Research Associate: Economics

The Cato Institute seeks a Research Associate to join a team of researchers working on economic policy. The Research Associate will be responsible for supporting the work of several of Cato’s economic policy scholars in both the research and some administrative tasks.

This position will help produce original policy analysis in multiple different formats, including working papers, blog posts, op-eds, policy analyses, and books. The Research Associate will be an integral part of the team’s workflow, helping with new research, editing content, assisting with event management, and undertaking certain administrative tasks. They will have the opportunity to co-author certain pieces with other members of the team and will be encouraged to be self-starters, on the lookout for good research ideas and hooks to promote Cato scholars’ work.

This role is available through our two-year Research Associate program, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn from senior staff and featured guest lecturers across academia and the business community. With ample opportunities to attend these educational sessions, network with peers and scholars, and gain mentorship from some of the nation’s foremost public policy scholars, you’ll be well prepared to excel as a leader in policy, academia, government, business, and beyond.

This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC.

About Cato

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization—a think tank—dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th- century England that presented a vision of society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution — individual liberty, limited government, and free markets – turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future.

Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

• Support the research of senior members of the economic studies team.
• Support the administrative and organizational needs of the economic studies team.
• Occasionally co-author policy analyses, working papers, peer-reviewed academic papers, blog posts, and other empirical work with members of the economic studies team.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• A degree in economics, statistics, political science, or data science is required.
• Strong technical skills in one or more of the following: Excel, Python, STATA, or R.
• Expertise with Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience and comfort in using economic data.
• Familiarity with basic macroeconomic and microeconomic concepts.

Skills

• A passion for the Cato Institute’s ideals and the skill to communicate these ideals.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work on multiple tasks independently and as part of a team on a time-sensitive basis.
• Strong writing and editing skills, keen attention to detail, quality, and accuracy.
• Ability and willingness to challenge and question ideas.
• Reliability, a strong work ethic, and a positive, professional mindset.
• Problem-solving initiative and openness to learning new processes and skills.

Benefits

All Cato employees are provided with:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance
• 401(k) employer match
• Transit/ Parking benefits
• Pet discount plan

To Apply

Please submit the following materials in one PDF file:

• CV/Resume. Cover letter optional.
• Two writing samples (research reports, working papers, peer-reviewed articles, dissertations, data memos, blog posts, etc.).