American Enterprise Institute
Defending human dignity, expanding human potential, and building a freer and safer world.
Since 1938, AEI has been advancing ideas rooted in democracy, free enterprise, American strength and global leadership, individual liberty, and a pluralistic, entrepreneurial culture through rigorous research and open debate.
Explore Our Work →The Challenge to Free Enterprise
The free enterprise system that has led to broad prosperity for billions of people around the world faces significant threats:
The free enterprise system faces unprecedented challenges:
- Nearly half of America's young people say they would prefer to live under socialism
- Many entrepreneurs say they could not start their businesses in today's regulatory environment
- Government policies increasingly threaten limited government and individual liberty
- American global leadership faces challenges from authoritarian regimes
- Democratic capitalism's foundations need defending and strengthening
Founded in 1938 in response to threats of permanent wartime price controls, AEI was created to preserve the system of free, competitive enterprise. Today, that mission is more critical than ever as the competition of ideas becomes essential to preserving freedom and democracy.
How We Create Change
The American Enterprise Institute operates with a distinctive approach that combines rigorous scholarship with complete academic freedom.
Our core principles:
🔬 Independent Research
Scholars determine their own agendas. Conclusions are fueled by data-driven research and broad-ranging evidence.
💭 Academic Freedom
Complete independence from political parties. No institutional positions on policy issues.
🗣️ Open Debate
Competition of ideas through scholarly discourse and public engagement across the political spectrum
📚 Highest Standards
Rigorous fact-based research, reasoned argument, and intellectual excellence
What makes AEI different:
- Self-directed scholars: Researchers operate with complete academic freedom, not institutional directives
- Nonpartisan structure: AEI takes no institutional positions and does not endorse candidates
- Private funding only: No government grants or contracts; funded by individuals, foundations, and corporations
- Diversified support: Hundreds of donors with competing interests ensure independence
- Conflict of interest protections: Scholars must disclose affiliations and direct interests
- Transparency: Public disclosure of funding sources and organizational structure
Academic Freedom in Practice
AEI scholars speak for themselves and not for AEI, its trustees, other scholars, or employees. This ensures genuine intellectual diversity and prevents groupthink, allowing the best ideas to emerge through rigorous debate.
How we influence policy:
- Research and Analysis: Publish books, reports, white papers, and articles on critical policy issues
- Congressional Testimony: Scholars regularly testify before Congress on areas of expertise
- Public Events: Host conferences, roundtables, and discussions bringing together policy experts
- Media Engagement: Widely cited in mainstream media, influencing public opinion and policymakers
- Educational Outreach: Academic programs for students and faculty on campuses nationwide
Our Seven Research Areas
AEI research covers the critical areas shaping America's future and global leadership.
Economic Policy
Tax and budget policy, financial markets, labor economics, retirement, international trade
Explore Economics →Foreign and Defense Policy
National security, global terrorism, American leadership, regional studies, military partnerships
Explore Defense →Health Care Policy
Medicare, Medicaid, pharmaceutical innovation, health care competition, cost control
Explore Health →Education Policy
Early childhood through higher education, workforce development, educational excellence
Explore Education →Politics and Public Opinion
Polling, elections, political theory, Congress, presidency, constitutional studies
Explore Politics →Poverty Studies
Welfare reform, encouraging work, two-parent families, strengthening safety net
Explore Poverty →Society and Culture
Liberal education, civil institutions, media, American history, religion, humanities
Explore Culture →Additional research programs and initiatives:
- America at 250: Initiative reintroducing Americans to the unique value of their national inheritance
- The American Enterprise Magazine: Monthly long-form opinion essays exploring pressing issues
- Housing Center: Research on housing markets, mortgage finance, and rental affordability
- Financial Markets Program: Banking, insurance, securities regulation, corporate governance
- Energy and Environment: Climate policy, regulatory approaches, environmental economics
- Technology Policy: Regulation, innovation, digital economy
- Asia Studies: China, Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, regional alliances
- Middle East Studies: Regional security, democratic development, U.S. engagement
- Russia Studies: Strategic challenges for the West
- Latin America Studies: Hemispheric relations, Venezuela, Mexico, Central America
Educational Impact and Student Programs
AEI shares its scholarship with students on college campuses, protecting and fostering a competition of ideas where it is needed most.
