing weekly data points throughout each administration, we can track the immediate and long-term effects of policy decisions and external events.
The idea for this project was born out of a personal frustration with the overwhelming pace of political activity and the difficulty in keeping up with it all. After witnessing a whirlwind of activity, including 48 executive orders issued in just two weeks, it became clear that an automated system was needed to track and analyze this information effectively.
We wanted an easy way to keep up with the rapid changes and hold our elected officials accountable. By consolidating all this information into one comprehensive page, we aim to provide a clear, public record of our nation's progress and the impact of various administrations' policies.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower citizens, both in the United States and worldwide, with a comprehensive tool to gauge the progress and effectiveness of American governance based on concrete data and AI-driven insights, rather than relying solely on limited polls or subjective interpretations. The American Greatness Index (AGI) aims to provide a transparent, data-driven framework that allows users to track and analyze the nation's trajectory over time, spanning multiple administrations and policy changes. By offering this objective, longitudinal perspective, we seek to foster informed civic engagement, enhance public understanding of complex governmental impacts, and ultimately contribute to a more data-literate and politically aware global citizenry.
Economic Prosperity (25 points)
- GDP Growth Rate (10 points)
- National Debt (1 point)
- Unemployment Rate (4 points)
- Median Household Income (5 points)
- Innovation Index (5 points)
Public Safety (25 points)
- Violent Crime Rate (10 points)
- Property Crime Rate (5 points)
- Gun Violence Incidents (5 points)
- Incarceration Rate (5 points)
Freedom & Civic Life (15 points)
- Freedom Index (5 points)
- Trust in Government (5 points)
- Civic Engagement (5 points)
Quality of Life (15 points)
- Environmental Quality Index (5 points)
- Well-Being Index (5 points)
- Health Care Access (5 points)
Social Cohesion (20 points)
- Social Mobility (5 points)
- National Unity Score (5 points)
- Poverty Rate (5 points)
- Income Inequality (5 points)
Data Sources & Updates
Our data is sourced from authoritative government agencies and respected research institutions, including:
- Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR)
- U.S. Census Bureau
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Gallup Surveys
Data Interpretation: The AGI is designed to provide insights but should not be considered the sole measure of an administration's effectiveness. Many factors affecting these metrics may be outside of direct presidential control.
Time Lag: Some data points have natural reporting delays, meaning recent changes may not be immediately reflected in the index.
Methodology Evolution: Our methodology is continuously refined as new data sources become available and measurement techniques improve.
Independence: The American Greatness Index (AGI) is an independent project and is not affiliated with, paid for, or supported by any government organization, political party, or official entity. Our analysis and conclusions are our own and do not represent the views of any governmental body.
Scoring System Evolution: The current AGI scoring system is a work in progress. We are actively developing and refining our methodology to include additional metrics and categories that may provide a more comprehensive assessment of American greatness.
Executive Office Impact: While this project evaluates metrics during presidential administrations (executive.us), we acknowledge that attributing national outcomes solely to any single administration or individual is inherently problematic. Many factors, including Congressional actions, global events, and long-term trends, contribute to these metrics. This project serves as a point of interest and discussion rather than a definitive assessment of individual presidential performance.
AI Opinion Tool Limitations: The AI Opinion feature utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze public sentiment through data mining of blogs, social media, news sources, and other public content. We believe this tool can bring objective data and subjective perspectives together, offering a unique synthesis of quantitative metrics and qualitative public sentiment. However, users should be aware that this analysis: (1) may reflect existing biases in the source data, (2) represents a subjective interpretation rather than objective fact, (3) can be influenced by the volume and variety of available data, and (4) should be considered as supplementary insight rather than authoritative judgment. The AI's conclusions are based on pattern recognition in public discourse and may not fully capture the complexity of historical and political contexts. By combining this AI-driven analysis with our objective metrics, we aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of American greatness and its perception among the public.
Additional Categories Under Consideration:
- Military Power & Defense - Strategic capabilities, defense spending, technological advancement in defense, and global military influence
- Global Leadership & Diplomacy - International relations, treaty participation, diplomatic influence, and coalition building
- Scientific Achievement - Research funding, patent applications, Nobel laureates, and space exploration milestones
- Cultural Impact - Media influence, arts funding, cultural exports, and soft power metrics
- Infrastructure Development - Transportation systems, energy grid reliability, internet accessibility, and urban development
- Educational Excellence - Academic performance, higher education rankings, research output, and workforce development
- Environmental Stewardship - Conservation efforts, renewable energy adoption, pollution control, and climate action
- Immigration & the American Dream - Immigration policies, integration success rates, contributions of immigrants to the economy and society, and metrics related to social mobility and opportunity for newcomers
- International Relations & Global Standing - Comparative metrics such as number of embassies and diplomatic relations, participation in international organizations, foreign aid contributions, and global influence indices
Note: The inclusion of immigration metrics, particularly as they relate to the concept of the American Dream, is being carefully considered. We recognize the complex and often contentious nature of this topic and are working to develop objective measures that capture its impact on American greatness.
Future Updates: As we gather more data and refine our methodologies, these categories may be integrated into the main scoring system. We welcome feedback from experts and the public on how to best measure and weight these additional factors.
Have questions or suggestions? Please contact us or visit our homepage to explore the data.