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Brookings Institution
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Brookings Institution

Washington think tank founded 1916; non-partisan research authority on economics, governance, and foreign policy.

The Korinek-Lockwood paper, published 22 March 2026, remains Brookings' most-cited 2026 finding: AI displacement risks eroding the labour-tax base that funds roughly three-quarters of US federal revenue.

Last refreshed: 27 July 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics

Key Question

Can Brookings remain non-partisan when its AI research is being weaponised by opposing political camps?

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Background

The Brookings Institution, founded on 13 March 1916, is the oldest think tank in the United States. Based in Washington DC, it produces independent research across economics, governance, Foreign Policy and electoral analysis, and positions itself as centrist, drawing scholars and funding from across the political spectrum. Its 2026 research portfolio spans AI displacement, fiscal sustainability, electoral forecasting and the constitutional limits of executive war-making.

In the AI displacement debate, Brookings has become a primary citation authority in Congress. Its working paper by Anton Korinek and Benjamin Lockwood found that AI-driven labour replacement threatens the payroll-tax base funding roughly three-quarters of US federal revenue, arguing the erosion could force a shift toward consumption-based taxation . Senator Bernie Sanders has cited the finding in drafting a per-position levy on AI-driven layoffs , while the American Enterprise Institute has published a direct rebuttal arguing AI functions as a skill equaliser rather than a displacement engine .

Beyond economics, Brookings serves as a constitutional reference point in the Iran war-powers debate and as a tracker of the 2026 midterm generic ballot, giving it a rare standing role across three separate policy fights at once .

Common Questions

Reference

Is Brookings Institution liberal or conservative?
Brookings describes itself as non-partisan and centrist. It employs scholars from across the political spectrum. In practice, its 2026 AI research has been cited by progressive Democrats advocating a robot tax and by Republican deficit hawks pushing structural fiscal reform — opposite policy conclusions from the same data.Source: Brookings Institution
What is the Hamilton Project at Brookings?
The Hamilton Project is a Brookings-based economic policy initiative launched in April 2006. It produces policy analyses guided by an advisory council of academics, business leaders, and former policymakers, with a focus on broadening economic opportunity and fiscal sustainability.Source: Hamilton Project official
What is Brookings predicting for the 2026 midterm elections?
Brookings electoral analysis tracks generic congressional ballot swings and maps cumulative shifts to projected Republican seat losses. A 9.1-point Democratic swing recorded by April 2026 across three competitive special elections informed Brookings projections of 12 to 20 Republican seat losses.Source: Brookings Institution
How does Brookings track the Iran war in Congress?
Brookings war-powers research is cited in congressional debates over the legal basis for US military operations in Iran, including successive War Powers Resolution votes and competing AUMF proposals from senators including Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Thom Tillis.Source: Brookings Institution
What did Brookings say about AI and the US tax system?
A 2026 Brookings working paper by Anton Korinek and Benjamin Lockwood found AI-driven labour displacement threatens the payroll tax base, which funds roughly 84% of US federal revenue, and argued this structural erosion could force a shift toward consumption-based taxation.Source: Korinek & Lockwood, Brookings
How large is the Brookings Institution?
As of 2023, Brookings held an endowment of approximately $538 million and generated annual revenue of $89.4 million. It is the oldest think tank in the United States, founded in 1916, and operates programmes covering economics, governance, Foreign Policy, and electoral analysis.Source: Wikipedia / Brookings financial disclosures
How does Brookings analyse the Iran conflict and US war powers?
Brookings researchers examine the constitutional limits of executive military action under Article II and the War Powers Resolution. Their analysis sets benchmarks for whether US strikes on Iran require a new AUMF, and has been entered into the Senate record as senators debate competing authorisation proposals.Source: Brookings war powers research
What has Brookings found about AI and job displacement?
A Brookings working paper by Anton Korinek and Benjamin Lockwood found that AI-driven labour displacement threatens the payroll-tax base that funds the bulk of US federal revenue, and argued this may force a structural shift toward consumption-based taxation. The affiliated Hamilton Project has published complementary research on the distributional consequences of automation.Source: Brookings Institution working paper
Who are the STARs and why does Brookings say they are at risk from AI?
STARs are workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes rather than formal degrees. A Brookings and Opportunity@Work study found roughly 11 million STARs are concentrated in AI-exposed occupations, with limited adaptive capacity and largely missed by degree-focused retraining programmes.Source: Brookings / Opportunity@Work
Source Material
Hamilton ProjectThe Brookings InstitutionBrookings Institution — Reuters coverageBrookings Institution — Official WebsiteBrookings Institution — Wikipedia