🎓 AEI Collegiate Network
Intellectual home for undergraduates to engage with AEI scholarship and connect with public-spirited students nationwide
☀️ Summer Honors Program
Intensive, fully-funded educational opportunity in Washington, DC with week-long seminars and professional development
❄️ Winter Honors Program
Fully-funded multiday seminar for top undergraduates, typically held outside DC area
👨🏫 Faculty Network
Growing network of higher education leaders essential to renewing healthy civic engagement on campuses
Program features include:
- Discussion-based seminars with AEI scholars and partner instructors
- Briefings with distinguished guests and high-level networking opportunities
- Site visits to important institutions in Washington, DC
- Gathering students from diverse ideological backgrounds for substantive dialogue
- Access to complimentary books and reading group resources
- Invitations to faculty-only gatherings and events
- Monthly newsletter connecting students and faculty with AEI scholarship
Protecting Campus Dialogue
AEI has hundreds of student groups on dozens of campuses across the country, providing intellectual spaces where competition of ideas can flourish. These programs counter the trend toward ideological conformity on college campuses.
About the Organization
📅 Founded
1938 in New York City (moved to DC in 1943)
📍 Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
⚖️ Legal Status
501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 53-0218495)
🏛️ Structure
Governed by Board of Trustees
History and Origins:
- Founded as American Enterprise Association in 1938 by business executives, university professors, and intellectuals
- Created in response to congressional talk of making wartime price and production controls permanent
- Moved from New York to Washington, DC in 1943
- Began series of legislative analyses and congressional bill surveys
- Grew from 12 resident scholars to 70+ scholars with 185 total staff
- Became one of America's most distinct and esteemed academic institutions
Current Leadership:
- Robert Doar — President (since July 1, 2019)
- Arthur C. Brooks — Former President (January 1, 2009 – June 30, 2019)
- Board of Trustees — Leading business and financial executives
- 70+ Resident Scholars — Leading policy experts in their fields
- Adjunct Scholars — Additional expertise across disciplines
Funding and Independence:
- Financed solely through private donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations
- Does not perform contract research or accept government grants
- Does not accept funding from foreign governments or state-owned entities
- Hundreds of donors with competing interests ensure no single interest dominates
- Highly diversified endowment invested in financial instruments
- Transparent about funding sources and organizational structure
- Gifts to AEI are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of law
Publications and Outreach:
- AEI Press: Publishes books by AEI scholars on critical policy issues
- The American Enterprise Magazine: Monthly long-form opinion essays and commentary
- Research Reports: White papers and policy analyses on current issues
- Articles and Op-Eds: Regular contributions to major media outlets
- Congressional Testimony: Expert testimony before House and Senate committees
- Events and Conferences: Public forums bringing together policymakers and experts
- Multimedia: Videos, podcasts, and digital content reaching broad audiences
Reputation and Influence:
- Ranked #17 in "Top Thirty Worldwide Think Tanks" (2011 Global Go To Think Tank Index)
- Ranked #10 in "Top Fifty United States Think Tanks"
- Leads in YouTube subscribers among free-market groups
- Widely cited in mainstream media across political spectrum
- Respected for high intellectual caliber and reliable analysis
- Scholars frequently called to testify before Congress
- Known for "wonkish focus on policy without aggressive promotion"
President Reagan on AEI (1988)
"The American Enterprise Institute stands at the center of a revolution in ideas of which I, too, have been a part. AEI's remarkably distinguished body of work is testimony to the triumph of the think tank."
