Public Policy Institute

Solve problems. Seize opportunities. Effect positive change.

The IU Public Policy Institute was created in 1992 by Indiana University as a multidisciplinary institute within the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Staffed by a team of researchers and faculty members from the O’Neill School, the Public Policy Institute delivers unbiased research and data-driven, objective, expert analysis to help public, private, and nonprofit sectors make important decisions that directly impact quality of life in Indiana and throughout the nation.

Whether it’s analyzing the financial needs for water and wastewater infrastructure in Indiana, or evaluating the effectiveness of behavioral health courts, the Public Policy Institute provides the knowledge, data, and analysis that organizations need to make sound decisions, without political agenda or ideological bias.

Public Policy Institute director Tom Guevara

While we develop policies that address the problems Hoosiers face, many of those same policies and solutions can be applied in other parts of the country that face similar challenges.
Tom Guevara, Director of the IU Public Policy Institute

Public Policy Institute research areas

Criminal justice

The institute has established itself as a reliable resource for the study of the state’s corrections, courts, defense, and prosecution and sentencing systems.

Economic development

Through applied research and expert analysis in industry clusters, economic valuation, program evaluation, tax-increment financing, and workforce development, the Institute helps Hoosiers and their leaders understand marketplace data, assess their options, and make the right decisions.

Housing and community development

The IU Public Policy Institute helps public and nonprofit community development and housing organizations cut through complex issues with services including program and system evaluation, market analysis, social benefit analysis, and program facilitation and implementation.

Land use and environment

Our experience in land use and the environment includes more than a decade of monitoring the use of urban greenway trails in the Indianapolis area. We have also assembled an expert panel to address energy and the environment and offered new perspectives on issues such as advanced biofuels, carbon capture and storage, battery technology, and energy efficiency.

Public safety

The institute works directly with emergency and public safety agencies to provide a full range of services including program evaluation, collecting statistical and survey data, and implementation of plan development.

Tax and finance

With research on state and local taxes, budgeting, and spending, the IU Public Policy Institute helps leaders and citizens understand and respond to recent changes, develop a plan for the future, and make informed choices.

Services that meet a variety of Hoosier needs

Analytical studies
Benchmarking/indicators
Crime analysis
Data analysis
Data management
Econometric modeling
Economic impact analysis
Economic valuation
Facilitated decision making
Facilitation and mediation
Focus groups

Geographic information systems
Hedonic modeling
Policy analysis
Policy studies
Program evaluation
Public safety analysis
Simulation modeling
Spatial analysis
Strategic planning
Survey analysis
Survey design