IPEA

IPEA stands for Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada, the Institute of Applied Economic Research in Brazil. It is a Brazilian public policy research institution that provides analytical support to the federal government through economic and social research. Established by the Brazilian government in the 1960s, IPEA operates as a public foundation with close ties to the federal administration and a workforce of economists, sociologists, and other researchers.

The institute conducts macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis, program evaluation, and policy-oriented research across a range of topics, including labor markets, poverty and income inequality, education, health, housing, and regional development. Its work is designed to inform government decision-making, planning, and budgeting, and to support evidence-based policy design. IPEA publishes working papers, technical notes, and policy briefs, and it maintains datasets and statistical resources intended for public use and for collaboration with other research institutions.

IPEA’s outputs are intended to influence public policy and public discourse by providing timely, data-driven perspectives on Brazil’s development challenges and policy options. While its research supports government objectives, the institute typically aims to present balanced analyses and transparent methodologies.

The acronym IPEA can refer to other organizations in different countries depending on context, but the Brazilian Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada is the most widely known use of the term.