The Peterson Institute for International Economics

What The Peterson Institute for International Economics does

The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution founded in 1981 and headquartered at 1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. It employs 51–100 staff, anchored by a senior research bench of 50+ internationally recognized scholars covering globalization, trade and investment, finance, monetary policy, economic growth, political economy, sanctions, supply chains, tariffs, and technology/AI, with regional research across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, China, Japan, India, and South Korea.

PIIE's core product surface spans publications (Policy Briefs, Working Papers, PIIE Briefings, and Books), commentary (Op-Eds, Testimony, Speeches and Papers), and multimedia channels including the RealTime Economics Blog, four podcast series (Trade Talks, PIIE Insider LIVE, What Now, Europe?, Policy for the Planet), recurring event series (Global Economic Prospects, Trade Winds, the Richard N. Cooper Memorial Lecture Series), and data products such as interactive trackers (Trump's Tariff Revenue Tracker, Trade War Timeline 2.0) and PIIE Charts. Books are sold through the PIIE Bookstore, distributed by Columbia University Press. The underlying platform is the piie.com website, a research-and-publishing hub supplemented by email, RSS, podcasts, and earned media placements in outlets including Fortune, Bloomberg, CNBC, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, BBC, and CNN.

PIIE operates a freemium research model: most policy briefs, working papers, blogs, and commentary are free on the website, with revenue drawn from a diverse donor base of approximately 150 corporations, foundation grants, individuals, and public institutions in the US and abroad each year, income from its capital fund endowment, sales of bookstore publications (e.g., 'Transforming the European Economy' priced at $31.95), and event sponsorships. Audiences include policymakers and government officials (including the World Bank, IMF, WTO), academic researchers, journalists and media organizations, and corporate decision makers needing strategic intelligence on international economic policy. The institution has been consistently awarded Charity Navigator's highest possible rating for transparency and open disclosure of funding.

Name

The Peterson Institute for International Economics

Legal name

Peterson Institute for International Economics

Website

https://piie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution founded in 1981 and headquartered in Washington, DC. It deploys 50+ senior scholars to publish policy briefs, working papers, and books on international economics for policymakers, journalists, academics, and corporate decision makers, funded by approximately 150 donors annually plus endowment income and bookstore sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Policy Research

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ), Economic & Macroeconomic Research (BPAHALAD)

Keywords

• International economic research
• Economic policy analysis
• Global trade research
• Nonpartisan economic studies
• Policy brief publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding: PIIE receives support from approximately 150 corporations, foundation grants, individuals, and public institutions in the United States and abroad each year. While some donor funds support specific research projects, donors do not edit or determine the conclusions or policy implications drawn from Institute research.
2. Publication Sales: Revenue derived from sale of books, policy briefs, and research publications through the PIIE Bookstore.
3. Capital Fund Income: Income derived from the Institute's capital fund endowment.
4. Event Registration and Sponsorships: Revenue from event sponsorships and potentially registration fees for certain events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that produces expert analysis and practical policy solutions on international economic issues. Its offerings span publications (policy briefs, working papers, briefings, books), commentary (op-eds, testimony, speeches), data visualization tools (tariff trackers, PIIE Charts), podcasts, a weekly newsletter, and recurring event series such as Global Economic Prospects and Trade Winds, all aimed at informing policymakers, economists, journalists, and the public on trade, globalization, finance, and economic growth.

Product overview

The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) is a research organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of economic analysis products and services. The core offerings consist of publications including Policy Briefs, Working Papers, PIIE Briefings, and Books covering international economics topics. The organization provides commentary products such as Op-Eds, Testimony, and Speeches. Content is disseminated through digital channels including the RealTime Economics Blog and podcasts (Trade Talks, Policy for the Planet). PIIE hosts recurring event series including Global Economic Prospects (semiannual), Trade Winds (monthly), What Now Europe?, Richard N. Cooper Memorial Lecture Series, and PIIE Insider LIVE. Data visualization offerings include PIIE Charts and Trackers (including Trump's tariff revenue tracker and US-China trade war timeline). The organization distributes content via the PIIE Insider Weekly Newsletter. PIIE does not operate as a software platform but rather as a publisher and convener of economic policy research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PIIE Insider: Weekly newsletter with the latest insights from PIIE scholars on international economics and policy.
• Trade Winds
• Global Economic Prospects
• Richard N. Cooper Memorial Lecture Series

