The work of the Pardee Institute is guided by its vision of building and disseminating increased knowledge for future wellbeing through the use of data and quantitative tools.
We are primarily interested in understanding the world as an interconnected set of systems. To that end, we engage in integrated assessment modeling and its application to questions of sustainable human, social, and environmental development. Another focus for our work is the creation of unique datasets and indices related to geopolitical analysis and international relations.
Our work is carried out by two subject-area teams, one focused on sustainable development analysis and one focused on geopolitical analysis. Their work is supported by a third team—the researchers, modelers, and data managers who maintain and enhance our International Futures (IFs) integrated assessment model.
Our goal is to foster a long-term dialogue among and across the scientific, policymaking, and modeling/data communities. Our partners include academics, governments, non-governmental organizations, international governmental organizations, think tanks, and private companies.
Learn about the Pardee Institute’s research by reading more.
Out now! Explore our research further in our most recent Annual Review.
IFs is an integrated assessment model that connects multiple interacting subject area domains (agriculture, economy, education, energy, governance, health, infrastructure, and population) in scenarios that explore possible long-term futures. Analysis with IFs ranges from the global to the subnational level and from assessing broad risks and trends to exploring focused challenges.
One focus for the work of the sustainable development analysis team in recent years is quantifying and understanding the development effects of climate change. Some of our partners in this work include the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Women, and USAID. Another recent focus is understanding the role of global systems of cooperation and coordination in addressing global risks and challenges. Some of our partners for that work include the African Union (AUDA-NEPAD), UNDP Yemen, and UNICEF (Global Outlook 2024).
Explore our research section further to learn more about these and other projects.
This team studies both long-term historical patterns and forecasts to seek out where we, as an international community, may be heading. Focusing on diplomatic, economic, cultural, and security-related trends, we explore deeply complicated questions about the future of the international system.
Our development team adjusts and updates this signature tool to ensure that the forecasts and analyses we share with the world remain robust and effective.
Recently, this team completed a transition of the model’s underlying software system from Visual Basic to VB.NET, a transition that was important for maintaining the long-term viability of IFs.
