Mercatus Center

Mercatus Center
Founder(s)Richard Fink
Established1980 (1980)
DirectorBenjamin Klutsey
BudgetRevenue: $47.4 million (2023)[1]
Expenses: $49.3 million (2023)[1]
Formerly calledCenter for the Study of Market Processes
Address3434 Washington Blvd., 4th Floor Arlington, Virginia 22201
Coordinates38°53′09″N 77°06′06″W / 38.8857°N 77.1018°W / 38.8857; -77.1018
Websitemercatus.org

The Mercatus Center is an American libertarian, free-market-oriented non-profit think tank.[2][3] The Mercatus Center is located at the George Mason University campus, however the organization is privately funded and its employees are independent of the university.[4] It is directed by Benjamin Klutsey and its board is chaired by American economist Tyler Cowen. The Center works with policy experts, lobbyists, and government officials to connect academic learning with real-world practice. Taking its name from the Latin word for market, the center advocates free-market approaches to public policy. During the George W. Bush administration's campaign to reduce government regulation, The Wall Street Journal reported, "14 of the 23 rules the White House chose for its 'hit list' to eliminate or modify were Mercatus entries".[5]

According to the 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report (Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania), Mercatus is number 39 in the "Top Think Tanks in the United States" and number 18 of the "Best University Affiliated Think Tanks".[6] The Koch family has been a major financial supporter of the organization since the mid-1980s.[7][8] Charles Koch is an emeritus member of the group's board of directors.[7][9]

  1. ^ a b "Mercatus Center Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  2. ^ Scott, Dylan (2018-08-23). "The revealing Medicare-for-all fact-check debate roiling the internet, explained". Vox. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  3. ^ Pan, J. C. (2020-11-17). "Charles Koch Got the Free-Market Dystopia He Wanted. Now He'd Like Your Approval". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  4. ^ Dayen, David (2018-09-19). "Koch-Funded Think Tank Linked to George Mason University Is Now Pretending It's Not Part of George Mason University". The Intercept. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  5. ^ Davis, Bob (16 July 2004). "In Washington, Tiny Think Tank Wields Big Stick on Regulation". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  6. ^ McGann, James (January 31, 2018). "2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report".
  7. ^ a b "Koch's low profile belies political power". Center for Public Integrity. 2004-07-15. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
  8. ^ Kamen, Al (July 12, 2006). "I Am OMB and I Write the Rules". Washington Post. p. A13.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference mayer2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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