PhD Positions in Applied Macroeconomics and Political Economy

Organisation/Company ETH Zürich Research Field Economics » Econometrics Economics » International economics Economics » Macroeconomics Economics » Political economy Economics » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 11 Oct 2026 - 21:59 (UTC) Country Switzerland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Part-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description PhD Positions in Applied Macroeconomics and Political Economy

The doctoral researchers will join a supportive and collaborative research environment that brings together empirical research and policy-relevant questions in macroeconomics, international economics, publicfinanceand political economy.

One of the positions is particularly well suited to applicants interested in taxation in a globalized economy. Relevant topics include multinational profit shifting, tax havens, the labour-market effects of tax competition, the design and political economy of international tax rules, and the macroeconomic and distributional consequences of international taxation.

Project background Research at the Chair focuses on the empirical analysis of macroeconomic and policy-relevant questions. We work with macroeconomic, microeconomic, firm-level, household, geospatial and international datasets and apply modern econometric methods, including panel-data, time-seriesand causal-inference approaches.

Potential dissertation projects may explore:

how globalization and international policy competition shape fiscal and macroeconomicoutcomes

how multinational firms respond to corporate tax incentives andregulation

howpolitical institutions, information, economicfreedomand electoral incentives influence economic policy

how firm- and household-level data can contribute to our understanding of business cycles, forecasting, monetary policy,migrationand corruption

other policy-relevant questions in applied macroeconomics and political economy

The dissertation topic will be developed jointly with the supervisory team. We aim toidentifya project that connects with the doctoral researcher’s interests,experienceand areas in which they would like to develop furtherexpertise.

As a doctoral researcher, you will develop a dissertation in applied macroeconomics, publicfinanceand/or political economy. With support and guidance from the supervisory team, you will progressively take ownership of your research projects and use econometric methods and relevant macroeconomic and/or microeconomic data to address questions of academic and policy relevance.

Your activities will include:

developing research questions and research designs and contributing to original academicpapers

collecting,documentingand analysing datasets, which may include firm-level, country-level, geospatial, administrative, survey or textdata

discussing and presenting your research at internal seminars, academicworkshopsand internationalconferences

taking part in the research activities of the Chair and KOF, including regular research meetings andseminars

completing coursework within the D-MTEC doctoral programme

depending on your interests and the needs of the Chair, contributing to teaching activities in a limited capacity

The PhD will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Jan-Egbert Sturm and, depending on the research topic, Dr. Enea Baselgia . The position is intended to lead to a doctoral degree from ETH Zurich.

Profile We welcome applications from candidates with different academic and personal backgrounds. We encourage you to apply even if your experience does not cover every preferred area listed below.

You bring:

aMaster’s degree in Economicsor a closely related field, completed by the time the position begins

an interest in empirical research addressing relevant economic andpublic-policyquestions

an interest in applied macroeconomics, international economics, publicfinanceand/or politicaleconomy

a sound foundation in econometrics,statisticsand quantitativeanalysis

experience with at least one statistical programming language, such as Stata, R or Python, and an openness to learningadditionaltools

the ability to communicate your ideas clearly in written and spoken English

an interest in contributing to a collaborative research environment while developing your ability to plan and conduct your own research

Applicants with a quantitative background in statistics, data science, political science, publicpolicyor finance are also welcome,provided thatthey have sufficient training in economics.

Depending on the position and proposed research area, the following experience or interests would be useful

panel-data methods, causal inference, time-serieseconometricsor the analysis of large microeconomicdatasets

international taxation, tax competition, tax havens, fiscalfederalismor the political economy of tax policy

an interest in developing a research-oriented career within or outside academia

knowledge of German is welcome but notrequired

We value a research culture in which people share ideas, learn fromone anotherand treat each other with respect. We are committed to increasing diversity in economics and to supporting the careers of women and people from groups thatremainunderrepresented in the discipline. We particularly encourage members of these groups to apply.

We offer We offer the opportunity to pursue a PhD at ETH Zurich and the KOF Swiss Economic Institute in an engaging and collaborative research environment. KOF is Switzerland’s leading academic institute for applied economic research and provides independent data, analysis and assessments for politics,businessand society.

As a doctoral researcher at KOF, you will become part of a broad community of economic researchers. You will be able to exchange ideas with colleagues working across different areas of economics andparticipatein seminars,workshopsand conferences in Zurich and beyond. You will also have opportunities to engage with international visitors, present yourresearchand gradually develop your own academic profile.

ETH Zurich offers internationally competitive employment conditions. The starting date is negotiable. The position is initially offered for 18 months, with the prospect of extension for the normal four- to five-year duration of the doctorate, subject to satisfactory progress. The gross salary will bedeterminedaccording to ETH Zurich regulations.

Working, teaching and research at ETH Zurich We value diversity and sustainabilityIn line with our values , ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future .Curious? So are we.

About ETH ZürichETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.

Further information about the Chair of Applied Macroeconomics and the KOF Swiss Economic Institute can be found on our website.

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