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American Enterprise Institute

From SourceWatch

The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) is an extremely influential, pro-business right-wing think tank founded in 1943 by Lewis H. Brown. It promotes the advancement of free enterprise capitalism, and succeeds in placing its people in influential governmental positions. It is the center base for many neo-conservatives.

Table of contents

History

Originally set up as a spokesperson for big business and the promotion of free enterprise, the AEI came to major national prominence in the 1970s under the leadership of William Baroody, Sr., during which time it grew from a group of twelve resident "thinkers" to a well-funded organization with 145 resident scholars, 80 adjunct scholars, and a large supporting staff. This period of growth was largely funded by the Howard Pew Freedom Trust [1] (http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientprofile.php?recipientID=19).

Ronald Reagan said of the AEI in 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. For today the most important American scholarship comes out of our think tanks – and none has been more influential than the American Enterprise Institute."

In 1986, the Olin and Smith Richardson foundations withdrew their support from AEI because of substantive disagreement with certain of its policies, causing William Baroody, Jr. to resign in the ensuing financial crisis. Following criticism by conservatives that the AEI was too centrist, it moved its programme further to the right and became more aggressive in pursuing its public policy goals. [2] (http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientprofile.php?recipientID=19)

More recently, it has emerged as one of the leading architects of the Bush administration's foreign policy. AEI rents office space to the Project for the New American Century, one of the leading voices that pushed the Bush administration's plan for "regime change" through war in Iraq. AEI reps have also aggressively denied that the war has anything to do with oil.

Case Studies

NGO Watch

In June 2003, AEI and another right-wing group, the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, launched a new website NGOWatch.org/NGOwatch.org (http://www.NGOWatch.org) to expose the funding, operations and agendas of international NGOs, and particularly their alleged efforts to constrain US freedom of action in international affairs and influence the behavior of corporations abroad. [3] (http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=18733) AEI states that "The extraordinary growth of advocacy NGOs in liberal democracies has the potential to undermine the sovereignty of constitutional democracies, as well as the effectiveness of credible NGOs."[4] (http://www.aei.org/events/eventID.329,filter.foreign/event_detail.asp) Ralph Nader responds with "What they are condemning, with vague, ironic regulatory nostrums proposed against dissenting citizen groups, is democracy itself." [5] (http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8107)

Personnel

Current list of Scholars and Fellows

(Data May, 2006 from AEI (http://www.aei.org/scholars/filter./scholar_byname.asp). Links after each name are to their AEI personal Bio page)

