The Brookings Institution, an independent, nonpartisan research organization, addresses current and emerging policy issues while offering practical approaches to solving them to policymakers as well as the general public. It is devoted to improving the performance of American institutions and the quality of the policies they make. Through its research, Brookings operates as an analyst and a critic that is committed to disseminating its findings. In its conferences, publications, and other activities, Brookings serves as a vital catalyst between scholarship and policymaking, bringing new knowledge to the attention of decision-makers and affording scholars greater insight into public policy issues.