What Are Think Tanks Thinking About?
And are they thinking enough about minorities and higher education?
By Eleanor Lee Yates
“C olleges would be great places to work if there were no students,” or so goes the age-old joke among college
research professors. Long considered coveted respites as well as invaluable institutions for lawmakers and other information hungry organizations, the role of the nation’s venerated think tanks has taken on much larger proportions — without a student in sight.
But what type of people do think tanks attract? How does a think tank operate and how are they funded? Are they prone to compromise their research integrity? And are they focusing enough attention on the critical issue of minorities and higher education?
Consider think tanks as being halfway houses between pure research and employment in government or business, adds Dr. Paul Portnoy, president of the Washington-based Resources for the Future, a think tank dedicated to studying energy, environmental and natural resources.
Think tanks often lure respected government officials — experts in their field — after they have had policy-making careers. And some major university professors are invited to work at think tanks, Portnoy says.
A think tank provides an atmosphere to reflect on work experiences. Later, scholars may return to public service, often applying theories from their stints at think tanks.
The Book on Brookings
The Brookings Institution began in 1916 as the first private government research institution in Washington. In the early 1920s, two sister institutions were organized, the Institute of Economics and the Robert Brookings Graduate School. In 1927 all three merged to become the Brookings Institution, named in honor of Robert Brookings, a St. Louis businessman who helped shape the organization until his death in 1932.
At Brookings there are 75 scholars, referred to as senior fellows. Some are visiting, which means the position is temporary. Some fellows are non-residents, those who don’t live in Washington.
“Scholars are among their peers. There’s an exchange of ideas, some lively discussions and a lot of serious research,” says Ron Nessen, vice president for communications at Brookings, who also served as press secretary for President Gerald Ford. At Brookings, researchers focus on government studies, economic studies, foreign policies, urban studies and education.
The purest think tanks are not advocates and always retain an academic approach, insists Nessen. “Some organizations call themselves think tanks but they have an ideological position. They reach a conclusion first, then do the research,” he says.
But all think tanks are interested in one or another dimension of public policy, says Portnoy, who believes the work produced at respected think tanks stands up to any peer review at major universities. He also says think tanks have a stronger mission to make a difference in public policy than universities do.
Most think tanks focus on applied science. It’s their mission to produce research that is used. Researchers may find themselves testifying on Capitol Hill, with their work affecting a wide range of legislation.
Getting to a Think Tank
Researchers arrive at think tanks by several avenues, depending on the position. Research assistants often are recruited by ads in publications, online and otherwise. High-level positions at the Washington-based Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, such as a vice president of research, may be handled through a search or recruitment firm, says Liselle Yorke, communications specialist for the Center.
The Urban Institute, also based in Washington, rarely uses search firms, says Irene Marchuk, a recruitment specialist at the Institute. Its Web site has been extremely popular for lower level positions. The Institute advertises for researchers with Ph.Ds. Marchuk says another source for filling think tank positions is word of mouth and networking.
“People will meet people at conferences. They’ll remember someone who gave a presentation at a meeting,” says Marchuk.
Unlike colleges and universities, most think tanks do not have a tenure-like system. As in the for-profit business world, some employees remain at institutions for many years, while others leave for other opportunities.
Most think tanks have certain high-level positions that span a one- or two-year period. This type of system gives a policy maker or professor the opportunity to play a new role while allowing institutions to rotate star talent.
As for the pressure to publish, few think tank executives would ever be so crass as to instill quotas to publish on researchers.
“But that’s sort of a no-brainer,” Yorke says. “That’s really their role for being here — to put out the research.” Whether they produce a book or noted articles, it is the researcher’s job to add to the body of knowledge on a topic.
Dollars and Cents
If you are wondering what kind of bucks top think tanks pay, salaries generally are compared to those of professors at large universities.
Working at a think tank is usually a full-time position. Except for the occasional conference, most scholars report to the office each day.
At Brookings and other think tanks without philosophical agendas, the road to research goes like this:
When researchers have an idea for a project, they make a proposal that includes a timeline and an estimated budget. Because of expertise in their fields, scholars are always familiar with many potential research projects. Projects can take one year or many. A board of trustees must approve research projects. Once approved, a director heads projects.
Money for most independent think tanks comes in part from endowments. This provides them core funding and more independence. About one-third of Brookings’ annual budget comes from a $35 million endowment from which 5 percent in interest is drawn annually. A large portion also comes from philanthropic foundations. Another chunk comes from outside organizations willing to donate money for research.
By comparison, the Joint Center’s endowment hovers around $14 million and resources for the future is around $45 million.
Nessen says when scholars have ideas for research that need financial support, Brookings’ external relations department helps match up a project to funding.
“But Brookings has tough rules,” he says. Funding companies cannot “put spin” on the research. Also, no more than half the funding for a project can be from a participating source.
Sometimes the work at think tanks can be guided by a grant for a specific topic, Yorke says. More often, researchers think of a project along the lines of their expertise. Though the Joint Center, like most think tanks, has a development arm, researchers, may have a role in funding development.
“From their experience, researchers have ideas who might be interested in funding what. Also, many have past relationships that can be helpful,” Yorke says.
At the Urban Institute, it is not uncommon for researchers to write their own grant proposals, but a development or external relations department is the real force behind securing research funds.
Of course, many think tank projects generate money themselves, such as books penned by the researchers.
