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|website = [http://www.brookings.edu brookings.edu]
|website = [http://www.brookings.edu brookings.edu]
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==About==
The Hamilton Project is an [[Economic Policy Program]] (EPP) developed to address America’s alarming economic challenges and create a resolution. The Hamilton Project was launched by The Brookings Institution, one of Washington's oldest [[think tanks]], on April 6th, 2006. It was arranged in order to conduct a strategy to advance America's currently besieged economy along with its promise of opportunity, prosperity, and growth. The project’s economic strategy proposes the belief that long-term prosperity is best achieved by fostering economic growth and broad participation in that growth, by enhancing individual economic security, and by embracing a role for effective government in making needed public investments.
A group of professionals have begun putting this belief into action by brainstorming with leading thinkers on a global scale, working to inject new policy options from leading thinkers across the country into the national economic debate.
“We believe that today’s increasingly competitive global economy requires public policy ideas commensurate with the challenges of the 21st Century. Our strategy calls for combining increased public investments in key growth-enhancing areas, a secure social safety net, and fiscal discipline. In that framework, the Project puts forward innovative proposals from leading economic thinkers—based on credible evidence and experience, not ideology or doctrine to introduce new and effective policy options into the national debate. “
Composed mostly of Democrats, the group states a clear preference for market-based solutions to America’s problems. The forming solutions created by this group reject the embryonic signs of protectionism recently visible on Capitol Hill. It makes a strong case for the state to play a more constructive role both in improving the efficiency of America’s market economy, but also in addressing the growing inequity of market outcomes.
With concern for the well being of American workers and their families, The Hamilton Project draws attention to the consequences of a weak job market. In light of this concern, The Hamilton Project has launched a competition earlier this year to attract bold new solutions for creating jobs and enhancing productivity from a broad audience. Submissions are due April 1 and encouraged from professionals of all backgrounds from around the nation.

==creation==
==creation==
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C.,[1] in the United States.
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C.,[1] in the United States.

Revision as of 19:11, 22 March 2011

AbbreviationBrookings
Formation1916
TypePublic Policy Think Tank
Headquarters1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Location
President
Strobe Talbott
Websitebrookings.edu

creation

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C.,[1] in the United States. Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and global economy and development.[2][3] Brookings states that its scholars "represent diverse points of view" and describes itself as non-partisan.[1][4] The organization's president, Strobe Talbott, was the United States Deputy Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton. Brookings employs five research vice presidents: Kemal Derviş (former head of UNDP), Karen Dynan, Bruce Katz, Martin Indyk, and Darrell M. West. Ted Gayer serves as co-director of the Economic Studies program. Its stated mission is to "provide innovative and 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."[1] The founding members state their reasoning for the name “The Hamilton Project”: “The Project is named after Alexander Hamilton, the nation’s first treasury secretary, who laid the foundation for the modern American economy. Consistent with the guiding principles of the Project, Hamilton stood for sound fiscal policy, believed that broad-based opportunity for advancement would drive American economic growth, and recognized that “prudent aids and encouragements on the part of government” are necessary to enhance and guide market forces.”


History

1916–1979

Brookings was founded in 1916 as the Institute for Government Research (IGR), with the mission of becoming "the first private organization devoted to analyzing public policy issues at the national level."[1]

The Institution's founder, philanthropist Robert S. Brookings (1850–1932), originally financed the formation of three organizations: the Institute for Government Research, the Institute of Economics, and the Robert Brookings Graduate School affiliated with Washington University in St. Louis.[2] The three were merged into the Brookings Institution in 1927.[2]

During the Great Depression economists at Brookings embarked on a large scale study commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to understand the underlying causes of the depression. Brookings's first president Harold Moulton and other Brookings scholars later led an effort to oppose President Roosevelt's New Deal policies because they thought such measures were impeding economic recovery.[3] With the outbreak of World War II, Brookings researchers turned their attention to aiding the administration with a series of studies on mobilization.

