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Public Policy Research Think Tanks: Home

What is a Think Tank?

Think tanks are public policy research institutes that provide research, independent analysis, and advice on domestic and international issues. These organizations employ experts from academia and government who publish a wide range of scholarship including working papers, proceedings from conferences, books, journals, and policy briefs. To date, there are more than 6,500 of these organizations currently operating worldwide.

Global Go To Think Tanks

Digital rendering of planet EarthThe Global Go-To Think Tanks Report is a comprehensive ranking of the leading think tanks worldwide.  The annual report was written by Professor James McGann, director of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania. The Penn Libraries' Scholarly Commons Repository holds a collection of the TTCSP Global Go To Think Tank Index Reports starting with the 2008 Report, as well as related documents. The annual reports are linked below.  

NOTE: Professor James McGann, the creator of the Global Go To Think Tank Index, passed away in 2021. As a result, the Index has not been updated. The Lauder Institute has not indicated when or if it will continue publishing the Index. The last published Global Go To Think Tank Index was for 2020.

Think Tanks Guides

Political Science Librarian

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Lonya Humphrey
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