American Institute for Economic Research

Overview

The American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) is a free-market, libertarian-leaning economic research and education organization based in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Founded in 1933, AIER describes its mission as educating the public on the value of personal freedom, free enterprise, property rights, limited government and sound money.

Key functions and role

AIER conducts economic research and publishes commentary, working papers and an Economic Bulletin, and runs academic programs including internships, graduate fellowships and workshops for students and early-career researchers. Its Sound Money Project, active since 2009, researches monetary stability and financial privacy. AIER also convenes a global network of local discussion groups, now called Harwood Salons, and owns an affiliated investment advisory firm, American Investment Services.

History

Economist and investment advisor Edward C. Harwood founded AIER in 1933 and later established its permanent campus in Great Barrington in 1946, on a roughly 140-acre property in the Berkshires. The institute drew national attention in October 2020 when it hosted the drafting and signing of the Great Barrington Declaration, a statement by three university epidemiologists advocating a "focused protection" approach to COVID-19 rather than broad social-distancing measures; the declaration was criticized by many public-health officials, including then-NIH director Francis Collins, as a fringe proposal. William P. Ruger served as AIER's president from January 2022 until April 2025, when he resigned to become Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration; he was succeeded by Samuel Gregg later in 2025.

Political positions

AIER is widely described as a libertarian, free-market think tank. It has been criticized by researchers and media watchdogs for publishing content skeptical of the scientific consensus on climate change and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, for promoting herd-immunity strategies that public-health authorities considered dangerous. AIER has said its research is grounded in empirical analysis of personal freedom and free-enterprise principles rather than partisan advocacy.

Leadership

Samuel Gregg became AIER's president in 2025, succeeding William P. Ruger. AIER is governed by a board of directors and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Location and contact info

Address
250 Division Street
Great Barrington, MA 01230, USA
Phone
(888) 528-1216
Email
info@aier.org
Website
https://www.aier.org