Overview: The Institute
SIEPR Video 7:13 min (12MB)

Founded in 1982, SIEPR is a nonpartisan economic policy research organization that unites remarkable economic talent from all parts of Stanford University.

Former statesman George Shultz played an important role in forming the institute. He realized there was no center on the Stanford University campus for economic scholars to gather and discuss their research. Since economists are spread throughout the university—in the Economics, History, and Political Science departments; the Business, Engineering, and Law schools; and the Hoover Institution—creation of a central clearinghouse seemed desirable. Thus, SIEPR was born to bring these economists together with leaders in business, technology, and government to analyze, discuss, and debate economic topics.

Researchers at SIEPR study a variety of economic policy–oriented issues and find meaningful ways to contribute their research and ideas to policy makers who are looking for solutions to a number of complicated concerns.

Past SIEPR directors have included some of the most respected economists in the field: Michael Boskin, former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Bush; Gavin Wright, an economic historian and chair of the Department of Economics, Stanford University; John Shoven, an expert on Social Security and former dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford; James Sweeney, an energy and natural resources expert who has done critical work on automotive fuel economy regulation; James Rosse, former Stanford University provost; John Taylor, currently serving as under secretary for international affairs in the Department of the Treasury; and Lawrence Lau, a leading expert on China.

Encouraging interaction between academic scholars and the private sector has been a feature of SIEPR from the beginning: People such as Bill Edwards, Vern Anderson, Tony Meier, Frank Lodato, Tom Ford, Bill Hewlett, Pitch Johnson, Ed Littlefield, and Tad Taube worked with Boskin, Rosse, and Paul David to launch the organization. The support and involvement of the entrepreneurial community has only grown over the years.

SIEPR is governed by three distinct groups: the Advisory Board, the Steering Committee and Senior Fellows. All groups help SIEPR focus on its mission in different ways.

SIEPR has three centers and six programs focusing on a diverse group of economic areas and subjects.