The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) has adopted a comprehensive policy requiring full transparency of its research by providing all data sources and files for Institute work on its website (or links to other sites) to enable other researchers to easily replicate our statistical results. In addition, the Institute discloses sources of funding and any material about authors' financial relationships that might bear on their research.
Replicability is the hallmark of intellectually honest empirical research. We at the Institute believe that enabling researchers to check and replicate our findings will enhance our work's persuasiveness, elevate the profile of the work in the research community, and increase the Institute's credibility to critique the policies and research of governments and other organizations. Institute books undergo extensive internal and external peer review, while Policy Briefs, working papers, and other shorter publications are subject to other forms of open internal review at the Institute prior to publication. An upgraded standard set by the Institute, adopted in Spring 2014, allows anyone with the relevant software to reproduce the statistical results in its publications. (The Institute, however, will not provide extensive "after sales service" beyond posting the relevant data and code.) Specific limited exceptions to full disclosure may be made when data are confidential or proprietary or when publication of the data (on illegal activities, for example) could cause direct harm to individuals. These instances will be rare and will themselves be disclosed.
Financial disclosure is also an Institute commitment. Sources of financial support for the Institute have been listed annually on the PIIE website since June 2013. All Institute books, Policy Briefs, and working papers acknowledge any direct funding sources, and web pages for these publications provide links to underlying data files to demonstrate the independence of analysis. Funders are never given the right to final review of a publication prior to its release. Author disclosures include employment, consulting, or ownership relationships with firms or public institutions that might be substantially affected by their research. This requirement applies to relationships that have been active three years prior to publication and includes all coauthors on PIIE publications, not just PIIE staff. Authors must also disclose any potential conflict of interest to the Institute that might arise as a result of leadership positions or board memberships in advocacy groups. Consistent with these principles, all authors of any PIIE publications must sign the Transparency and Disclosure form accepting PIIE disclosure and conflict-of-interest requirements. PIIE staff, including nonresident and part-time research staff, may not have a primary affiliation or employment with a for profit company or any organization representing private sector or a government agency's interests. PIIE staff are free to use their Institute affiliation as personal identification on an outside project or when acting as a consultant, but they must make clear in any written product or public speaking role that it is solely in their individual capacity and that it is neither a PIIE position nor has the project been subject to PIIE review and disclosures.