| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1, |
ITS RESEARCH ACTIVITIES SPAN A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS AND EMPLOY MANY DIFFERENT RESEARCH METHODS AND STRATEGIES. THESE ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON ESTIMATING QUANTITATIVE MODELS OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR, EVALUATING HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE WITH VARIOUS PUBLIC POLICIES THAT AFFECT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW STATISTICAL MEASURES FOR TRACKING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, AND DESCRIBING THE LIKELY EFFECTS OF PROSPECTIVE ECONOMIC POLICIES. THE NBER'S RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ARE ORGANIZED INTO TWENTY PROGRAMS. THE RESEARCHERS IN EACH PROGRAM ANALYZE ECONOMIC ISSUES CONCERNED WITH THE CORE TOPIC AREAS OF THAT PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE NBER ALSO HAS FOURTEEN WORKING GROUPS WHICH ARE EVEN MORE TOPIC-FOCUSED THAN PROGRAMS. WORKING GROUP MEETINGS OFTEN BRING TOGETHER RESEARCHERS WITH EXPERTISE IN SEVERAL TRADITIONAL SUB-FIELDS OF ECONOMICS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 |
THE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF GRANTS ADMINISTRATION, AND CONTROLLER COMPILE A DRAFT VERSION OF THE FORM 990 WITH HELP FROM THE NBER'S STAFF AND THE NBER'S AUDITORS. THIS DRAFT IS THEN FORWARDED TO THE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, PAST CHAIR, AND TREASURER OF THE NBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR REVIEW. AFTER THEIR REVIEW, THE 990 IS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH A SOLICITATION FOR FURTHER INPUT. AFTER INCORPORATING ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT EMERGE IN THIS PROCESS, THE 990 IS FINALIZED AND FILED. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C |
EACH YEAR, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND KEY EMPLOYEES RECEIVE A COPY OF THE NBER'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. THEY MUST RETURN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ANNUAL STATEMENT, AFFIRMING THAT THEY RECEIVED A COPY OF THE POLICY, HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE POLICY AND AGREE TO COMPLY WITH IT. ANY INTEREST, AS DEFINED IN THE POLICY, WHICH COULD APPEAR TO BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST MUST BE DISCLOSED ON THE SAME ANNUAL STATEMENT. BY SIGNING THE ANNUAL STATEMENT, THE RESPONDENT ALSO AGREES TO REPORT PROMPTLY TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT COMMITTEE ANY SITUATION OR TRANSACTION THAT MAY ARISE DURING THE FORTHCOMING YEAR THAT COULD CONSTITUTE A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE ANNUAL STATEMENTS INCLUDING DISCLOSURES ARE COLLECTED EACH SPRING AND ARE FORWARDED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR REVIEW. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE DETERMINES WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS AS DEFINED IN THE POLICY. AN INTERESTED PERSON MAY MAKE A PRESENTATION AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT AFTER THE PRESENTATION, HE/SHE MUST LEAVE THE MEETING DURING THE DISCUSSION OF, AND THE VOTE ON, THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD MAY, IF APPROPRIATE, APPOINT A DISINTERESTED PERSON OR COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT. AFTER EXERCISING DUE DILIGENCE, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE DETERMINES WHETHER THE NBER CAN OBTAIN WITH REASONABLE EFFORTS A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT FROM A PERSON OR ENTITY THAT WOULD NOT GIVE RISE TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IF A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT IS NOT REASONABLY POSSIBLE UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES NOT PRODUCING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THEN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE DETERMINES BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS WHETHER THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT IS IN THE NBER'S BEST INTEREST, FOR ITS OWN BENEFIT, WHETHER IT IS FAIR AND REASONABLE, AND WHETHER TO ENTER INTO THE TRANSACTION. IF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE HAS REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE A MEMBER HAS FAILED TO DISCLOSE ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, IT INFORMS THE MEMBER OF THE BASIS FOR SUCH BELIEF AND AFFORDS THE MEMBER AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THE ALLEGED FAILURE TO DISCLOSE. IF, AFTER HEARING THE MEMBER'S RESPONSE AND AFTER MAKING FURTHER INVESTIGATION AS WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE COMMITTEE DETERMINES THAT THE MEMBER HAS FAILED TO DISCLOSE AN ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, IT WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY AND CORRECTIVE ACTION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 |
THE NBER HAS A COMPENSATION COMMITTEE WHICH REVIEWS AND DETERMINES THE COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS, TOP MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND KEY EMPLOYEES. THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, THE VICE CHAIR, THE IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR (FOR SO LONG AS HE OR SHE REMAINS A DIRECTOR), AND THE TREASURER. THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REVIEWS COMPENSATION LEVELS EACH SPRING. THE COMMITTEE SOLICITS DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR EACH POSITION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS FROM THE APPROPRIATE SUPERVISOR. THE COMMITTEE ENGAGES AN INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTING FIRM TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE APPROPRIATE LABOR MARKET(S) AND MARKET DATA FOR CONDUCTING REASONABLENESS ASSESSMENTS AND TO CONDUCT A COMPARABILITY ASSESSMENT OF TOTAL REMUNERATION FOR THE OFFICERS, TOP MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES. THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE WORKS WITH THE CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP A PEER GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONS PRIMARILY COMPOSED OF THINK TANKS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS. THE CONSULTANT IDENTIFIES SURVEY SOURCES FOR COLLECTING MARKET DATA FOR THE BROADER NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT LABOR MARKETS. THE CONSULTANT ALSO REVIEWS THE FORM 990 FILINGS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON THE COMPENSATION OF SIMILAR POSITIONS. THE CONSULTANT PROVIDES AN EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT TO THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES THE APPROPRIATE DATA AS WELL AS AN OPINION LETTER ON THE REASONABLENESS OF, AND SUPPORTING COMPARABILITY DATA WITH RESPECT TO, THE TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR THE IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS. THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE APPROVES SALARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL OF THE IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENT AND CEO. THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE MAINTAINS MINUTES OF ITS DELIBERATIONS AND DECISION AND REPORTS TO THE SEVENTEEN-MEMBER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ALSO MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REGARDING THE COMPENSATION FOR THE PRESIDENT AND CEO. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REVIEWS THE MATERIALS FROM THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND THE COMPENSATION CONSULTANT AND MAKES A FINAL DETERMINATION ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT AND CEO. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MAINTAINS MINUTES OF ITS DELIBERATIONS AND DECISION. THE PRESIDENT AND CEO RECUSES HIMSELF FROM ALL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS THAT AFFECT HIS COMPENSATION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 |
THE NBER MAKES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, VIA ITS WEBSITE (WWW.NBER.ORG) ITS ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, BY-LAWS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND A SUMMARY OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. COMPLETE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.