History of the Center
Founded on September 10, 1977, the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research was a 501(c)(3), independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the goals of a better-informed public and more effective, accountable, and responsive government. The Center identified public policy issues facing North Carolina and enriched the dialogue among citizens, the media, and policymakers. Based on its research, the Center made recommendations for improving the way government serves the people of this state.
For 40 years, the Center provided nonpartisan research, evaluation, and analysis on the most important public policy issues facing our state, serving as a think tank, watchdog, and futurist.
In October 2016, the Center affiliated with EducationNC. Combining the best new media practices with the depth of think-tank research, the work provided North Carolinians with a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our great state. The Center ceased operations in 2021.
The Center published a journal called North Carolina Insight, in-depth research reports, legislative and lobbyist rankings, and a citizens’ guide to the legislature. Below is a collection of links to those publications.
North Carolina Insight
- Serving Our Seniors, February 2015
- Evaluating Mental Health Reform in N.C., August 2014
- The State of Mental Health in N.C., December 2012
- The Art of Aging: Our Elders Our State, April 2010
- The History of Mental Health Reform – Insight Special Report, March 2009
- The Future of Community Colleges in N.C., May 2008
- Special Report on Education in N.C., May 2007
- Eastern N.C. Revisited, February 2006
- Safe at Home: Fighting Family Violence in N.C., March 2005
- Addressing the Shortage of Teachers in N.C., August 2004
- Race, Ethnicity, and Public Policy Outcomes: From Disparity to Parity, June 2004
- Voting and Civic Participation, April 2003
- Evaluating Charter Schools in N.C., July 2002
- What About the East?, December 2001
- Lottery in N.C., October 2000
- Does N.C. Have a Citizen Legislature?, February 2000
- Hispanic-Latino Health in N.C., August 1999
- Children with Special Needs in N.C., November 1998
- Economic Development in N.C., December 1997
- Year Round Schools in N.C., May 1997
- Arts Funding in N.C., November 1996
- State and Local Government Relations in N.C., May 1996
- School Choice in N.C., September 1995
- The Health of Minority Citizens in N.C., March 1995
- State Regulations of Pesticides, September 1994
- The Changing Face of the Legislature, January 1994
- N.C.’s Demographic Destiny, August 1993
- What the New Governor Should Do for N.C., February 1993
- Air Cargo Complex, September 1992
- Health Care in N.C.: Prescription for Change PT II, May 1992
- Health Care in N.C.: Prescription for Change PT I, November 1991
- Voting in N.C.: Can We Make It Easier?, June 1991
- Preserving N.C.’s Mountains, December 1990
- N.C. Public Schools, September 1990
- N.C.’s Homeless: Time to Face the Problem, June 1990
- The Balance of Power, March 1990
- Recycling Resources in N.C., December 1989
- The Secretary of State After Thad Eure, August 1989
- Profiles in Poverty, April 1989
- State of the Environment, October 1988
- School Bus Drivers: How Old for Safety?, June 1988
- Resources At Risk: Environmental Policy in N.C., March 1988
- 10th Anniv. Issue: A Report on the First Ten Years, October 1987
- Selecting Judges, June 1987
- N.C. Prisons, March 1987
- Industrial Revenue Bonds, September 1986
- Boards, Commissions, and Councils, June 1986
- N.C.: An Economy in Transition, April 1986
- Public-Private Partnerships: Boon or Boondoggle?, November 1985
- Policy and the Aging, September 1985
- Rendering Unto Caeser: The Tax Debate of 1985, April 1985
- Regulating Insurance, February 1985
- Equal Pay for Equal Worth, October 1984
- Local Government: Facing the Future, January 1984
- Regulating Utilities, January 1984
- Handicapped Persons, October 1983
- N.C.’s Railroads: Up for Sale?, June 1983
- N.C.: State of the Arts?, February 1983
- Lt. Governor: Executive or Legislative Official?, November 1982
- Mortgage Overdue: Housing Policy in N.C., August 1982
- Coastal Carolina – 2000?, May 1982
- Federal Budget Cuts, December 1981
- Microelectronics – The New Wave, September 1981
- Tobacco in Transition, June 1981
- Chemical Waste, April 1981
- Breaking Ground: 1981 General Assembly, September 1980
- Forces of Paradox, June 1980
- Of prisons, milk prices, and more, April 1980
- N.C.’s Energy Future, January 1980
- The Missing LINC, September 1979
- The ‘Union Man’ at Labor, June 1979
- CWIP: Shifting the Investment Risk, April 1979
- Dealing with Status Offenders, January 1979
- The Governorship – An Agenda, September 1978
- Government Secrecy vs. Public Access, June 1978
- The Vet School, April 1978
- Oil: A Slippery Business, January 1978
Research Reports
- A Strong Economy Through Post Secondary Education – Insight Special Report, 2015
- Financial Aid and Tuition Policy, 2015
- The Statewide UNC Board of Governors, 2006
- Governance and Coordination of Public Higher Education in all 50 States, 2000
