Job Description

Organisation: The Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS)

Position: Economic Policy Analyst

Location: Chennai

Position Summary

The Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS) aims to help state governments strengthen their capacity and public systems to improve governance, service delivery, and the effectiveness of public expenditure. As CEGIS completes its fifth year, we are looking to hire multiple economic policy analysts to join the Economics and Statistics Unit at CEGIS to conduct economic analysis focused on state-level policy issues in India. In this pivotal role, you will help drive analytical work and conduct impactful research on policies and programmes that can boost the effectiveness of thousands of crores of public spending, and thereby improve the translation of public expenditure into development outcomes for millions of people.

You will work closely with a diverse team of analysts and economists in close collaboration with senior government officials and with technical guidance and inputs from CEGIS Co-Founder and Scientific Director, Prof. Karthik Muralidharan, as well as other leading economists. As a CEGIS Economic Policy Analyst, you will aid and assist the team in the following activities: (a) conducting original research and technical analysis to evaluate new proposed expenditure items; (b) conducting economic analysis of government policies and programs and evaluating key programs; (c) staying abreast of and synthesising relevant research for answering policy questions; and (d) identifying and liaising with academic and other researchers to obtain expert inputs into policy decisions. This position offers an exciting opportunity to apply your analytical skills and communicate impactful ideas, making a tangible impact on governance and public policy in India.

Role and Responsibilities

Economic Research and Technical Analysis

• Conduct comprehensive economic research and analysis on various policy and programmatic issues relevant to state governments.

• Develop data-driven insights and recommendations to support effective policy implementation and governance reforms.

• Support CEGIS field projects, including sampling design, data analytical frameworks, and analytical tools.

• Curate and update datasets (international, national, and state) for rapid analysis.

Policy Development and Collaboration

• Engage with senior government officials to identify research, analysis, and knowledge gaps that can be filled by CEGIS

• Engage with a range of stakeholders, including government officials, researchers, and think-tanks, to foster effective policy dialogues and knowledge sharing across Indian states, and beyond.

• Support CEGIS teams and projects in developing and implementing evidence-based policy solutions, providing critical economic insights and analyses.

• Translate economic research findings into practical policy ideas and reforms that can be presented to state governments for consideration.

Knowledge Creation and Dissemination

• Draft high-quality notes, reports, policy briefs, and academic papers, applying economic concepts and analytical methods effectively.

• Create and present accessible content to communicate complex economic findings and insights to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Education

• A Masters degree in Economics, Public Policy, or a related field is strongly preferred.

• Relevant work experience related to empirical research in the domain of public policy is an additional asset, although not a strict requirement.

• Applicants without work experience must be able demonstrate requisite skills and inclination through a strong academic record.

Skills

• Proficiency in data science and experience working with large datasets.

• Knowledge of at least one statistical analysis software (STATA, R, etc.) is an essential requirement. Proficiency in these will be a strong advantage.

• Knowledge of other programming languages (like Python), and GIS software packages will provide candidates with a strong advantage.

• Familiarity with major research datasets covering India and experience in compiling and using complex datasets.

• Strong writing and communication skills in English; fluency in any other Indian languages is a plus.

• Capability in preparing high-quality policy briefs, research papers, and notes.

• Demonstrated interest in government functioning improvement and using research and evidence to inform policy.

• Exposure to project design and implementation, particularly in collaboration with government officials or large-scale projects, is advantageous.

Personal Characteristics and Desired Qualities

• Strong quantitative, analytical, and conceptual skills in economics.

• Ability to work effectively across a range of projects at any given time.

• Adaptability to work independently and as part of a small, dynamic team.

• Creative thinking, willingness to experiment with new ideas, and ability to translate ideas into action plans and execute them.

• Intellectual curiosity and commitment to continuous learning.

• Passion for working with governments to enhance state effectiveness.

Location and Compensation

This role will be based out of Chennai. Remuneration will be competitive with Indian academic, and think tank pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.

Apply Now

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications [here] by 14th August 2024. Optionally, if you have an account with EconJobMarket.

Later applications will be considered on a rolling basis, but we will start reviewing on 22nd August. Please include a CV, links to your best pieces of analytical writing, and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and in policy-relevant research more generally.

To learn more about CEGIS, please (1) review the CEGIS website: https://www.cegis.org/ ; (2) Prof. Karthik Muralidharan's podcast episodes (one each on education , healthcare, and especially the one on federalism/state capacity in India), and his webpage. You will also greatly benefit from reading Prof. Muralidharans recent book: Accelerating Indias Development, which lays out the intellectual roadmap for a lot of CEGISs work.