Products and services

• Policy Briefs Concise analytical reports on current international economic policy issues, authored by PIIE scholars and intended for policymakers, researchers, and the informed public.
• Working Papers In-depth academic research papers covering international economics topics, including AI economy measurement and globalization effects, targeted at economists and academic researchers.
• PIIE Briefings Comprehensive briefing documents on specific economic topics, often resulting from conferences or comprehensive research projects at PIIE.
• Books Published books on international economics topics available for purchase through Columbia University Press, for researchers, students, and general readers.
• RealTime Economics Blog Timely blog posts analyzing current economic news, financial developments, regional and country issues, and public policy, written by PIIE senior staff.
• Trade Talks Podcast Podcast series hosted by PIIE experts discussing international trade developments and policy for a broad audience.
• Policy for the Planet Podcast Podcast examining climate change policy and its economic implications, produced by PIIE.
• Global Economic Prospects Semiannual event series reporting PIIE's US and international economic outlook, held each spring and fall.
• Trade Winds Monthly virtual event series exploring the future of international trade, hosted by Cecilia Malmström.
• PIIE Insider LIVE Live virtual event series featuring PIIE experts discussing current economic topics.
• What Now, Europe? Event series focused on European economic policy and developments.
• Richard N. Cooper Memorial Lecture Series Annual lecture series established in 2023 honoring economist Richard N. Cooper, featuring renowned economists discussing global economic issues.
• Trade and Tariff Trackers Interactive tracking tools for monitoring trade policy developments, including Trump's tariff revenue tracker and Trump's trade war timeline 2.0.
• PIIE Insider Weekly Newsletter Free weekly email newsletter providing subscribers with the latest insights and research from PIIE scholars on international economics and policy.
• PIIE Charts Visual data presentations illustrating international economic trends, including the US-China trade war tariffs chart and globalization impact visualizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Charity Navigator's highest possible rating for commitment to transparency and open disclosure
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BruegelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIIE's 'sister research institute in Brussels' with joint projects such as 'The Euro at Ten: The Next Global Currency?' Co-editors Adam S. Posen and Jean Pisani-Ferry (President of Bruegel) collaborated on this research.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint multiyear 'China Balance Sheet Project' producing books like 'China's Rise: Challenges and Opportunities' and 'America in the World' with Robert Zoellick.
• Bank of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on research including a policy brief arguing AI generated approximately $250 billion in economic activity in 2025, working with researchers like Patrick McKelvey from the Bank of Canada.
• Columbia University PresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPIIE Press is distributed by Columbia University Press for all book sales, distribution, customer service, and order fulfillment.
• Institute for ProgressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with PIIE's Michael Clemens on research about international student exclusion effects on US STEM workforce and economic growth, with authors including Jeremy Neufeld.
• Cornell Law School / Institute for ProgressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored policy brief 'Class dismissed: The effect of international student exclusion on the US STEM workforce and economic growth' with Amy M. Nice from Cornell Law School.
• Yale University / Harvard Kennedy SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobert B. Zoellick serves as senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center while maintaining affiliation with PIIE. Lawrence Summers delivers Richard N. Cooper Memorial Lectures.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• International Monetary Fund (IMF) — Independent Evaluation Office: International organization producing macroeconomic research and policy analysis, an adjacent institution whose research output and global reach partly overlap with PIIE's international economics mandate though it operates under a multilateral governance structure.

Direct peers

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based world-leading international affairs institute that covers international economics alongside geopolitics, comparable to PIIE in scope, audience, and donor-supported research model.
• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): Preeminent nonpartisan US foreign policy and international economics organization that competes with PIIE for high-level policymaker engagement, corporate donor support, and influence on US trade and macroeconomic policy.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Bipartisan policy research organization with major programs on international economics and trade; a formal PIIE partner on the China Balance Sheet Project and a direct competitor for donor funding and media attention.
• Bruegel: Leading European international economics think tank based in Brussels; PIIE's explicit 'sister institute' and a direct peer in international economic policy research, competing for global mindshare in the same domain.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Major international-affairs think tank with substantial global economics and trade programs, competing for the same donor and policymaker audience as PIIE across Washington, DC and global capitals.
• Brookings Institution: One of the largest US-based think tanks with a substantial international economics program, directly competing for policymaker attention, donor funding, and media coverage in the same issue space as PIIE.

Emerging players

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): UK-based institute traditionally focused on security and strategic studies that has expanded into economic statecraft and sanctions analysis, partially overlapping with PIIE's international economics remit.

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Large, established policy research organization with significant international economics work, much broader in mandate than PIIE (national security, health, education) and substantially larger in scale and endowment.
• American Enterprise Institute (AEI): Major US think tank covering economic policy among other topics; competes with PIIE for corporate donor support and media attention on international economic policy though with a more ideologically defined positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/piie_com
• Facebookfacebook.com/PIIEonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1584176

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Peterson Institute for International Economics