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Quality. Independence. Impact.

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad goals:

  • Strengthen American democracy;
  • Foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and
  • Secure a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system.

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Quality Scholarship

The research agenda and recommendations of Brookings experts are rooted in open-minded inquiry and our scholars represent diverse points of view. More than 200 resident and nonresident fellows research issues; write books, papers, articles and opinion pieces; testify before congressional committees and participate in dozens of public events each year. The Institution’s president, Strobe Talbott, is responsible for setting policies that maintain Brookings’s reputation for quality, independence and impact.

More about Brookings's experts »

More about Brookings's leadership »

A Meeting Place for Ideas

The Brookings Institution has always played an important role in bringing expertise, balance and informed debate to the public discussion of policy choices.

Over the years, Brookings has offered a platform to national and global leaders. Our unique convening power has brought together diverse voices from a range of critical regions, helping to clarify differences and find common ground.

90 Years of Policy Ideas

Brookings traces its beginnings to 1916, when a group of leading reformers founded the Institute for Government Research, the first private organization devoted to analyzing public policy issues at the national level. In 1922 and 1924, one of the institute’s backers, Robert Somers Brookings (1850-1932), established two supporting sister organizations: the Institute of Economics and a graduate school bearing his name. In 1927, the three groups merged to form The Brookings Institution.

Over the past 90 years, Brookings has contributed to landmark achievements in public policy, including organization of the United Nations, design of the Marshall Plan, creation of the Congressional Budget Office, deregulation, broad-based tax reform, welfare reform and the design of foreign aid programs. We also offer a platform to world leaders, using our convening power to inform the public debate. As part of our global mission, we operate the Brookings-Tsinghua Center for Public Policy in Beijing and the Brookings Doha Center in Qatar.

More about our history »

An Independent Voice

Brookings is financed through an endowment and through the support of philanthropic foundations, corporations and private individuals. These friends of the Institution respect our experts’ independence to pose questions, search for answers and present their findings in the way that they see fit.

Our board of trustees is composed of distinguished business executives, academics, former government officials and community leaders. An International Advisory Committee is composed of public and private sector leaders from fifteen countries.

Read the Annual Report »

Board of Trustees »

Brookings Councils »

CONTACTS

General Inquiries
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202.797.6220  |  E-mail

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All-Brookings Priorities

On five key challenges, Brookings is drawing expertise from all of our programs to develop integrated solutions.

Learn More »

Action and Impact

For more than 90 years, Brookings has produced new ideas that matter - for the nation and the world. Our goal is to conduct high-quality, independent research, and to use it to advance innovative, practical public policy recommendations.

Our experts focus on strengthening American democracy; advancing the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans; and securing a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system.

Informing Public Policy

"Brookings has been at the center of every important policy debate in this country for 90 years."
Sen. Chuck Hagel, July 28, 2006

"You are a national institution, so important to, at least, the Executive Branch—and, I think, the Congress, and the country—that if you did not exist we would have to ask someone to create you."
President Lyndon Johnson, September 29, 1966 (read entire speech »)

"Our job is to come up with ideas that make sense and that make a difference."
Strobe Talbott, Brookings President

"Brookings has achieved a special measure of respect in Washington because it has risen above partisanship, and that is not an easy thing to do in this town which is sort of built on partisanship."
Hon. Michael Bloomberg, Mayor, City of New York, August 28, 2007

"Once again, the centrist Brookings Institution garnered the most [media] citations ..."
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, March/April 2008

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Spotlight

Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers. Read More

ExpertAlice M. Rivlin

Alice Rivlin, the first director of the Congressional Budget Office, is an expert on urban issues as well as fiscal, monetary and social policy. She directs the Greater Washington Research project. 

ExpertJeffrey A. Bader

Jeffrey Bader worked at the State Department, the National Security Council, and the United States Trade Representative’s office during his 27-year career with the U.S. Government. He is an expert on U.S.-China relations and director of the John L. Thornton China Center.

ExpertWing Thye Woo

Wing Thye Woo, an expert on the East Asian economies, particularly China, Indonesia and Malaysia, has advised the U.S. Treasury Department, the IMF, World Bank and the United Nations.

ExpertRichard C. Bush III

Richard Bush’s two-decade public service career spans Congress, the intelligence community and the U.S. State Department. Director of the Center on Northeast Asian Policy Studies, he currently focuses on China-Taiwan relations, U.S.-China relations, the Korean peninsula and Japan’s security.

ExpertMartin Neil Baily

Martin Baily, a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, focuses on issues of globalization, productivity and competitiveness, Social Security reform and U.S. economic policy.

Policy CenterCenter for Northeast Asian Policy Studies

CNAPS conducts research, analysis, and outreach designed to enhance policy development and understanding on the pressing political, economic, and security issues facing Northeast Asia.

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  Her current projects focus on the politics of federal judicial selection and the consequences of partisan polarization.

Operational CenterBrookings-Tsinghua Center for Public Policy

The Brookings-Tsinghua Center brings together Chinese and American scholars to sharpen thinking about, research on, and understanding of public policy issues raised by China's emergence.

Policy CenterJohn L. Thornton China Center

The John L. Thornton China Center develops analysis and policy recommendations to help address key long-term challenges, both in terms of U.S.-China relations and China's internal development.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

Policy CenterWolfensohn Center for Development

The Wolfensohn Center seeks effective solutions to key development challenges in order to create a more prosperous and stable world with a focus on aid effectiveness, early childhood development and Middle East youth.

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ExpertErica S. Downs

Erica Downs focuses on Chinese energy and foreign policies, as well as institutional change and government-business relations in China’s energy sector. She was an energy analyst at the CIA.

ExpertRebecca Blank

Rebecca Blank is an expert on the interaction between the macroeconomy, government anti-poverty programs, and the behavior and well being of low-income families. She has just been named the Robert V. Kerr senior fellow at Brookings.

ExpertCheng Li

A director of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Cheng Li focuses on the transformation of political leaders, generational change and technological development in China.

ExpertWarwick J. McKibbin

An international economics expert based in Australia, Warwick McKibbin focuses his research on global climate change; the emergence of China and India into the world economy; and global economic modeling.