Cato Institute Snapshot
The Cato Institute is a not-for-profit public policy research foundation that provides opinions and analysis in such areas as constitutional law, national security, civil liberties, and international trade. It publishes periodicals, books, and policy reports. The think tank has libertarian leanings, favoring limited government and free markets; its name comes from an 18th-century series of libertarian pamphlets that contributed to the philosophical arguments in favor of the American Revolution. Cato, which accepts no government funding, gets about 75% of its funding from individuals, and from foundations, corporations, and publication sales. The institute was established by president Edward H. Crane in 1977.