In 1948, Brookings was asked to submit a plan for the administration of the European Recovery Program. The resulting organization scheme assured that the Marshall Plan was run carefully and on a businesslike basis.[4]

In 1952, Robert Calkins succeeded Moulton as president of the Brookings Institution. He secured grants from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation that put the Institution on a strong financial basis. He reorganized the Institution around the Economic Studies, Government Studies, and Foreign Policy Progams. In 1957, the Institution moved from Jackson Avenue to a new research center near Dupont Circle on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, DC.[5]

Kermit Gordon assumed the presidency of Brookings in 1967. He began a series of studies of program choices for the federal budget in 1969 entitled "Setting National Priorities." He also expanded the Foreign Policy Studies Program to include research in national security and defense. After the election of Richard Nixon to the presidency in 1968, the relationship between the Brookings Institution and the White House deteriorated – in the report that became known as the Huston Plan (also referred to sometimes as the White House Horrors), Nixon's aid Charles Colson proposed a firebombing of the Institution. Yet throughout the 1970s, Brookings was offered more federal research contracts than it could handle.[6]

1980–2009

By the 1980s, the Institution faced an increasingly competitive and ideologically charged intellectual environment. The need to reduce the federal budget deficit became a major research theme as well as investigating problems with national security and government inefficiency. Bruce MacLaury, fourth president of Brookings, also established the Center for Public Policy Education to develop workshop conferences and public forums to broaden the audience for research programs.[7]

In 1995, Michael Armacost became the fifth president of the Brookings Institution and led an effort to refocus the Institution's mission heading into the 21st Century. Under Armacost's direction, Brookings created several interdisciplinary research centers such as the Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy (now the Metropolitan Policy Program, led by Bruce J. Katz), brought attention to the plight of cities and metropolitan areas, and the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, which brings together specialists from different Asian countries to examine regional problems.

Strobe Talbott became president of Brookings in 2002. Shortly thereafter, Brookings launched the Saban Center for Middle East Policy and the John L. Thornton China Center. In October 2006, Brookings announced the establishment of the Brookings-Tsinghua Center in Beijing. In July 2007, the Institution announced the creation of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform to be directed by senior fellow Mark McClellan, and then in October 2007, the creation of the Brookings Doha Center directed by fellow Hady Amr in Qatar.

Publications

Brookings as an institution produces an Annual Report.[8] The Brookings Institution Press publishes books and journals from the institution's own research as well as authors outside the organization.[9] The books and journals they publish include Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy, Globalphobia: Confronting Fears about Open Trade, India: Emerging Power, Through Their Eyes, Taking the High Road, Masses in Flight and Stalemate to name a few. In addition, books, papers, articles, reports, policy briefs and opinion pieces are produced by Brookings research programs, centers, projects and, for the most part, by experts.[10][11]

Policy influence

Brookings traces its history back to 1916 and has contributed to the creation of the United Nations, the Marshall Plan, and the Congressional Budget Office, as well as influenced policies of deregulation, broad-based tax reform, welfare reform, and foreign aid.[12] It is ranked the number one think tank in the U.S. in the annual think tank index published by Foreign Policy,[13] of the 200 most prominent think tanks in the U.S., the Brookings Institution's research is the most widely cited by the media.[14][15] In a 1997 survey of congressional staff and journalists, Brookings ranked as the second-most influential and first in credibility among 27 think tanks.[16] Moreover, “Brookings and its researchers are not so concerned, in their work, in affecting the ideological direction of the nation” and rather tend “to be staffed by researchers with strong academic credentials.”[16] Along with the American Enterprise Institute and Heritage Foundation, Brookings is generally considered one of the three most influential policy institutes in the U.S.[17]

