Job Openings Economic Policy Analyst (EPA)

About the job Economic Policy Analyst (EPA)

Economic Policy Analyst (EPA)

About CEGIS

Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS – pronounced See-Jis) aims to improve people’s lives by helping Indian state governments deliver better development outcomes. We believe that well-functioning governments share at least four features with high-performing organisations: (a) outcome measurement and data driven decision making: which requires appropriate data collection (on both inputs and outcomes), analysis, insight generation, and decision making at different levels of government based on the analytical insights; (b) effective personnel management including – competency-based hiring and training, adequate staffing, appropriate job assignments, and performance measurement and management; (c) strategic public finance where attention is paid to both the quantity and quality of expenditure and revenue, and where resource allocation is based on evidence and cost-effectiveness; (d) and creating efficient systems to leverage markets and external actors (including for-profit and nonprofit organisations). At CEGIS, we support state governments to build these foundations so that they can deliver development outcomes more effectively.

CEGIS works closely with the political and bureaucratic leadership in Indian states to achieve transformational change. We are currently present in 8 states - Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, BTR (Assam), Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha. We also partner with union agencies/ministries such as Capacity Building Commission, Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to share insights from our state-level work and disseminate them broadly. We also collaborate closely with academics and research institutions to ensure our work is grounded in rigorous research and evidence-based practices.

CEGIS Approach and Model of Functioning

Our solutions to enhance governance are co-created with state governments in a “state-led” way, where we focus on deep partnerships with states with an iterative cycle of “think-demonstrate-document-transfer”. We work closely with the top bureaucratic leadership, front-line workers and public officials in Finance, Planning, Human Resources and a few other priority line departments, including education, nutrition and health. Many of our solutions reflect ideas outlined in our founder Prof. Karthik Muralidharan’s book (Accelerating India’s Development), and these solutions are constantly being refined based on real-time feedback and are designed to both be customized to the contexts we are working in, and to create templates that can provide the starting point for replication across contexts.

To further explore the mission of CEGIS and the impact we hope to have, please take a look at this video of our CEO, Dr Vijay Pingale.

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 (EPAs) and senior EPAs to join the “Economics and Statistics Unit” at CEGIS to conduct analytical work focused on state-level policy issues in India. In this pivotal role, you will 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 and statisticians. As a CEGIS EPA/Senior EPA, 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

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.

  • Conduct sectoral scans for various sectors and states.

Policy Development and Collaboration

  • Engage with state and vertical leads 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 state and vertical teams in developing and implementing evidence-based policy solutions, providing critical economic insights and analyses.

  • Translate 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 Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, or a related field is strongly preferred.

  • Master’s degree and 1-3 years’ experience will be considered for an EPA position, and more than 3 years would be evaluated for a Sr EPA position.

  • 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

  • Knowledge of econometric and statistical methods.

  • 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/ Delhi/ Raipur/ Bengaluru/ Mumbai/ Lucknow/ Bhubaneswar. Remuneration will be competitive with Indian academic and think tank pay scales and will depend on the candidate’s experience levels.

Pre-reads for the application process

Please go through the following materials before sending in your application:

Recommended listening:

  • Karthik Muralidharan: India’s Roadmap for Effective Governance — FED Dialogues: Podcast Episode.

  • Karthik Muralidharan on Making Governance More Effective — Sushasan | Podcast.


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