IEEP

What IEEP does

IEEP (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Economía Política) is a private, independent nonprofit think tank founded in 1991 and headquartered in Guayaquil, Ecuador. It is the country's leading classical liberal economic policy organization, focused on producing economic analysis, policy research, consulting, and education that promote free markets, limited government, property rights and open trade. The organization is publicly credited with contributing to Ecuador's 2000 dollarization and has shaped national debate on economic reform for over three decades.

IEEP operates a diversified portfolio spanning five core service lines: economic policy research and public debate participation (Análisis de Política Económica), corporate employee training (Capacitación Empresarial), specialized business environment reports (Análisis de Entorno Empresarial), permanent media presence (Vocería en Medios), and the IEEP Academy educational programs (IdeasLAB, NewsLAB, EconLAB, InfluencerLAB). Sub-brands include the Contrapunto Liberal radio program, the Observatorio Galápagos conservation-economics research initiative (in partnership with Fundación Galápagos Para Todos and the US-based Property and Environment Research Center), the Biblioteca de La Libertad bookstore of classical liberal literature, and the flagship Cena de la Libertad annual gala that includes the Premio Héroe de la Libertad award.

Revenue is generated through a four-tier recurring membership program (Socios de la Libertad: Adherente at $20/month, Patrocinador at $50/month, Corporativo at $100/month, and Creadores de Riqueza at custom pricing) bundled with event ticketing, corporate training engagements, and bookstore sales. Distribution is primarily domestic Ecuador through direct membership sales, the organization's website, a Substack newsletter, and social channels (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook). The organization runs on a small staff (1-10 employees) and is funded independently without government, parent company, or disclosed donor control.

Name

IEEP

Legal name

Instituto Ecuatoriano de Economía Política

Website

https://ieep.org.ec

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IEEP (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Economía Política) is a Guayaquil-based nonprofit think tank founded in 1991 that provides classical liberal economic policy research, corporate training, and public debate programming to business leaders, politicians, academics, and corporate members in Ecuador.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research / Economic Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDACAIAB

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Teacher Training & Professional Development

SECONDARYEDAAAAAK

Integrated Education & Training (IET) / Contextualized ABE (Workforce-Linked)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Basic Education (ABE) & Literacy

Keywords

• Economic policy research
• Classical liberalism
• Think tank
• Policy analysis
• Economic education

Headquarters

HQ city

Guayaquil

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees (Socios de la Libertad): Three-tiered membership program: Adherente ($20/month), Patrocinador ($50/month), Corporativo ($100/month), and Creadores de Riqueza (custom pricing). Members receive exclusive bulletins, event access, webinars, and reports.
2. Event Fundraising: Cena de la Libertad event generates revenue through ticket sales ($100 per person, $180 per couple). The event serves as a major annual fundraiser for the organization.
3. Corporate Training: The 'Creadores de Riqueza' corporate training program provides exclusive business education services to member companies, including up to 50 collaborators per session twice yearly.
4. Bookstore Sales: The 'Biblioteca de La Libertad' bookstore sells classic economic literature including works by Ludwig Von Mises, Carl Menger, Friedrich Hayek, Henry Hazlitt, Jesús Huerta de Soto, and Murray Rothbard.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IEEP is a private nonprofit think tank that produces economic policy research, business environment analysis, corporate training, and media commentary to promote classical liberal ideas in Ecuador. Its commercial offerings center on a four-tier membership program (Socios de la Libertad), the Creadores de Riqueza corporate training program, the IEEP Academy educational curricula, the Cena de la Libertad annual event, and a curated bookstore of classical liberal literature.

Product overview

IEEP (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Economía Política) is a private, independent think tank promoting classical liberalism through economic policy research, analysis, and advocacy. The organization offers a portfolio of services including policy research, business training, media outreach, and member programs. Key offerings include the IEEP Academy educational programs, Contrapunto Liberal radio show, Observatorio Galápagos research initiative, and the Biblioteca de La Libertad book catalog. The organization operates a tiered membership model (Adherente, Patrocinador, Corporativo, and Creadores de Riqueza) providing varying levels of access to events, publications, and exclusive content. The Cena de la Libertad annual event and associated Héroe de la Libertad award recognize entrepreneurship and economic freedom leadership in Ecuador.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IEEP Academy: Educational and training programs offered by IEEP
• Contrapunto Liberal
• Observatorio Galápagos
• Cena de la Libertad

Products and services

• IEEP Academy

Quantifiable outcome

• Played foundational role in Ecuador's dollarization adoption in 2000
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• La RepúblicaminorOthersMedia partner listed on IEEP's allies section
• BaqueiraminorOthersBusiness ally listed on IEEP's website
• IndustriasminorOthersBusiness ally listed on IEEP's website
• Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)minorOthersEducational institution ally listed on IEEP's website
• SemaicaminorOthersBusiness ally listed on IEEP's website
• San CarlosminorOthersBusiness ally listed on IEEP's website
• NorlopminorOthersMarketing/Advertising ally listed on IEEP's website
• NederagrominorOthersAgricultural business ally listed on IEEP's website
• AsiservyminorOthersService business ally listed on IEEP's website
• Fundación Galápagos Para TodoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGalápagos-focused foundation partnered with IEEP's Observatorio Galápagos project. The foundation is comprised of local Galápagos residents and was formed at their request to achieve greater harmony between conservation and quality of life for island inhabitants.
• Property and Environment Research Center (PERC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based environmental economics organization. IEEP translated PERC researcher Shawn Regan's 'Environmentalism Without Romanticism' as part of the Observatorio Galápagos initiative to promote market-based conservation approaches.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Atlas Network: Global network that supports and connects free-market think tanks, particularly in Latin America. IEEP fits squarely within the Atlas-affiliated ecosystem as a classical liberal policy organization promoting economic freedom.
• Libertad y Desarrollo: Chilean center-right think tank conducting economic and public policy research. Comparable in operating model as a Latin American policy research organization with membership and corporate engagement programs.
• Centro de Estudios Públicos (CEP): Chilean independent think tank focused on public policy research and analysis. Similar structure as a Latin American think tank conducting economic research and producing publications for policy debate.
• Reason Foundation: US libertarian think tank producing policy research and commentary on free markets, individual liberty, and limited government. Direct ideological peer with similar publishing and advocacy functions.
• Centro de Divulgación del Conocimiento Económico (CEDICE): Venezuelan free-market think tank that has historically promoted classical liberal ideas in Latin America. Direct peer in terms of mission, region, and policy advocacy focus.
• Instituto Libre Empresa (ILE): Peruvian free-market think tank focused on promoting liberty and free enterprise in Peru. Directly comparable as a Latin American classical liberal organization with research, training, and advocacy activities.
• Fundación Bases: Argentine libertarian think tank promoting classical liberal ideas in Argentina. Comparable to IEEP in mission, ideological focus, and regional Latin American context, with similar education and policy advocacy offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Fraser Institute: Leading Canadian classical liberal think tank. Comparable ideological alignment on free markets and economic freedom, with a much broader research output and international footprint than IEEP.
• Cato Institute: The preeminent US classical liberal think tank. Operates at vastly larger scale with similar ideology, but serves as the intellectual anchor for the global classical liberal movement that IEEP's work aligns with.
• Heritage Foundation: Major US conservative think tank with overlapping classical liberal economic positions. Operates as a much larger, broader policy institution but shares the advocacy approach for free-market economic reforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IEEPEC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ieep_ecuador
• Instagraminstagram.com/ieep_ec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about IEEP