"Think tank" is a commonly used phrase that refers to independent research centers that study and/or advocate social, economic and political policies. Think tanks can claim to be non-partisan but many have a reputation for leaning towards particular political philosophies. (from: Finding Think Tank Reports at Duke University Library). Many of these reports are available online for free. AUR has cataloged many of the publications from some of the major US and UK think tanks. Click a link to find their reports:

Check out our new Think Tank Publication Search Tool

• American Enterprise Institute - About
  
• Rand Corporation - About
• Council on Foreign Relations - About
  
• Brookings Institution - About
  
• Heritage Foundation - About
• Cato Institute - About
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - About
  
• Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House) - About
• Oxfam - About

For more information, and to find many other publications by various think tanks, go to Think tanks at Source Watch, and look at the websites of the different think tanks. Another good place to find information on thiink tanks isNIRA's world directory of think tanks. Many, if not all, of these organizations put many of their publications online. They must be searched separately, however.