Public officials in Georgia often confront complex policy issues that defy simple solutions. Development and production of the Public Policy Research Series evolved from a belief that the Vinson Institute, located at the state's land grant university, is uniquely situated to anticipate public problems and issues and conduct long-term, objective, and systematic research on them. The series was initiated in 1987 and serves as a forum for the publication of policy research, with the intent of contributing to more informed policy choices by decision makers in the state.

Today this series includes policy papers and one-page (front and back) policy notes. The papers are distributed selectively and the notes more widely to state and local policymakers.