As TERI is a private organization, it earns its revenue from studies assigned by private enterprises which are eager to understand the development trends in their fields.
中經院成立後，以研究總體經濟為主，為避免研究重複浪費，台經所遂完全走向產業經濟的研究。目前基金會孳息只能供應台經所經費的四分之一，其餘全靠接受委託研究的收入自給。