Center for Economic and Policy Research

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The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) is an economic policy think-tank based in Washington, D.C. It was founded by economists and current co-directors Dean Baker and Mark Weisbrot in 1999, according to the organization's website. CEPR is widely cited in the press and known for its work on Social Security, the U.S. housing bubble, developing country economies, and gaps in the social policy fabric of the U.S. economy.[1]

In addition to Baker and Weisbrot, CEPR's senior economists are listed as including Heather Boushey and John Schmitt. Its research fellows include Buenos Aires-based economist Alan Cibils, UK-based economists Ha-Joon Chang and Andrew Glyn, and U.S.-based economists Randy Albelda, Marcellus Andrews, Niki T. Dickerson, David Howell, Helene Jorgensen, and William Spriggs.[2]

CEPR's Advisory Board of Economists includes Nobel Laureate economists Robert Solow and Joseph Stiglitz; Richard Freeman, Professor of Economics at Harvard University; and Eileen Appelbaum, Professor and Director of the Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University.[3]

It is a different entity than the London-based CEPR, whose intitials stand for the Centre for Economic Policy Research, with no "and" in the title.[4]

[edit] Mission Statement

According to CEPR's website,

"The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) was established 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. The goal of CEPR is ensure that the citizenry has the information and analysis that allows it to act effectively in the public interest."