Overton Blog
Think tanks play an influential role in the policymaking process in the UK and their research and recommendations are often picked up by government policymakers. Using Overton’s database of policy documents, we wanted to see which think tanks feature most often in policy documents published by the UK government.
We ran a search of all policy documents published by gov.uk sources between 2015 and 2021 (this is the period that Overton’s data is comprehensive), and found which think tanks were cited the most within these documents.
1. Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Cited in 157 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing the JRF: Employment, Culture, Education
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is a British social policy research and development charity that seeks to understand the root causes of social problems, to identify ways of overcoming them, and to show how social needs can be met in practice.
2. Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
- Cited in 150 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing the IFS: Economy, Employment, Education
The Institute for Fiscal Studies is an economic research institute based in London, United Kingdom, which specialises in UK taxation and public policy. It is politically independent and produces both academic and policy-related findings.
3. National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
- Cited in 130 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing the NBER: Economy, Employment, Business
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is an American private nonprofit research organization "committed to undertaking and disseminating unbiased economic research among public policymakers, business professionals, and the academic community."
4. Nesta
- Cited in 101 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing Nesta: Innovation, Economy, Employment
Nesta is an innovation foundation based in the UK. The organisation acts through a combination of programmes, investment, policy and research, and the formation of partnerships to promote innovation across a broad range of sectors.
5. Resolution Foundation
- Cited in 93 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing the Resolution Foundation: Employment, Economy, Business
The Resolution Foundation is an independent British think tank established in 2005. Its stated aim is to improve the standard of living of low- and middle-income families.
6. Institute for Public Policy Research
- Cited in 81 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing IPPR: Employment, Education, Economy
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is a left-wing think tank based in London. It conducts research into economic, social and political sciences, science and technology, the voluntary sector and social enterprise, public services, and industry and commerce.
7. King’s Fund
- Cited in 75 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing the King’s Fund: Health care, NHS, Evidence-based medicine
The King's Fund is an independent think tank in England, which is involved with work relating to the health system in England. Its works to improve health and care.
8. RAND Corporation
- Cited in 69 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing the RAND Corporation: Culture, Economy, Health
RAND Corporation is an American nonprofit global policy think tank created in 1948 by Douglas Aircraft Company to offer research and analysis to the United States Armed Forces. It aims to develop solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.
9. The Health Foundation
- Cited in 64 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing The Health Foundation: Health care, NHS, Health sciences
The Health Foundation is an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK. The organisation’s aim is a healthier population, supported by high quality health care that can be equitably accessed.
10. Overseas Development Institute
- Cited in 60 policy documents
- Top 3 topics related to the UK government policy documents citing ODI: Culture, Aid, Education
The Overseas Development Institute is an independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues. Its aim is to reduction of poverty, the alleviation of suffering and the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in developing countries." It does this by "locking together high-quality applied research, practical policy advice, and policy-focused dissemination and debate."
Notes on this analysis
There is no clearcut definition of a "think tank" – there is a lot of crossover with academia, lobbying, industry groups, quasi-government organisations and NGOs – so there may be other think tank-type bodies which have been excluded from this list. If you have thoughts on the best way of identifying and classifying think tanks, we'd love to discuss!
Policymaking is not usually a linear process and there are many ways that think tank research and policy recommendations reach decision-makers, including private meetings, committee hearings, events, as background research for policy papers or via political party channels. Many of these pathways do not show up in policy documents, so this analysis reflects just one aspect of policy influence.
Policymaking in some policy areas may lend itself to certain types of influence pathways, so there may be a bias within government policy documents towards policy areas typically shaped in public view (eg economy and health). This may mean think tanks that are influential in more closed policy areas (eg defence) may be underrepresented in this analysis.
Being cited in more policy documents does not necessarily mean a think tank has more influence. Depending on the aims of the think tank, getting their policy recommendation adopted wholesale in one government policy document might be the desired outcome, while others may prefer smaller mentions across a larger number of policy documents, signifying their status as subject area experts.
Overton is used by think tanks, NGOs and IGOs across the world to understand their reach with key policymakers and shape the conversation. Find out more.