Portal:Libertarianism/Independent

The Independent Institute is a libertarian think tank based in Oakland, California.

Founded in 1986 by David J. Theroux, the Institute sponsors studies of major political, social, economic, legal, environmental and foreign policy issues. It has more than 140 research fellows. The Institute was originally established in San Francisco and was re-located in 1989 to Oakland. In 2006, the Institute opened an office in Washington, D.C. Its symbol is a lighthouse, chosen because of its symbolism of how services commonly regarded as public goods can be privately owned and operated. The Institute is organized into six centers which address the full range of public policy issues.

The results of the Institute's work are published as books and other publications and form the basis for numerous conferences and media programs. Books are published by such publishers as Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Palgrave, University of Michigan Press and New York University Press. In addition, the Institute publishes a quarterly journal, Independent Review, edited by the economist and historian Robert Higgs.