The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is hiring a Research Assistant to support our work on tax, social protection, and public finances in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs) through the Centre for Tax Analysis in Developing Countries (TaxDev).

The RA will work closely with Professor François Gerard and a team of TaxDev researchers based in the UK and internationally, and will participate actively in the intellectual life of both the TaxDev and broader IFS teams.

1. Introduction

The IFS is Europe’s leading independent microeconomic research institute. Our goal is to promote effective economic and social policies by better understanding how policies affect individuals, families, businesses and the government’s finances. We communicate our findings widely, impacting upon the policy debate, the media, and policymakers.

TaxDev is the focal point for the IFS’s group of economists specialising in public finances in L&MICs. We work closely with Ministries of Finance (MoFs) and Revenue Authorities in Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda, and with an international network of academic researchers to generate high-quality, rigorous, policy-relevant research on taxation, social protection, and the public finances. We also conduct applied analysis to support the use of evidence in the policymaking process.

Established in 2016, TaxDev is jointly implemented by IFS and ODI, and is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). In 2024-25, we will be expanding the programme and establishing two new government partnerships. More information about the programme can be found on the TaxDev website.

The RA will work with IFS and ODI researchers, Post-Doctoral Fellows, and PhD scholars; participate in events and seminars; and work with a range of research and policy partners. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your research and analytical skills, work with diverse data sources, and contribute towards building the evidence base in this important area of public policy.

2.  Job description:

The Research Assistant will be responsible for:

• Conducting critical and structured literature reviews;

• Studying tax, social protection, and insurance systems, reviewing legislation, and analysing relevant reforms;

• Contributing to the design of high-quality, rigorous research projects;

• Mapping the availability of administrative and survey data, coordinating data access processes, and cleaning, organising, and documenting data ready for analysis;

• Analysing data, with guidance from the study leads;

• Contributing to writing academic papers, reports, and policy briefs;

• Contributing actively to intellectual life within the TaxDev team and IFS more broadly, through regular participation in team meetings and seminars;

• Supporting the team to successfully deliver other project outcomes.

3.  Qualifications, skills and experience:

The IFS recruits self-motivated and effective individuals with a record of exceptional success in their academic study or professional experience of economics.  The ability to analyse large and complex datasets is an important skill required for this position. The ability to read and synthesise relevant literature and write clearly are also crucial. The position is a good preparation for a PhD in economics.

The successful candidate will have:

• A master’s degree in economics; candidates with an excellent bachelor’s degree in economics and strong STATA and micro-econometric analysis skills will also be considered;

• At least 1 year of work or research experience, preferably in public policy or international development;

• Excellent quantitative data processing and analysis skills, including very good coding skills in STATA, and at least intermediate knowledge of R; ideally also knowledge of python or SQL;

• Experience of working with individual-, household- and/or firm-level data and of cleaning challenging administrative and raw datasets;

• Well-developed writing skills, including the ability to explain complex economic ideas in plain language;

• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills and a strong attention to detail;

• Good interpersonal skills and experience of working effectively in a diverse team;

• The ability to think creatively, work independently and take initiative to promote successful project outcomes;

• Strong organisational and administrative skills and the ability to work in a systematic, thorough manner;

• An interest in the economic analysis of both public finance and development issues, and a motivation to bridge the gap between academic research and issues of practical policy design or evaluation;

• A willingness to travel if required.

Desirable:

• Experience of algorithmic text analysis (text-as-data research);

• Portuguese language skills.

4.  Location

This role will be based at the IFS’s office in central London. The RA may be expected to travel a number of times a year.

5.  Employment type and duration

Full-time, fixed-term contract for 12 months.

6.  Application process

Apply via BeApplied, uploading as one pdf file a CV and covering letter (maximum 2 pages), outlining why you would be suitable for the role.

7.  Other

The successful candidate should have the right to work in the UK.

8.  Commitment to diversity

We aim to foster a respectful and inclusive environment, in which people from all backgrounds feel – and are – welcome and valued. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, and flexible working arrangements wherever possible, so that staff can work in ways that suit their personal circumstances. Read more here.

9.  Personal Data Disclaimer

IFS will manage this recruitment process. Details of the IFS's privacy policy can be found here.