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Property and Environment Research Center
| Property and Environment Research Center | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Bozeman, Mont. |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Affiliation: | Nonpartisan |
| Top official: | Brian Yablonski, CEO |
| Year founded: | 1980 |
| Website: | Official website |
| Promoted policies | |
| Free market environmentalism | |
The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) is a think tank focused on research, education, and advocacy of free market environmentalism. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located in Bozeman, Mont., studies how property rights and markets might be able to address environmental quality issues.[1]
Background
PERC supports and advocates for free market environmentalism.[1] According to its website, a group of economists in 1980 "posed the question: “If markets can produce bread and cars, why can’t they produce environmental quality?” PERC was formed to explore potential answers and, in the process, established an entirely new framework for conservation called 'free market environmentalism.'”[1]
Leadership
As of August 2025, Brian Yablonski is the chief executive officer of PERC.[2]
As of June 2025, the Board of Directors of PERC included the following individuals:[3]
- Loren Bough, Chairman
- Isabel Behncke
- Reg Brown
- Henry N. Butler
- Robert C. Clement
- Christopher Costello
- Kimberly O. Dennis
- James Huffman
- Kristina Kendall
- Brad M. Levine
- Will Price
- Adam Putnam
- Gary Rieschel
- K.C. Walsh
Work and activities
Research
The organization conducts research on five issues, according to PERC's website:[4]
| “ |
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As of August 2025, PERC's website said the group's work has been published in the journal Science and has been used by academic institutions.[4] The organization also conducts fellowships and hosts events related to their research.[6]
PERC also has a Conservation Innovation Lab, which its website said "develops and prototypes groundbreaking models to address key conservation challenges."[7] The initiative provides financial support for farmers, ranchers and conservation groups who are experimenting with ideas on a range of conservation issues such as virtual fencing for livestock and reducing conflicts between grizzlies and humans.[7]
Advocacy
PERC has a Conservation Law and Policy Center, which aims to "advance legal and policy reforms that respect property rights, expand incentives for voluntary stewardship, and empower people to advance conservation through markets."[8]
The group will advocate for policies at the state and federal level, as well as engage in litigation and file amicus briefs on behalf of PERC and other groups.[8] PERC supported 37 bills in Congress in 2024, as well as provided comment on seven regulations.[9]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
Finances
Based on IRS tax records published on GuideStar, the following is a breakdown of the organization's finances from 2021 to 2024:[10]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Property and Environment Research Center' PERC. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- What is an influencer?
- Free market environmentalism
- Environmental policy in the United States
- Federal land policy
- 501(c)(3)
External links
- PERC homepage
- PERC on GuideStar
- PERC on social media:
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 PERC, "About Us," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ PERC, "Our People," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ PERC, "Board," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 PERC, "Research," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ PERC, "Programs," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 PERC, "Innovation Lab," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 PERC, "Law and Policy," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ PERC, "2024 Annual Report," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ GuideStar, "Political Economy Research Center (PERC)," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Internal Revenue Service , "PERC 2024 990 Form," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Internal Revenue Service , "PERC 2022 990 Form," accessed August 26, 2025
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