Policy Analyst, General Economics

The Cato Institute is seeking a full-time Policy Analyst for its General Economics team. The analyst’s primary objective will be to educate the public – hill staff, journalists, curious laypeople, etc. – on the benefits of free markets and the harms and unintended consequences of government economic interventions. This includes researching and writing, engaging with other individuals in the free-market policy sphere, and responding to information requests from outside sources. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of economic concepts and a firm belief in free markets. A post-graduate degree is welcome but not required. This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC and will report to the Vice President of General Economics and Stiefel Trade Policy Center. The Institute is currently offering a hybrid remote work schedule with 3 days remote and 2 days in-office per week.

PLEASE APPLY THROUGH TALENT MARKET TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.

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 a 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.

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

• Researching and writing relatively short, accessible, and data-heavy publications (blog posts, op-eds, explainers, briefing papers, etc.) on a wide range of economics issues.
• Engaging with like-minded groups and individuals on the issues covered therein.
• Providing general support for others on Cato’s General Economics team.
• Supervising and training research associates and interns.
• Responding to information requests from policymakers, the media, and other organizations, often on tight deadlines.
• Keeping up to speed with relevant new research on various topics.
• Developing and contributing to the production of a variety of written products such as reports, issue briefs, and op-eds.

• B.A. in economics or other social sciences is preferred.
• 2-4 years of experience in policy, academia, economics, or an equivalent field.
• Must have a good grasp of economics.
• Must have strong quantitative skills, including experience with the latest econometric methods and familiarity with software packages or programming languages used for data analysis (such as Stata, R, Python, MATLAB, etc.).
• Must have the ability to work on multiple tasks independently and as part of a highly collaborative team on a time-sensitive basis, a commitment to accuracy, and creativity in making innovative arguments for trade liberalization.
• Must be able to participate in events on occasion, including conferences and webinars.
• Must have strong writing and communication skills.
• Must have a strong commitment to Cato’s values.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

• Cover Letter detailing your interest in the position, the mission of the Cato Institute, and your salary requirements
• Résumé
• Writing sample (no more than three pages)

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Lydia Ocampo, Outreach Manager at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: lydia@talentmarket.org.

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.