Source description last updated: 2 May 2023

In brief: The Brookings Institution (or Brookings for short) is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit public policy think tank that seeks to contribute to solutions to problems facing society in the USA and worldwide by providing research and analysis.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Selected reports, articles, press releases

Not regularly covered on ecoi.net.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

The beginnings of the Brookings Institution date back to 1916, when Robert S. Brookings and other government reformers established a private organisation dedicated to the fact-based study of US public policy. The present-day Brookings Institution exists since 1927. Its mission is to conduct and promote research “in the broad fields of economics, government administration and the political and social sciences.” (Brookings Institution website: Robert Somers Brookings, undated). Its research aims to bring about “new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level” (Brookings Institution website: About Us, undated). Brookings states that its research is non-partisan (Brookings Institution website: Annual Report, undated).

Brookings brings together over 300 experts with backgrounds in academia and government who provide research, analysis, and policy recommendations. (Brookings Institution website: About Us, undated)

Funding:

The Brookings Institution’s funding stems from donations, revenue from services, and investment returns, amongst others (Brookings Institution: Financial Report June 30, 2022, 23 November 2022, p. 4). Donors include private individuals as well as US and non-US government institutions, foundations, corporate entities, and universities (Brookings Institution: Annual Report 2022, 2022, pp. 24-26). During the fiscal year that ended 30 June 2022, its total assets amounted to 528,999,000 US dollars. Its total income during the same period was 94,806,000 US dollars. (Brookings Institution: Financial Report June 30, 2022, 23 November 2022, pp. 3-4)

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: Middle East and North Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North and Latin America

Thematic focus: foreign policy, defence and security, governance, business, economics, development, and other issues

Methodology:

The Brookings Institution’s publications may be authored by resident scholars, non-resident scholars and outside contributors (Brookings Institution website: Research Independence and Integrity Policies, undated). Its reports and articles are mainly based on the author’s own expertise and analysis, with some references/links provided to publications from other sources such as international media outlets, think tanks, (see, for example, Brookings Institution: Afghanistan in 2023: Taliban internal power struggles and militancy, 3 February 2023; Brookings Institution: Haiti in 2023: Political abyss and vicious gangs, 3 February 2023), academic researchers, and international organisations (Brookings Institution: Institutions, informality, and conflict in the Sahel: The case for Mali, April 2022, pp. 9-10). Brookings researchers may collaborate with other think tanks, universities, foundations, non-profit organisations and the private sector, as well as government workers. However, Brookings scholars retain final responsibility for their research products, “including deciding on methodology, analysis, conclusions, and presentation, among other things.” (Brookings Institution website: Research Independence and Integrity Policies, undated)

Languages of publication:

English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic

Further reading / links:

The American Prospect: Altercation: Is Brookings a ‘Liberal’ Think Tank or a Big-Money Lobbyist, 17 June 2022
https://prospect.org/power/altercation-is-brookings-liberal-think-tank-or-big-money-lobbyist/

Responsible Statecraft: DOJ drops probe into former Brookings president’s lobbying, 2 February 2023
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/02/02/doj-drops-probe-into-former-brookings-presidents-lobbying/

Forbes: Brookings Institution -- The Progressive Jukebox Funded By U.S. Taxpayers, 2 June 2017
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2017/06/02/brookings-institution-the-progressive-jukebox-funded-by-u-s-taxpayers/

Methodological note:

ecoi.net's source descriptions contain background information on an organisation’s mission & objective, funding and reporting methodology, as well as on how we cover the source. The descriptions were prepared after researching publicly accessible information within time constraints. Most information contained in a source description was taken from the source itself. The aim is to provide a brief introduction to the sources covered regularly, offering information on relevant aspects in one place in a systematic manner. 

All links accessed 2 May 2023.