The devolution of America's think tanks
Over the past 50 years, America's poltical think tanks have shifted towards political combat and away from nonpartisan research.
Over the past 50 years, America's poltical think tanks have shifted towards political combat and away from nonpartisan research.
Over at National Affairs, Tevi Troy reviews the evolution鈥揳nd, he believes, devaluation鈥搊f America鈥檚 think tanks. He leads off by noting how many think tanks have shifted toward political combat and rapid response and away from non-partisan research:
He summarizes this trend as聽鈥漧ose an election, gain a think tank鈥�. Looking ahead, he then notes:
Needless to say, I hope鈥揳nd intend鈥搕hat there remains a place for policy research separate from the political noise.
In addition to recounting the聽origins and activities of many聽prominent think tanks, including the American Enterprise Institute, the Brookings Institution, the Center for American Progress, and the聽Heritage Foundation, Tevi offers some interesting facts about the industry, including the rising number of think tanks (1,800 today versus 45 after the Second World War) and the declining share of Ph.D.s on聽think tank staffs (13% of scholars in think tanks founded since 1980 vs. 53% in those founded before 1960).
The聽entire essay is well worth your time if you are interested in the evolving role of think tanks in policy discussions.
P.S. Tevi鈥檚 article make no mention of my research center, the Tax Policy Center, or my employer, the Urban Institute.