Marketplace

In a special series of four stories, made possible with support from The Economist Magazine Marketplace reporters Amy Scott and Scott Tong look at think tanks and the money behind them.

Think tanks have become a growth industry. A handful existed a few decades ago. Now there are hundreds of these non-profit institutions. The marriage of multi-millions in private money and once-unorthodox ideas packs a powerful punch. President Bush has adopted domestic policies nurtured in think tanks from private social security accounts to fundamental tax reform. Marketplace explores what donors believe they get for their money, how ideas are bankrolled and promoted, and the thin line between think tank educational efforts and outright lobbying, as well as new efforts to reform the system.

You can listen to this series online, or hear extended interviews with some of the sources in those stories.

One of our stories traces how influential think tanks and their donors promoted the repeal of the estate tax. We've included an interactive timeline that traces think tanks, trade and other lobbying groups, the media, and lawmakers in promoting or opposing the repeal movement. At the end of the timeline, please feel free to "vote" on whether you think the estate tax should be repealed.

In addition, we've posted the bios of Marketplace commentators. And we've included links for how to research some of their think tank affiliations.

Program Segments

June 2 Morning Report, 2005 - Part 1 If you're looking for a unique investment, we've got a suggestion. How about a Washington think tank? These policy shops are a growth industry. By one count, their numbers have grown from 70 three decades ago to more than 300 today. And as the numbers have grown, so too has their influence. Today we begin our series Under the Influence. Scott Tong profiles the policy bang one major conservative investor got for his bucks.

June 2 Marketplace, 2005 - Part 2 On Capitol Hill, they're often the experts at the hearings. They're giving their analysis on the TV news shows. They're offering their commentaries on the radio. They are the people who work for the think tanks. The brain trusts full of experts churning out studies and policy recommendations. The other day, we received an email at our website. A question from a listener: "Who pays the checks for these so-called experts...and why?" Today: the start of our series on think tanks, their money, and their power. We're calling it "Under the Influence." Marketplace's Amy Scott shows us how an idea seemingly out of nowhere became "the next big thing".

June 3 Morning Report, 2005 - Part 3 In part three of this Marketplace-Economist Magazine special report, we look at the line between research and advocacy — and whether it's being blurred.

June 3 Marketplace, 2005 - Part 4 "Just the facts" isn't so simple when policy research goes partisan. Does dogma trump data? It all makes sense if you follow the money, one researcher says. Scott Tong reports on how think tanks play a game of "left versus right".

"Under the Influence" was edited by Deb Clark and produced by Liza Tucker.

In compiling this estate tax timeline, Marketplace gathered information from:

Ian Shapiro and Michael Graetz, co-authors of Death By A Thousand Cuts
Randy Ford in Congressman John Tanner's office
The Heritage Foundation's website
The Center for the Study of Taxation's website
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities
Jim McGann at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Media Transparency, a project of the liberal non-profit organization Cursor
SearchLight, a project of the conservative think tank, Capital Research Group

Resources

~ Under the Influence Home

~ Bios of Marketplace commentators

~ Research some of their think tank affiliations

~ Check out one recent study done on think tanks

~ Unraveling the Estate Tax Timeline

~ "Vote" on whether you think the estate tax should be repealed