The Cato Institute is seeking a full-time Trade Policy Analyst in Washington, DC, to join and complement their effective team of researchers. The Policy Analyst will be responsible for analyzing international trade policy in the United States, with a particular focus on the economics of tariffs, nontariff barriers, subsidies, industrial policy, and trade balances. Their analyses will be published in multiple formats, including policy analyses to working papers, op-eds, blog posts, white papers, and others.

The Trade Policy Analyst will report directly to the Director of the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies. The ideal candidate will have at least two years of experience in economics, policy, or research with a firm grasp of international economics and US international trade policy. The successful candidate will be highly productive, entrepreneurial, creative, committed to free and open trade, and able to work well in a team specializing in various US trade policy and international law topics.

Compensation is competitive and will be based on the experience and skills of the successful candidate.

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 free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future.

Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

• Produce studies, original empirical research, op-eds, blog posts, and social media content that address relevant trade policy issues from an economic perspective. This will be done individually and in collaboration with other Cato scholars.
• Make presentations to audiences, participate in panel discussions, and make media appearances related to trade policy.
• Organize policy forums and other events and educate policymakers on the economics of trade.
• Commission and edit studies from outside experts on the economics of trade.

Education/ Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in economics or other social sciences; an advanced degree is preferred.
• At least two years of experience in trade policy, economics, and research.
• An understanding of US international trade policy.
• A strong grasp of international economics and general economic concepts.
• 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.).

Skills

• Must have a strong commitment to Cato’s libertarian values.
• 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.
• Able to participate in events, including conferences and webinars occasionally.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Comfortable presenting to various audiences in person or virtually.

Benefits

All Cato employees are provided with:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance 
• 401(k) employer match
• Transit/ Parking benefits 
• Pet discount plan

How to Apply

• Cover letter detailing your expertise in international economic and trade policy, your philosophical interest in the organization, and why the position interests you
• Résumé
• Two representative research products or writing samples that must show your economic skills (research reports, working papers, peer-reviewed articles, dissertations, data memos, blog posts, etc.)