LibGuides: Economics: Researching Economics on the Web

Think Tanks - Researching and Influencing Public Policies

What Are Think Tanks?

Think tank is a phrase used to describe organizations (usually non-profit) which conduct public policy research and analysis.

They often publish papers based on their research and make them available for free on their web sites.

Some think tanks are non-partison, but others advocate particular political positions. Be sure to take this into consideration when evaluating their material.

Think Tank Search
Think Tank Search searches the websites of institutions that generate public policy research, analysis, and activity. These sites are affiliated with universities, governments, advocacy groups, foundations, and non-governmental organizations. Inclusion is based upon the relevancy of subject area to HKS coursework and scholarship, the availability of the think tank’s research in full-text on the website, and the think tank’s reputation and influence upon policy making. The list represents a mixture of partisan and non-partisan think tanks. Provided by Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

Center for American Progress.
Progressive research and advocacy organization "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action."
The Brookings Institution
Conduct research on ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global levels.

Pew Research Center
Nonpartisan institute conducting public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research.
Resources for the Future
Independent nonpartisan organization conducting economic policy research concerning natural resources and the environment.
Kaiser Family Foundation
The Kaiser Family Foundation focuses on major healthcare issues in the US and, to a lesser extent, the world.

American Enterprise Institute
Conservative think tank addressing government, politics, economics and social welfare.
Cato Institute
Libertarian think tank "dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace."
The Heritage Foundation
Think tank with a mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies.
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
A nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government.

US & International Economic Data

Governments make lots of economic data and reports freely available on the web. Consider searching using Google for data. To do it, just type in your topic them add this to the end... site:.gov

Here are examples:

air travel data site:.gov

marine shipping data site:.gov

Budget of the U.S. Government
Yearly budget; inludes links to previous years and budget amendments.
Bureau of Economic Analysis
from the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis - an excellent source of national and international data
Bureau of Labor Statistics
United States Labor Statistics, many current to October, 2010.
Economic Data on the U.S. Economy
The U.S. Census issues reports that show how the economy is doing (you'll see news stories about these.) This links to a list of the most recent reports.
Federal Economic Indicators
A monthly snapshot of data on the economy, including GDP, employment, production, and credit rates.
GAO (Government Accountability Office)
Analyses of different sectors of the economy

CIA World Factbooks
Current data about the economy of each country in the world.
Observatory of Economic Complexity
A visualization of the value of trade between countries, Data source: UN Statistical Division (COMTRADE)
OECD (organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)
Good source for data and analysis on issues that directly affect everyone’s daily life
World Trade Organization - Trade Statistics
International trade and tariff data
Eurostat
Current statistical data on the economies of the EU
Global Edge (from Michigan State University)
A research tool for academics, students and businesspeople
World Bank Open Data
Access to the World Bank's vast collection of economic, social, population, and development data.

The Federal Reserve

Data and research papers. Current and historical. Chicago; St. Louis; New York; Atlanta; Cleveland; Minneapolis; Philadelphia; Dallas; Boston; Kansas City; San Francisco; Richmond; Federal Reserve System Board of Governors; Fed in Print.

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
St Louis Fed Financial and Economic Time-Series Database with interest rates, GDP, exchange rates, employment, balance of payments, etc.
ALFRED
Find archival versions of economic data.
GeoFRED
Map economic data for employment, taxes, income, etc.
FRASER
Earlier data in PDF format. Compliment to ALFRED and FRED.