University of Pennsylvania picks PIDS among world’s best think tanks

State think tank Philippine Institute of Development Studies ranked among the best in the world in a report published by the University of Pennsylvania.

“In the 2012 Global Go To Think Tanks Report and Policy Advice of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program of the University of Pennsylvania, PIDS ranked 40th and 79th on the list of the world`s best social policy think tanks and development think tanks, respectively,” the state agency said.

The Go To Think Tank index ranks 6,603 think tanks in 182 countries according to region and specialization. For 2012, more than 1,100 individuals from 120 countries participated in the nominations and rankings process, the report said.

“We are pleased with the continued international recognition for our quality of policy research,” PIDS President Josef T. Yap said.

“Still, we feel that no formulaic rankings can fully capture the distinctiveness of any think tank. The Global Go-To Think Tank is just one measure of a think tank’s performance and impact, and should be used in conjunction with other metrics. PIDS continues to be the authority in Philippine economic and social development policy research and is one the most influential, most quoted, and most trusted think tanks in the country and in the region,” he added.

Established in 1977, PIDS has been engaged in conducting long-term, evidence-based research used for the formulation of socioeconomic policies in the country.

(Story courtesy of the Philippine Star’s Jovan Cerda)