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Research Associate for Budget and Entitlement Policy

The Cato Institute is seeking a Research Associate to support the Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy with research and related administrative tasks.

The Research Associate will help produce original policy analysis for different publications, including working papers, blog posts, op-eds, tweets, and books. They will support the Director with topical briefs, fiscal data analyses, and organizational tasks that support Cato’s mission. The ideal candidate has a strong grasp of economics and is a self-starter, curious, and detail oriented.

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 position could be hybrid, fully remote, or at Cato’s office. The Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy is remote in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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 the Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy. 
  • Review legislation for spending impacts.
  • Analyze budget projections and generate insights for public consumption.
  • Evaluate congressional and presidential budget proposals.
  • Prepare data and create budget charts and tables for publications.
  • Support the administrative and organizational needs of the Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy.
Requirements
  • Strong organizational skills and a commitment to accuracy.
  • Strong writing skills preferred.
  • Ability and willingness to challenge and question ideas. 
  • Interest in economics, government, and libertarianism.
  • Familiarity with basic economic and budgeting concepts. 
  • Empirical skills and familiarity with R, STATA, Excel, and other statistical programs.
Education and Experience
  • Degree in economics, statistics, or political science preferred.
  • No prior work experience required.
To Apply
Please submit the following materials in one PDF file:
  • CV/Resume and Cover Letter/Intro Email.
  • Two work samples (original data analyses, research reports, working papers, peer-reviewed articles, dissertations, data memos, blog posts, etc.).