Frequently Asked Questions
Please use the links below to learn more about the Tobin Project.
About the Tobin Project
- Why is the organization called the Tobin Project?
- Does the Tobin Project maintain in-house fellows or experts?
- Is the Tobin Project affiliated with a university?
- Is the Tobin Project a think tank? An academic center?
- Is the Tobin Project a partisan or ideologically aligned organization?
- Does the Tobin Project take stances on policy issues?
- Is the Tobin Project a lobbying organization?
- Where does the Tobin Project’s funding come from?
Getting involved
- How do scholars become involved with the Tobin Project?
- How can I support the Tobin Project?
- Does the Tobin Project have any job openings?
- How can I keep up-to-date with developments at the Tobin Project?
- What programming does the Tobin Project offer for graduate students? Undergraduate students?
Resources
- Where can I download or purchase books from Tobin Project research efforts?
- Where can I access papers presented at Tobin Project conferences and meetings?
- Does the Tobin Project offer any fellowships or grants?
- How can I contact scholars involved with the Tobin Project?
Contacting the Tobin Project
- Whom should I contact for more information?
- Whom should I contact for press inquiries?
- Where is the Tobin Project located?
ABOUT
1. Why is the organization called the Tobin Project?
The Tobin Project is named after Professor James Tobin, the 1981 Nobel Laureate in Economics and a mentor to the organization’s founder, David Moss. The Tobin Project was inspired by Professor Tobin’s belief in the power of ideas to shape society and public policy, and the vital role that academics can play in this regard. After Professor Tobin passed away in 2002, the founders of the organization received permission from Professor Tobin’s children to name the venture after their late father. The Tobin Project was founded in 2005 and remains animated today by the values and aspirations articulated by Professor Tobin.
2. Does the Tobin Project maintain in-house experts or fellows?
Scholars do not work in-house at the Tobin Project as fellows or experts, but rather remain based at their home universities while participating in Tobin research projects. Scholars participate in Tobin Project programs in a variety of ways, including as research-initiative chairs, session moderators, conference and workshop participants, paper authors, and research commentators.
More on the scholar community »
3. Is the Tobin Project affiliated with a university?
The Tobin Project is an independent, non-profit organization and is not affiliated with any university or college. The Tobin Project network comprises over 400 scholars from over 80 universities and institutions across the United States.
4. Is the Tobin Project a think tank? An academic center?
The Tobin Project is neither a think tank nor a traditional academic center. It is an organization with a unique model and mission that complements the work of these other actors in the ideas landscape.
The Tobin Project can be difficult to classify at first because, while Tobin is focused on academic research, its model brings policymakers together with scholars. Typically, when scholars work directly with policymakers it is at think tanks, where academics help to generate policy proposals and answers to immediate policy problems. In contrast, Tobin involves policymakers chiefly to ground scholars’ academic research in real-world experience. The primary goal is not to generate short-term policy proposals (though this is often a welcome byproduct of Tobin Project efforts), but rather to influence and guide academic research in ways that will help ensure more effective responses to the nation’s challenges over the long term.
The Tobin Project also differs from a traditional academic center, as it places a particular emphasis on involving policymakers and also maintains a unique structure. The Tobin model allows for research initiatives to involve experts based at numerous universities across the country and does not incur the costs of maintaining a brick-and-mortar research institution. With no institutional affiliation, the Tobin Project maintains a small team able to pursue new inquiries, change course when needed, and facilitate outstanding research at relatively low cost. Tobin works with several institutional research centers, sharing the goal of promoting interdisciplinary research on issues of public import, but remains singular in its model and structure.
Read about the Tobin Project's partners and collaborators »
5. Is the Tobin Project a partisan or ideologically aligned organization?
The Tobin Project does not aim to further a political or ideological agenda through its research initiatives. Rather, the Tobin Project seeks to facilitate collaborative, interdisciplinary research on a range of questions relating to the U.S. democracy, economy, and national security. While the Tobin Project encourages scholars to draw on their values in shaping their questions, it insists that rigorous academic research must determine their answers.
