Welcome to the Pardee Institute for International Futures

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The Frederick S. Pardee Institute for International Futures

At the Frederick S. Pardee Institute for International Futures, we look to the past to inform the future, using knowledge to drive decisions toward better outcomes. This perspective is central to our work: it defines our mission to help people understand the global future, shapes the value we provide to a community tackling the world’s most consequential issues, and advances our vision of a more knowable future.

Our core work—developing data, tools, and analysis—builds knowledge that drives decisions and outcomes. It equips people with knowledge that we hope enables more intentional action today and more effective planning for tomorrow. The consistency of long-term trends reinforces a critical point: there are elements of the future that we can anticipate and prepare for. These dependable trends provide structure and clarity, offering guardrails and illumination as we navigate possible future paths.

Our Work

We are an interdisciplinary research institute using International Futures (IFs), the only open-source integrated assessment platform that combines systems dynamics, econometrics, and historical data to forecast interconnected global trends. IFs spans 12 submodules—from economics to environment—capturing how shifts in one system affect others. Our mission is not prediction but enabling deeper understanding, scenario-building, and policy planning for long-term challenges. Grounded in transparency, rigor, and reproducibility, we democratize access to knowledge about possible futures in sustainable development, climate, and international relations. Our three workstreams—development analysis, geopolitical analysis, and model development—inform strategies that balance policy trade-offs and strengthen global resilience.

 

International Futures Platform

International Futures (IFs) is a sophisticated and comprehensive forecasting modeling system that we use to forecast change and development in 188 countries worldwide.

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Research



Using IFs, we work in concert with a diverse array of partners to produce policy-relevant research, analysis, forecasts, and new analytical tools.

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Publications



The Institute generates a range of publications, from volumes and peer-reviewed articles focused on the future of human development to working papers focused on documenting and extending the IFs model.

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Our purpose and decision-making framework

Our 2025 Strategic Plan, launched in the Fall of 2025, is a statement of purpose and serves as a decision-making framework to guide the Pardee Institute through 2030. Visit our About Us page to dive into the plan's details and learn more about where our paths align to build a more knowable future together.

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