Political stance

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Brookings describes itself as independent and non-partisan. The New York Times has referred to the organization as liberal, liberal-centrist, centrist, and conservative.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24] In 2008, The New York Times published an article where it referred to the "conservative Brookings Institution,", but the term "liberal" has been applied more frequently. The Washington Post has described Brookings as centrist and liberal.[25][26][27][28] The Los Angeles Times described Brookings as liberal-leaning and centrist before concluding these labels made no sense.[29][30][31][32] In 1977, Time Magazine described them as the "nation's pre-eminent liberal think tank."[33] Newsweek has described Brookings as centrist.[34] In addition, the organization is described as centrist by the liberal media watchdog group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting.[15][35][36][37]

Some liberals argue that despite its left-of-center reputation, Brookings foreign policy scholars have been overly supportive of Bush administration policies abroad.[38][39] Matthew Yglesias, for example, has pointed out that Brookings's Michael O'Hanlon frequently agrees with—and appears on stage with—scholars from conservative organizations such as the American Enterprise Institute, The Weekly Standard, and the Project for a New American Century.[38] Similarly, Brookings fellow and research director Benjamin Wittes is a member of the conservative Hoover Institution's Task Force on National Security and Law.[40] A number of Brookings scholars have served in Republican and Democratic administrations,[clarification needed] including Mark McClellan, Ron Haskins and Martin Indyk.[41]

The Brookings Board of Trustees include prominent Republicans such as Kenneth Duberstein, a former chief of staff to Ronald Reagan, and prominent Democrats, such as Laura Tyson, former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under Bill Clinton. Its scholars include former government officials hailing from both Democratic and Republican administrations, as well as many who have not served in government and do not advertise a party affiliation.[42]

Saban Center for Middle East Policy

In 2002, the Brookings Institution established the Saban Center for Middle East Policy in order "to promote a better understanding of the policy choices facing American decision makers in the Middle East".[43] The Center is named after Haim Saban, an Israeli-American media proprietor, who donated $13 million toward its establishment[44] and directed by Ken Pollack.

21st Century Defense Initiative

The 21st Century Defense Initiative (21CDI) is aimed at producing research, analysis, and outreach that address three core issues: the future of war, the future of U.S. defense needs and priorities, and the future of the U.S. defense system.[45]

The Initiative draws on the knowledge from regional centers, including the Center on the United States and Europe, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, the Thorton China Center, and the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, allowing the integration of regional knowledge.[46]

Peter W. Singer, author of Wired for War, serves as the Director of the 21st Century Defense Initiative and Dr. Michael E. O'Hanlon, serves as the Director of Research.[46] Senior Fellow Stephen P. Cohen and Vanda Felbab-Brown are also affiliated with 21CDI.[47]

Brookings Executive Education

Under Brookings President Bruce MacLaury's leadership in the 1980s, the Center for Public Policy Education (CPPE) was formed to develop workshop conferences and public forums to broaden the audience for research programs. In 2005, the Center was renamed the Brookings Center for Executive Education (BCEE), which was shortened to Brookings Executive Education (BEE) with the launch of a partnership with the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.[48]

Funders

At the end of 2004 the Brookings Institution had assets of $258 million and spent $39.7 million, while its budget has grown to more than $80 million in 2009.[49] Its largest contributors include the Ford Foundation, the Gates Foundation, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and her husband Richard C. Blum, Bank of America, ExxonMobil, Pew Charitable Trusts, the MacArthur Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation; and the governments of the United States, Japan, Qatar, Taipei, the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom.