- Reorganizing Higher Education in N.C., 1999
- Pro and Con Arguments on the Constitutional Amendments Before the Voters on the November 5, 1996 Ballot, 1996
- Special Provisions in Budget Bills: A Pandora’s Box for N.C. Citizens, 1996
- N.C. Focus, 1996
- The Cost of Running for the N.C. Legislature, 1993
- How Do Universities in the UNC System Identify and Reward Excellent Teaching?, 1993
- Public Financing of State Political Campaigns, 1990
- Campaign Disclosure Laws, 1990
- Comparing the Performance of For-Profit and Not-For-Profit Hospitals in N.C., 1989
- N.C. Focus, 1989
- Think Tank Watchdog: A Report on the First Ten Years 1977-1987, 1988
- The Two-Party System in N.C.: Do We Have One And What Does It Mean?, 1987
- The Investor Owned Hospital Movement in N.C., 1986
- Assessing the Administrative Procedure Act, 1985
- The 1983-85 N.C. Budget: Finding the Missing Pieces in the Fiscal Jigsaw Puzzle, 1984
- Boards, Commissions, and Councils in the Executive Branch of N.C. State Government, 1984
- The Guide to Environmental Organizations in N.C., 1984
- Teacher Certification: Out of Field Teaching in Grades 7-12 in N.C., 1982
- Federal Budget Cuts in N.C. Part II, 1982
- Health Education: Incomplete Commitment, 1981
- N.C. Focus, 1981
- Public Policy and Native Americans in N.C.: Issues for the ’80s, 1981
- The Tobacco Industry in Transition, 1981
- The Advisory Budget Commission: Not as Simple as ABC, 1980
- Foreign Languages and Area Studies: Options For N.C., 1980
- Which Way Now?, 1979
- Cable Television in N.C., 1978
- Making N.C. Prosper, 1978
- The Right to Be Able to Know: Public Access to Public Information, 1978
- This Land Is Your Land, 1977
Legislative Rankings
Prior to 1993, the rankings of effectiveness of legislators were included in Article II: A Guide to the Legislature and not published as a separate publication.
- Rankings of Effectiveness Attendance and Roll Call Voting Participation for the 2015 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness Attendance and Roll Call Voting Participation for the 2013 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness Attendance and Roll Call Voting Participation for the 2011 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness Attendance and Roll Call Voting Participation for the 2009 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness Attendance and Roll Call Voting Participation for the 2007 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness Attendance and Roll Call Voting Participation for the 2005 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness Attendance and Roll Call Voting Participation for the 2003 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness Attendance and Roll Call Voting Participation for the 2001 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness for the 1999 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness for the 1997 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness for the 1995 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of Effectiveness for the 1993 N.C. General Assembly
Lobbyist Rankings
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 2013 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 2011 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 2009 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 2007 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 2005 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 2003 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 2001 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 1999 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 1997 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 1995 N.C. General Assembly
- Rankings of the Most Influential Lobbyists in the 1993 N.C. General Assembly
Citizen’s Guide to the Legislature
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 2015-2016
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 2013-2014
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 2011-2012
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 2009-2010
- Article II: Supplement 2009-2010
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 2007-2008
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 2005-2006
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 2003-2004
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 2001-2002
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1999-2000
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1997-1998
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1995-1996
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1993-1994
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1991-1992
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1989-1990
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1987-1988
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1985-1986
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1983-1984
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1981-1982
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1979-1980
- Article II: A Guide to the N.C. Legislature 1977-1978