# American Institute for Economic Research

> free-market think tank

**Wikidata**: [Q4744134](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4744134)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Institute_for_Economic_Research)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/american-institute-for-economic-research

## Summary
The American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) is a free-market think tank and research institute founded in 1933 and headquartered in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to conducting and publishing economic research.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1933
- **Headquarters**: Great Barrington, United States
- **Legal Status**: 501(c)(3) organization (nonprofit)
- **IRS Employer Identification Number**: 04-2121305
- **Website**: https://www.aier.org
- **Industry**: Research
- **Instance of**: Research institute, nonprofit organization, think tank
- **Revenue (2023)**: $4,819,132 USD
- **Total Assets (2023)**: $193,880,453 USD
- **Donations (2023)**: $2,703,669 USD
- **YouTube Subscribers**: 42,900 (as of Jan 2025)
- **Wikipedia Languages**: German, English, Spanish, French
- **GRID ID**: grid.468348.5
- **ROR ID**: 020z8zc95
- **Media Bias/Fact Check**: Source of mixed reliability (assessed 2024)

## FAQs
### Q: What kind of organization is the American Institute for Economic Research?
A: AIER is a research institute and free-market think tank organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It was founded in 1933 and is based in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

### Q: What is the financial standing of AIER?
A: As of 2023, AIER reported total assets of $193,880,453 USD, annual revenue of $4,819,132 USD, and received $2,703,669 USD in donations. The organization has maintained substantial asset holdings exceeding $150 million USD since at least 2011.

### Q: How is AIER regarded in terms of reliability?
A: According to a 2024 media bias and fact check assessment, AIER is categorized as a source of mixed reliability.

### Q: What is the scope of AIER's research?
A: As a research institute, AIER's primary purpose is to conduct research. Unlike think tanks that focus primarily on policy influence, research institutes like AIER are dedicated to generating new knowledge through systematic investigation, though AIER operates as both.

### Q: How can AIER be found in academic and library catalogs?
A: AIER is indexed in multiple systems including the Library of Congress (Authority ID n50060721), the German National Library, VIAF (ID 125459533), and has an ISNI of 0000000121518712.

## Why It Matters
The American Institute for Economic Research represents a significant institution in the landscape of economic research organizations in the United States. Its founding in 1933 places it among the longer-standing research entities, having operated for over nine decades. With total assets approaching $200 million, AIER possesses substantial financial resources to support its research activities. As a research institute focused on free-market principles, it contributes to public discourse on economic policy and theory. Its dual classification as both a research institute and think tank positions it uniquely to conduct fundamental economic inquiry while also engaging in policy-oriented analysis.

## Notable For
- **Longevity**: Founded in 1933, making it a long-established institution in economic research
- **Substantial Asset Base**: Holds total assets of $193,880,453 USD (as of 2023), indicating significant financial stability
- **Dual Classification**: Operates as both a research institute and think tank, bridging fundamental research and policy analysis
- **International Recognition**: Has Wikipedia presence in four languages (German, English, Spanish, French)
- **Extensive Digital Reach**: YouTube channel has accumulated over 6.6 million views since 2011

## Body

### Founding and Location
The American Institute for Economic Research was established in 1933. It is headquartered in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, United States. The organization operates from its primary website at https://www.aier.org.

### Organizational Structure and Legal Status
AIER is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization, a designation for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations in the United States. Its IRS Employer Identification Number is 04-2121305. The organization is classified as a research institute, a nonprofit organization, and a think tank.

### Financial Performance
AIER maintains detailed financial records showing fluctuations in revenue, donations, and assets over time.

**Revenue Trends (Selected Years)**:
- 2011: $3,009,906 USD
- 2017: $4,875,495 USD
- 2020: $2,549,173 USD
- 2023: $4,819,132 USD

**Donation Trends (Selected Years)**:
- 2011: $1,691,979 USD
- 2017: $1,932,985 USD
- 2020: $1,787,021 USD
- 2023: $2,703,669 USD

**Total Assets (Selected Years)**:
- 2011: $156,862,203 USD
- 2017: $200,255,883 USD
- 2021: $214,395,947 USD
- 2023: $193,880,453 USD

### Digital Presence and Social Media
AIER maintains an active presence across multiple digital platforms:
- **YouTube**: Channel ID UCetPXywjiWobIEU4gXOg-tQ, started August 17, 2011, with 42,900 subscribers and 6,611,090 total views as of January 2025.
- **Twitter**: Handle @aier
- **Facebook**: Handle aierdotorg
- **LinkedIn**: Handle aierdotorg
- **Flipboard**: ID AIERdotorg

### Academic and Institutional Identifiers
AIER is registered in numerous academic, library, and research databases:
- **ISNI**: 0000000121518712
- **VIAF ID**: 125459533
- **GRID ID**: grid.468348.5
- **ROR ID**: 020z8zc95
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n50060721
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007601196505171
- **National Library of Australia Trove ID**: 1058298
- **Ringgold ID**: 108980
- **Open Funder Registry ID**: 100006051
- **Crunchbase Organization ID**: american-institute-for-economic-research
- **LittleSis Organization ID**: 326392
- **Yale LUX ID**: group/cd051ebb-fbda-48af-985f-79f96021d3d8
- **Charity Navigator ID (obsolete)**: 12005

### Media Assessment
A 2024 assessment by Media Bias/Fact Check categorized AIER as a "source of mixed reliability," providing context for consumers of its research and publications.

### Wikipedia and Global Recognition
AIER has Wikipedia articles in four languages: German (de), English (en), Spanish (es), and French (fr). The organization has a Wikidata description as a "free-market think tank" and has a sitelink count of 4.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/the-american-institute-for-economic-research/)
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. ROR release v1.19
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. [Source](https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/042121305)
7. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
8. Nonprofit Explorer
9. [Nonprofit Explorer](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42121305)
10. GRID Release 2016-12-06
11. Quora
12. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
13. [Source](https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.alpha)
14. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
15. [Source](https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12005&oldpage)
16. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
17. YouTube API