See also

References

  1. ^ Brookings Institution History Brookings Institution.
  2. ^ a b "Robert Somers Brookings – Brookings Institution". Brookings.edu. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  3. ^ Brookings History: The Depression.
  4. ^ Brookings History: War and Readjustment.
  5. ^ Brookings History: Academic Prestige.
  6. ^ Brookings History: National Doubts and Confusion.
  7. ^ Brookings History: Setting New Agendas.
  8. ^ "Brookings Annual Report". Brookings.edu. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  9. ^ "Brookings Institution Press". Brookings.edu. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  10. ^ "Brookings Press Blog". Brookingspress.typepad.com. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  11. ^ "Brookings Institution Press: Books". Brookings.edu. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  12. ^ [1], Brookings Institution History.
  13. ^ [2], Foreign Policy: The Think Tank Index.
  14. ^ "A Measure of Media Bias" by Tim Groseclose and Jeff Milyo, December 2004.
  15. ^ a b Study Finds First Drop in Think Tank Cites by Michael Dolny, ‘’FAIR’’, May/June 2006
  16. ^ a b War of Ideas: Why Mainstream and Liberal Foundations and the Think Tanks they Support are Losing in the War of Ideas in American Politics by Andrew Rich, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Spring 2006
  17. ^ Happy Birthday, Heritage Foundation by Jacob Weisberg, Slate, January 9, 1998
  18. ^ [3], Closing Guantanamo.
  19. ^ Next Generation of Conservatives (By the Dormful) by Jason DeParle, ‘’New York Times’’, June 14, 2005
  20. ^ Silicon Valley's New Think Tank Stakes Out 'Radical Center' by Neil A. Lewis, ‘’New York Times’’, May 15, 1999
  21. ^ ECONOMIC VIEW; Friedman And Keynes, Trading Pedestals by Tom Redburn, ‘’New York Times’’, September 24, 2000
  22. ^ Marshall A. Robinson, 83, Former Foundation Chief, Dies by Wolfgang Saxon, ‘’New York Times’’, January 13, 2006
  23. ^ Air Force's Newest Jet Fighter Is in Fierce Fight, in Capitol by Elizabeth Becker, ‘’New York Times’’, September 8, 1999
  24. ^ The Way to Save ‘’New York Times’’, February 20, 2006
  25. ^ Mr. Obama's Jobs Plan "The Washington Post", December 9, 2009
  26. ^ Stumping for Attention To Deficit Disorder by Lori Montgomery, ‘’The Washington Post’’, June 21, 2007
  27. ^ The Unbelievable Karl Rove by Dan Froomkin, ‘’Washingtonpost.com’’, November 13, 2006
  28. ^ 2003 Budget Completes Big Jump in Spending by Glenn Kessler, ‘’The Washington Post’’, April 15, 2002
  29. ^ [4], "Left-leaning" or "Nonpartisan"?.
  30. ^ Parties Suggest They'd Yield for Stimulus Pact by Maura Reynolds and Richard Simon, ‘’Los Angeles Times’’, January 17, 2008
  31. ^ U.S. Won't Say Who Killed Militant by Josh Meyer, ‘’Los Angeles Times’’, February 2, 2008
  32. ^ A green light to genocide by Goldberg, ‘’Los Angeles Times’’, July 24, 2007
  33. ^ The Other Think Tank Time Magazine, September 19, 1977
  34. ^ Economists Agree: Unemployment Will Stay High Through November, "Newsweek", May 25, 2010
  35. ^ Sam Husseini, "Brookings: The Establishment's Think Tank," Extra!, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (November/December 1998).
  36. ^ Lawrence Soley, "Brookings: Stand-In for the Left," Extra!, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (1991).
  37. ^ Michael Dolny, "Think Tanks in a Time of Crisis," Extra!, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (March/April 2002).
  38. ^ a b Very Serious Indeed by Matthew Yglesias, Atlantic Monthly, August 24, 2007
  39. ^ The Truth Behind the Pollack-O'Hanlon Trip to Iraq by Glenn Greenwald, Salon.com.
  40. ^ "Yoonited States of America". Tnr.com. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  41. ^ [5], The Brookings Institution Experts.
  42. ^ [6], The Brookings Board of Trustees.
  43. ^ About Us, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution
  44. ^ Saban Family Foundation Announces $100 Million in Charitable Gifts Find Articles 2003-06-23
  45. ^ "21st Century Defense Initiative - Brookings Institution". Brookings.edu. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  46. ^ a b http://www.brookings.edu/projects/21defense/about.aspx
  47. ^ http://www.brookings.edu/projects/21defense/experts.aspx
  48. ^ http://www.brookings.edu/execed/aboutexeced.aspx
  49. ^ Brookings Annual Report
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