Center for Economic and Policy Research: Difference between revisions

The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) is a progressive economic policy think-tank based in Washington, DC, founded in 1999. CEPR works on Social Security, the US housing bubble, developing country economies (particularly Latin America), and gaps in the social policy fabric of the US economy.

According to its own analysis, CEPR ranked first or second for cost-effectiveness in 2004-2008 among the 25 most widely-cited think-tanks, in terms of media citations and web traffic per dollar of budget. On its 2006 budget of $1.3m, CEPR achieved 197 media citations.^[1] In 2008 CEPR had the maximum four-star efficiency rating from Charity Navigator.^[2]

In spite of the similarity in their names, this think tank is not affiliated with the London-based Centre for Economic Policy Research.^[3] The two organizations are not related in any way.

CEPR was founded by economists and current co-directors Dean Baker and Mark Weisbrot in 1999.^[4] In addition to Baker and Weisbrot, CEPR's economists are David Rosnick, Jose Antonio Cordero, and John Schmitt. The think tank's research fellows include Buenos Aires-based economist Roberto Frenkel, UK-based economist Ha-Joon Chang, and U.S.-based economists Randy Albelda, Marcellus Andrews, Niki Dickerson, William Spriggs, and Ben Zipperer.^[5]

CEPR's Advisory Board of Economists includes Nobel Laureate economists Robert Solow and Joseph Stiglitz; Richard B. Freeman, Professor of Economics at Harvard University; Eileen Appelbaum, Professor and Director of the Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University; and Janet Gornick, Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and Director of the Luxembourg Income Study.^[6]

According to CEPR's website,^[4]

The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives. In order for citizens to effectively exercise their voices in a democracy, it is necessary that they be informed about the problems and choices that they face. CEPR is committed to presenting issues in an accurate and understandable manner, so that the public is better prepared to choose among the various policy options.
Toward this end, CEPR conducts both professional research and public education. The professional research is oriented towards filling important gaps in the understanding of particular economic and social problems, or the impact of specific policies. The public education portion of CEPR's mission is to present the findings of professional research, both by CEPR and others, in a manner that allows broad segments of the public to know exactly what is at stake in major policy debates. An informed public should be able to choose policies that lead to an improving quality of life, both for people within the United States and around the world.

CEPR spokespersons have advocated for liberal and left-leaning positions, such as continuation of funding for the Survey of Income and Program Participation, for cancellation of multilateral debt for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC's) such as Haiti, for the International Monetary Fund to cease making loans conditional on recipient countries’ adoption of austerity measures, for policies that would allow U.S. homeowners facing foreclosure to stay in their homes by breaking the contract with the mortgage company and paying a market-determined rent, for an end to the strong dollar policy that makes U.S. exports artificially expensive, for a shorter work week to be included in current U.S. economic stimulus measures, and for the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve to warn the public of the dangers of bubbles such as the recent U.S. housing bubble – the collapse of which led to the current economic downturn – among various other policies.

CEPR publishes reports and opinions on a number of issues. Its geographical focus outside the United States is primarily on Latin America, and in particular on Argentina, Bolivia and Venezuela.^[7] On a number of occasions and on a variety of topics, CEPR has contributed to Congressional hearings.^[8]

According to a 2004 National Review article, the Venezuela Information Office (VIO)—a lobbying agency whose goal is to improve the perception of Venezuela in the US^[9]—"coordinates a media response team" that includes "representatives from the Center for Economic Policy and Research".^[10] CEPR representatives signed a letter to the editor of the Center for Public Integrity, saying that their statements about the VIO were "highly misleading".^[11]

• CEPR Website