6. Does the Tobin Project take stances on policy issues?
The Tobin Project does not take positions on policy issues. Where research produced through Tobin Project initiatives yields policy recommendations, the Tobin Project disseminates those conclusions throughout its academic and policy networks and facilitates conversations between scholars and policymakers in positions to effect change.
7. Is the Tobin Project a lobbying organization?
The Tobin Project is primarily focused on long-term research initiatives; lobbying lawmakers on particular pieces of legislation is not an objective of the Project’s work. The Tobin Project does not employ any registered lobbyists under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. As a registered 501(c)(3), the Tobin Project has made a Section (h) election pursuant to Section 4911 of the IRC and thus maintains records regarding any expenditures on activities that could constitute lobbying for the purposes of the tax code.
8. Where does the Tobin Project’s funding come from?
The Tobin Project is supported by a committed group of individual donors, along with several foundations including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Tobin Project does not receive any government funding nor does it have an endowment.
GETTING INVOLVED
1. How do scholars become involved with the Tobin Project?
The Tobin Project network grows as new scholars with particular expertise on current research inquiries join research initiatives, attend conferences, and sign on to book projects. For more information about Tobin Project research initiatives, and how to get involved, please contact Liam Horsman.
2. How can I support the Tobin Project?
If you would be interested in joining the committed group of individuals and foundations who support the Tobin Project, please contact Kate Aoki or donate online.
3. Does the Tobin Project have any job openings?
The Tobin Project is always pleased to discuss opportunities with interested applicants. Find more information in the "Opportunities" section of the website.
4. How can I keep up-to-date with developments at the Tobin Project?
The best way to keep up-to-date with the Tobin Project is to visit the “News” section of our website.
5. What programming does the Tobin Project offer for graduate students? Undergraduate students?
The Tobin Project includes graduate students in many of its events and activities and also organizes a Graduate Student Forum and Fellowship program and a Prospectus Development Workshop. For more information on these programs, please see the "Graduate Students" section of the website.
The Tobin Project does not offer research programming for undergraduate students, but encourages current or graduating students to consider part-time or full-time job opportunities or summer internships with the Tobin Project. Check the "Opportunities" page for current listings.
RESOURCES
1. Where can I download or purchase books from Tobin Project research efforts?
Please visit our "Books & Papers" page for information regarding Tobin Project publications.
2. Where can I access papers presented at Tobin Project conferences?
Because the Tobin Project seeks to explore new paths for scholarship, much of the work presented at conferences and meetings is early-stage and not intended for immediate distribution. When scholars deem their pieces ready for circulation, the Tobin Project posts them here, as working papers or published articles.
In some cases, papers presented at Tobin Project conferences are developed into chapters for Tobin book projects. Many of these volumes, as well as their individual chapters, are available for free download here. Publication restrictions do not allow the Tobin Project to offer free download of all these books at all times. You can purchase the volumes online or contact the Tobin Project for more information.
3. Does the Tobin Project offer any fellowships or grants?
The Tobin Project seeks to motivate and support new research outside of more traditional mechanisms such as research grants and fellowships. Scholars often work on Tobin Project research inquiries because the organization offers a community and a framework in which they can pursue innovative, interdisciplinary, publicly minded research. However, the Tobin Project does offer targeted support to scholars pursuing research for Tobin Project conferences, research seminars, and publication projects, as well as to students participating in the Graduate Student Workshop.
4. How can I contact scholars involved with the Tobin Project?
Scholars involved with the Tobin Project are based at their home universities and can be reached through their university contact websites. If you have a press inquiry or would like more information about the research inquiries scholars are involved with at the Tobin Project, please contact Kate Aoki.
CONTACTING THE TOBIN PROJECT
1. Whom should I contact for more information?
For more information about the Tobin Project, please contact Kate Aoki.
2. Whom should I contact for press inquiries?
For press inquiries, please contact Kate Aoki.
3. Where is the Tobin Project located?
The Tobin Project maintains an office suite in Harvard Square at 625 Massachusettts Ave, Suite 200, Cambridge, MA 02139. The network of scholars and policymakers with whom the Tobin Project works remain at their universities and institutions around the country.