Research · Role
Economic Researcher
An economic researcher studies economic questions using data and statistical methods, and writes up findings for policymakers, financial institutions, or academic audiences. This role appears at central banks, research institutes, ministries, and universities.
In this role you might estimate the effect of a policy change on employment, analyse inflation trends using time series models, or write a research report on housing market dynamics.
The goal of an economic researcher is to answer questions about how economies and markets work. The findings are used to inform policy decisions, investment strategies, or academic understanding. Good research is rigorous, clearly communicated, and honest about its limitations.
Most of the daily work involves working with data, running statistical models, and writing. You spend time cleaning datasets, running regressions or time series models, interpreting results, and writing them up in a clear and structured way. Peer review and feedback from colleagues are a regular part of the process in research-oriented environments.
The main tools are R, Python, and Stata for statistical analysis, and LaTeX or Word for writing. Knowledge of econometric methods such as regression analysis, instrumental variables, and panel data models is central to the role. Familiarity with macroeconomic or microeconomic theory depends on the specific research area.
In the Netherlands, economic researchers work at institutions like De Nederlandsche Bank, the CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, the Ministry of Finance, and universities. The role connects closely to the Policy Analyst role, which applies similar methods in a more applied and policy-focused setting, and to the Data Scientist role, which uses overlapping technical skills in a commercial context.
Companies
Organisations where econometrics graduates typically work as Economic Researcher.
