ThinkTanks

Think tanks are organizations dedicated to researching public policy issues and generating evidence-based ideas and recommendations intended to inform government decisions, media narratives, and the broader public. They may focus on economics, foreign and security policy, health, education, environment, technology, or social policy, and they operate across local, national, and international levels. Think tanks vary in character from independent nonprofit institutes to government-affiliated research units and corporate or university-linked centers.

Activities include empirical research, policy analysis, data collection, modeling, and evaluation; producing reports, policy briefs, and interactive outputs; organizing seminars, briefings for lawmakers, and testimony before legislatures; and disseminating findings through publications and media appearances.

Organization and funding: Most are nonprofit with boards or trustees; staffing typically includes researchers, fellows, and project managers. Funding sources are diverse: foundations and grants, government contracts, corporate sponsorships, and individual donors. Some operate with explicit ideological or sectoral affiliations. Governance and transparency practices vary, and donor influence on research agendas is a ongoing subject of scrutiny.

Influence and role: Think tanks aim to shape policy debates by turning research into actionable recommendations, providing expert testimony, and supplying data to policymakers and journalists. Their impact ranges from direct policy adoption to shaping public discourse through op-eds, briefing papers, and policy simulations.

Criticism and challenges: Critics argue that funding sources can bias research agendas and conclusions, that limited funding may affect rigor, and that outputs can be advocacy rather than neutral analysis. Transparency about funders and conflicts of interest is uneven, and the proliferation of think tanks can complicate accountability.

Notable examples include the Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, Heritage Foundation, Center for American Progress, Bruegel, Chatham House, and the European Policy Centre.