  • Gerard Alexander; Democracy; Democratization; American government; Government spending - [6] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.109,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Joseph Antos; Medicare; Health care policy; Private health insurance - [7] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.1,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Leon Aron; Russian domestic politics and foreign policy; Russia-U.S. relations - [8] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.2,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Claude Barfield; Economics; International trade policy; Science policy; Technology policy; The functioning of the GATT/WTO system - [9] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.3,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Roger Bate; Performance & effectiveness of USAID, World Bank, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and NGOs in Africa and the developing world; International environmental and health agreements (industrial chemicals, climate change, and water); Water policy in developing countries; Genetically modified organisms and pesticide policy; Health policy and endemic diseases in developing countries (AIDS and malaria) - [10] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.76,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Walter Berns; Political philosophy; Constitutional law; Legal issues - [11] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.4,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Douglas J. Besharov; Education (vocational, high-school counseling, Affirmative Action, and student aid); Poverty (trends, causes, and remedies); Welfare reform (job training and program evaluation); Families (marriage, divorce, same-sex marriage, and nonmarital births); Child abuse/child welfare (foster care and delinquency); Preschool and child care (Head Start); Race and ethnicity (Affirmative Action and black middle class) - [12] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.5,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Edward Blum; Civil rights policy; Affirmative action; Multiculturalism; Redistricting; Voting rights - [13] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.104,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Dan Blumenthal; China; Taiwan; East Asia; U.S.-China relations - [14] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.92,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Karlyn H. Bowman; Public opinion/polls; U.S. politics; Media - [15] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.7,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • John E. Calfee; Advertising; Food and Drug Administration policies; Health care policy; Pharmaceuticals; Tobacco; Tort liability system - [16] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.8,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Charles W. Calomiris; Financial markets; International trade and finance; Monetary policy; Banking regulation; Corporate finance - [17] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.9,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Lynne V. Cheney; Culture; Education - [18] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.10,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Dennis J. Coyle; Democracy; Constitutional studies; Constitutional law; Political philosophy; American government - [19] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.107,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Steven J. Davis; Impact of taxes on work and leisure time; Labor market issues; Job creation, employment and unemployment - [20] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.97,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Veronique de Rugy; Financial privacy; Tax and budget policy - [21] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.86,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Christopher DeMuth; Government regulation; Law and economics; Environmental policy; Liability reform - [22] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.11,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Thomas Donnelly; Defense; National security - [23] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.68,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Nicholas Eberstadt; Infant mortality and health disparites in the United States; Economics; Economic development policy; Foreign and Defense; Poverty; Foreign aid; Korea; East Asia; Russia and other former Soviet republics; Social and Political; Demographics; Health and mortality in foreign locales (including HIV/AIDS) - [24] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.62,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Mark Falcoff; Latin America - [25] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.14,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • John C. Fortier; Elections; Congress; Continuity of government; Election reform, presidential succession, and disability; The Electoral College; The presidency - [26] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.84,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Ted Frank; Liability reform; Law and economics; Constitutional law; Medical malpractice; Antitrust policy; Regulation through litigation; Intellectual property - [27] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.101,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • David Frum; Canadian politics; U.S. politics; Bush administration - [28] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.16,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Ted Gayer; Environmental policy; Health, safety, and environmental regulation; Cost-benefit analysis and risk assesment - [29] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.89,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Reuel Marc Gerecht; Afghanistan; Iran; Intelligence; Middle East; Terrorism; Central Asia/former Soviet Union - [30] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.19,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Newt Gingrich; Health care policy; Military; U.S. politics; Information technology - [31] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.20,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • James K. Glassman; Social Security; Economics; Technology and politics; Federal budget; Interest rates; Stock market; Taxes; Education - [32] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.21,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Jack Landman Goldsmith; International law (treaties and war powers); Sovereignty; Intelligence reform - [33] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.91,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Robert A. Goldwin; Constitutional studies; Education; Human rights and democracy - [34] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.23,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Kenneth P. Green; Environmental policy; Environmental chemicals; Air pollution; Climate change; Energy and environment; Transport and environment - [35] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.112,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Michael S. Greve; Environmental policy; Internet regulation; Constitutional law; Federalism - [36] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.24,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Robert W. Hahn; Energy; Environment; Regulation - [37] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.25,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Kevin A. Hassett; Investments; Stock market; Tax policy; U.S. economy - [38] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.26,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Steven F. Hayward; Environment; Law; The presidency; Political economy - [39] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.28,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Robert B. Helms; Health care policy; Medicaid; Medicare; Economics of the pharmaceutical industry; Private health insurance - [40] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.29,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Frederick M. Hess; Education - [41] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.30,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • R. Glenn Hubbard; Tax and budget issues; Tax policy; Health care policy; International finance; Monetary policy; Regulation - [42] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.71,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Frederick W. Kagan; Defense issues; Defense budget; Defense strategy and warfare; American military; Russian and European military history; Defense transformation - [43] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.99,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Leon R. Kass, M.D.: Bioethics; Ethics; Philosophy; Marriage, family, and social mores - [44] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.67,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Jeane J. Kirkpatrick; Defense; Latin America; Europe; United Nations; Middle East; National security; Russian region - [45] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.32,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Herbert G. Klein; U.S. media and political issues; Presidential communications - [46] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.85,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Marvin H. Kosters; Income inequality; Labor issues - [47] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.33,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Irving Kristol; Culture; Ethics; Religion; Politics - [48] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.34,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Desmond Lachman; Role of multilateral lending institutions; Major emerging market economies - [49] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.72,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Michael A. Ledeen; Italy; Africa (Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe); Europe; Intelligence; Middle East; U.S. foreign policy; Iran; Leadership and the use of power; Terrorism; U.S.