Fiscal Economist

Fiscal Economist

Job #:
req30460
Organization:
World Bank
Sector:
Economics
Grade:
GF
Term Duration:
4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Paris,France
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish
Closing Date:
12/13/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 130 locations worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org .

The World Bank's Economic Policies Global Practice (EP) provides broad macroeconomic analysis in support of countries' economic programs, including the analysis of macro-financial risks and macroeconomic modelling services to the rest of the WBG. EP supports sound fiscal frameworks and fiscal risk management, as well as builds better institutions and capacity for debt management to improve the efficiency of public spending and bolster macroeconomic stability. EP brings together about 530 professionals working across more than 100 countries. The Global Practice (GP) houses the Bank's country economists and professional staff with macroeconomics, fiscal policy, growth, and statistics expertise. About fifty percent of EP professional staff are decentralized to the field, working closely with the Country Management Units (CMUs) and directly with clients. EP is responsible for delivering timely policy advice to support the following lines of work: (i) designing macro-fiscal frameworks that are aligned with the goals of reducing extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity, as well as being grounded in economic, social and environmental sustainability; (ii) supporting fiscal and debt policy sustainability; (iii) generating growth analytics and policy recommendations to sustain and boost growth; and (iv) analyzing the impact of external shocks and climate change risks on growth and the government fiscal position. EP professionals are responsible for the preparation and delivery of Development Policy Operations using both IDA and IBRD resources and lead or participate in the preparation of Advisory Services and Analytics, Technical Assistance, and integrative outputs such as Strategic Country Diagnostics, Country Economic Memorandums and cross-sector Public Finance Reviews.

Within EP, the Fiscal Policy Unit (EMFTX) effectively supports World Bank Group operations to strengthen countries' efforts in utilizing tax and expenditure policy, managing fiscal risks, and planning for fiscal sustainability to promote equitable, sustainable growth and support macroeconomic stability.
Additionally, the unit works on the climate-fiscal policy nexus, providing guidance on climate-smart tax and expenditure policies that foster growth-friendly climate adaptation and mitigation. As a Global Unit, EMFTX offers technical advice, support, and thought leadership on these issues for the GP's operational work across Regions. EMFTX also engages with development partners and other stakeholders in the global dialogue on fiscal and climate issues. It collaborates closely with other Global Practices within the Vice Presidency for Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions and with various WBG units.

The fiscal policy work covers overall fiscal policy design, public expenditure policies, and domestic revenue mobilization, including climate aspects of fiscal policy. This work includes:

• Preparation of analytic work, guidelines, tools, and data that support the Bank's global engagement and the work by regional units on fiscal policy issues and quality of spending, domestic resource mobilization, and climate.
• Development and management of fiscal datasets, and the Public Finance Review (PFR) Platform, incorporating data to analyze tax policies and climate-related fiscal impacts.
• Quality review and support for the Bank's operational work, such as PFRs and DPFs, with attention to tax analysis, climate-related fiscal considerations, and sustainable growth.
• Fundraising and management of Fiscal Policy Umbrella trust funds, including support for projects focused on tax reform, climate resilience, and climate-sensitive fiscal strategies.
• Cross-support to regional teams on fiscal policy issues in PFRs, Country Economic Memorandums (CEM), Country Climate Development Reports (CCDR), integrating tax analysis and climate considerations into fiscal recommendations.
• Knowledge management and sharing on fiscal policy issues, with a focus on tax policy, climate-fiscal strategies, and their impact on growth and sustainability.
• Providing inputs to and managing fiscal policy aspects of corporate initiatives.
• Collaborating with international stakeholders, such as the IMF and the OECD, on fiscal policy issues, emphasizing tax analysis and the integration of climate considerations in fiscal policies.

POSITION

The Economic Policies Global Practice (EP) is seeking to recruit a highly qualified Economist to work on its fiscal program in its Fiscal Policy unit (EMFTX). The position is based in Paris, France.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Fiscal Economist is expected to contribute to or lead work in the following areas:

• Conduct applied research, focusing on tax policy, and/or public expenditure, and/or climate-related fiscal issues.
• Lead and/or contribute to tax policy, and/or expenditure analysis, and/or climate-informed fiscal policy analysis, with a particular emphasis on developing and emerging economies. This includes assessing the efficiency, effectiveness, simplicity, and fairness of tax and expenditure systems, identifying opportunities and constraints for tax, spending, and climate-related fiscal reforms, and formulating country-specific recommendations. Climate-related fiscal work includes addressing fiscal risks, fiscal rules, public investments, and responses to compound and cascading damages.
• Collect, analyze, and manage fiscal and economic data.
• Develop, maintain, and share fiscal policy tools and models with country economists.
• Further develop and enhance the unit's Public Finance Review platform, including preparing and updating guidance notes, databases, and tools.
• Develop alternative data sources and new techniques, such as machine learning, advanced econometric models, and geospatial analysis.
• Collaborate closely with other teams in EP and other Bank units that generate and use fiscal data, including EP's macro-modeling and debt teams.
• Provide advice and support to country teams on fiscal data and policy issues, particularly in the context of Public Finance Reviews (PFRs), Development Policy Operations (DPOs), and Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs).
• Undertake other tasks, including cross-support for country-specific work.

Selection Criteria

• The successful candidate will be a professional with extensive experience in analytical, advisory, and operational work in economics, fiscal, or macroeconomic issues relevant to this position.
• Minimum of a master's degree (PhD preferred) in Economics, Public Finance, Tax Policy, or a related field, with 5 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Competencies

• Strong analytical skills in climate economics and using quantitative tools for fiscal analysis.
• A track record of peer-reviewed publications in the macroeconomics and fiscal policy of climate change.
• Operational experience in policy-based lending projects would be an asset.
• A track record of outstanding report writing and communications skills, including the ability to present complex analyses to non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to work flexibly on different assignments and adjust to various complex evolving tasks to meet tight deadlines.
• Advanced skills in econometrics.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC , including our values and inspiring stories.

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