The Bertelsmann Stiftung has a tradition of comparative policy research and international benchmarking. It has established a reputation for providing sound advice and innovative problemsolving in the field of economic and social politics. The International Reform Monitor (www.reformmonitor.org), initiated in 1999 and now in its sixth year, is one example of this benchmark expertise. It primarily covers social and labor market issues. An example of the Foundation’s expertise in comparative health policy research is “Reformen im Gesundheitswesen” (Esche, Böcken and Butzlaff (eds.) 2000), a study that compared health policy reforms in eight countries.