The American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) is a classical liberal think tank founded in 1933 by Edward C. Harwood, based in Great Barrington, Massachusetts124. AIER is structured as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and focuses on research and education surrounding economic liberty, personal freedom, free enterprise, property rights, limited government, and sound money12346.

AIER conducts scholarly research and publishes a range of periodicals including The Daily Economy, Fusion, and the Harwood Economic Review, covering topics in economics, classical liberal/conservative philosophy, and economic scholarship13. The organization also operates a global network of local chapters called Harwood Salons (formerly the Bastiat Society)1.

AIER is committed to shaping public discourse and policy from a market-oriented and libertarian perspective, with scholars engaging in media, academia, and policy debates3. While AIER describes itself as nonpartisan, critics and outside observers have noted a strong conservative/libertarian bias in its recent work, shifting more toward advocacy than neutral inquiry5. The institute affirms it is donor-supported, accepts no advertising, and operates an affiliated investment advisory firm for financial support4.

AIER’s leadership recently transitioned from William P. Ruger (2022–2025) to Samuel Gregg in 20251. The organization’s foundational values are centered on promoting those principles they see as advancing peace, prosperity, and human progress234.

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Institute_for_Economic_Research
  2. https://www.ssrn.com/link/American-Institute-Economic-Research-RES.html
  3. http://fundit.fr/en/institutions/american-institute-economic-research-aier
  4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/aierdotorg
  5. https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalScience/comments/kgvxx3/american_institute_of_economic_research/
  6. https://aier.org