A characteristic feature of the HSE is represented in the combination of university level education programmes with a set of high level research and development centres. Research and education activities are carried out in such areas as economic theory, history of economic studies, institutional economic theory, macroeconomics, mathematical and instrumental methods in economics, sociology, law, psychology, public administration, education, information sciences, and political studies.

Presently the HSE is the biggest center for socio-economic analysis in Russia and Eastern Europe. It is a constellation of think tanks, conducting researches for the RF Presidential Administration and the Russian Government as well as other public and private organizations.

The HSE has contributed to the development of the Government Programme of Social Economic Development of Russia, the Concept of the Civil Service and Administrative Reform and the Programme of Education Modernization, as well as other major reform agendas of the Russian Government. The HSE research and development unit includes 41 research institutes and centres of various profiles, and 32 laboratories combining study and research, including those established at the HSE Faculties in the frameworks of the HSE Innovative Development Programme in 2006-2007. The HSE structure also includes the Academic Fund, which plays an important role in supporting innovative research and academic mobility at the University.