Economist Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The IDB Group is a community dedicated to improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Established with a mission to foster development and reduce poverty, the organization comprises a diverse team of passionate individuals who work collaboratively in an inclusive and agile environment. The Social Sector (SCL) within the IDB focuses on addressing critical development challenges, enhancing quality of life, and promoting equal opportunities for vulnerable groups. The IDB operates across multiple countries in the region, leveraging its multidisciplinary expertise to design and implement effective public policy solutions.

Job Overview:
The position of Economist Consultant is aimed at hiring an individual with a strong background in research related to poverty, inequality, and labor market issues. The consultant will work closely with the Poverty Group of the Social Sector to develop a sophisticated microsimulation model. This model will integrate household survey microdata with macroeconomic and labor market indicators to analyze and project poverty trends and income distribution. The consultant's responsibilities will include preparing and processing data, estimating baseline models, programming simulation modules, and validating the model against historical data. Additionally, the consultant will create a user-friendly graphical interface to facilitate non-technical users in running scenarios and visualizing results. A final training session will be provided to ensure that end users can operate the model independently.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake a variety of tasks, including:

• Preparing the database by consolidating harmonized microdata from recent household surveys and necessary macroeconomic and labor market data, while documenting sources and definitions.
• Designing and estimating the baseline model for household income generation, including labor income equations and occupational choice models.
• Programming the simulation module to translate macroeconomic projections into individual and household levels, adjusting for demographic changes and labor status.
• Developing the results and scenario analysis module to generate indicators of poverty, inequality, and income distribution, and constructing counterfactual scenarios.
• Validating the model through backcasting exercises and sensitivity analyses, proposing methodological adjustments as needed.
• Scaling the simulation modules for broader application across countries with harmonized data.
• Creating a user-friendly graphical interface for non-technical users to modify assumptions and visualize results.
• Documenting and delivering the code in a reproducible format, along with a user manual and methodological notes.
• Co-authoring a technical paper that outlines the model's framework and applications. 1
• Responding to ad hoc requests for distributional analysis to support policy dialogue and operational work.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Economics, Statistics, or a closely related field, with a Ph.D. being highly desirable. They should have a minimum of five years of experience in academic or applied research focused on labor markets, poverty, and inequality, as well as experience in developing microsimulation models. Advanced proficiency in statistical software such as Stata, R, or Python is essential, along with a demonstrated ability to apply reproducible research practices. Familiarity with artificial intelligence coding assistants to aid in software development and debugging is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational requirements for this position include a Master’s degree in Economics, Statistics, or a related field. A Ph.D. is considered a significant advantage, indicating a higher level of expertise and research capability in the relevant areas.

Experience:
The position requires at least five years of relevant experience in conducting research on labor markets, poverty, and inequality. Candidates should have a proven track record in developing microsimulation models and applying econometric techniques effectively in their work.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, along with proficiency in one of the other official languages of the Bank, which include Spanish, French, or Portuguese. This bilingual capability is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the organization and with external stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The contract type for this position is International Products and External Services Consultant (PEC), with a duration of 260 working days over a period of 12 months. The IDB promotes a culture of inclusivity and excellence, encouraging individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. Reasonable accommodations are provided for individuals with disabilities during the interview process.