-China relations - [50] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.35,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Adam Lerrick; International capital markets; Role of hedge funds; International financial crises and sovereign debt restructuring; Economic development including the impact of aid and the role of multilateral institutions; World Bank and IMF reform - [51] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.98,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • James R. Lilley; Korea; China; Taiwan - [52] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.36,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Lawrence B. Lindsey; Tax policy; Fiscal policy; International economic development; Monetary policy - [53] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.81,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • John H. Makin; U.S. economy (monetary policy, taxes, and budget issues); Financial markets (stocks, bonds, and currencies of major industrial countries); Japanese economy; European economies - [54] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.40,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • N. Gregory Mankiw; U.S. economy; Fiscal policy; Entitlements; International trade policy - [55] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.100,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Aparna Mathur; Health economics; Tax policy; Small businesses and bankruptcy - [56] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.111,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Allan H. Meltzer; Financial services; International finance; Monetary policy and history; Tax and budget issues - [57] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.41,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Joshua Muravchik; United Nations; Neoconservatism; History of socialism and communism; Arab-Israeli conflict; Global democracy, terrorism, and the Bush Doctrine - [58] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.42,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Charles Murray; Culture; Human intelligence and social structure; Marriage, family, and social mores; Family; Crime; Libertarianism - [59] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.43,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Roger F. Noriega; Latin America; The Caribbean; Canada - [60] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.102,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Michael Novak; U.S. politics; Ethnicity; Sports; Religion; Culture - [61] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.44,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Norman J. Ornstein; U.S. politics; Congress; Elections - [62] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.48,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Richard Perle; Defense; Europe; Intelligence; Middle East; National security; Russian region - [63] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.49,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Danielle Pletka; Middle East; Terrorism; South Asia (India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan); Weapons proliferation - [64] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.50,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Alex J. Pollock; Accounting standards (FASB); Banking structure; Financial system; Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), including Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Banks; Social Security - [65] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.88,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Sarath Rajapatirana; Economic policy reforms in Latin America; Macroeconomic policies of developing countries; Multilateral trade negotiations; Trade policies of developing countries - [66] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.51,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Michael Rubin; Arab democracy; Domestic politics in Iran and Iraq; Kurdish society - [67] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.83,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Sally Satel, M.D.: Domestic drug policy; Mental health policy (including the psychological impact of war and disasters); Political trends in medicine - [68] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.69,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Gary J. Schmitt; Strategic studies; National security; Intelligence; Europe - [69] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.103,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Joel Schwartz; Environment (air pollution, vehicle emissions, and chemical risks)   - [70] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.80,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Vance Serchuk; International organizations (UN and World Bank); Overlap between strategic studies and economic development policy; Afghanistan and Iraq reconstruction; U.S. defense policy; American military; The global war on terror - [71] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.96,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Daniel Shaviro; Social Security; Medicare; Tax and budget policy - [72] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.87,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Kent Smetters; Insurance; Risk management - [73] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.110,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Christina Hoff Sommers; American adolescents; Feminism and American culture; Morality in American society - [74] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.56,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Phillip L. Swagel; International trade policy; U.S. economy (fiscal and monetary policy, entitlement reform, and budget issues); International finance (including current accounts, exchange rates, and emerging markets) - [75] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.95,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Samuel Thernstrom; Environment; American political culture - [76] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.77,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Fred Thompson; National security and intelligence (China, North Korea, and Russia) - [77] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.78,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Richard Vedder; Labor issues; Income inequality; Higher education financing; Fiscal policy; Immigration - [78] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.113,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Mario Villarreal; Social Security; Political economy; Health economics - [79] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.108,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Peter J. Wallison; Banking and financial services; GSEs (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac); Financial markets - [80] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.58,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Scott Wallsten; Regulation and competition of network industries (telecom, utilities, and Internet) in the United States and developing countries; Science and technology policy (public-private partnerships) - [81] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.73,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Ben J. Wattenberg; Culture; Demographics; Public opinion/polls - [82] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.59,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • John Yoo; Constitutional law; International law - [83] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.74,filter.all/scholar.asp)
  • Karl Zinsmeister; The Iraq war; Social and economic trends; Cultural issues; Current affairs - [84] (http://www.aei.org/scholars/scholarID.60,filter.all/scholar.asp)

Alumni

Connections

[86] (http://rightweb.irc-online.org/groupwatch/aei_body.html)


Funding

Between 1985 and 2001, AEI received $29,653,933 from the following funding sources:

Amounts contributed by the Coors Foundation are not included.

Funding has come from many other sources, such as Amoco, the Kraft Foundation, and the Procter & Gamble Fund. AEI, unlike some think tanks, has no endowment - something which has led the organization into financial embarrassment in 1985 when its operating budget outstripped its donations by 25 percent (Newsweek, 1984).

Corporate donations are not public, but it is known that During 1997, Philip Morris contributed $100,000 to the Institute [87] (http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc?tid=cuo83c00&fmt=gif&ref=results&title=PUBLIC%20POLICY%20GROUPS&bates=2065244019); and during 2002, ExxonMobil contributed $200,000 [88] (http://www2.exxonmobil.com/files/corporate/public_policy1.pdf).

Contact Information

American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-862-5800
Fax: 202-862-7177
E-mail: info@aei.org
http://www.aei.org

Publications

American Enterprise- a bi-monthly magazine published by AEI. [89] (http://www.theamericanenterprise.org/)

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