Micro-economist with expertise in digital economy and competition policy

Bruegel is looking for a full-time Brussels-based researcher with expertise in the areas of digital economy and competition policy

Deadline for applications: 31 December 2024, 23:59 CET
Expected starting date: As soon as possible

Bruegel is looking for a full-time Brussels-based researcher with expertise in the areas of digital economy and competition policy.

To apply, candidates must hold a valid work permit or be authorised to work in Belgium.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Economics from a leading university. Bruegel will consider both applicants with limited or no post-Ph.D. research experience (for the Affiliate Fellow position), and applicants with up to nine years of post-Ph.D. research and policy experience (for the Research Fellow position). Candidates who expect to obtain their PhD within 6 few months from the date of the application are also encouraged to apply.

Hiring context

The rise of new technologies and business models have profoundly changed our economy and substantial disruption continues. Technologies such as the Internet, big data analytics, blockchain, artificial intelligence are a new form of infrastructure underlying almost all activity society’s members engage with. Online platforms are changing markets’ structures.  The EU lags behind the US in productivity growth and firms in this space but has significant regulatory powers.

The researcher will use sound economic analysis (theoretical and/or empirical modelling) to undertake research and propose policy options in areas such as:

  • Data markets and data governance;

  • The role of technology in the EU geopolitical strategy;

  • The economics of multi-sided markets;

  • Content moderation in online markets and online platforms’ liability;

  • The relationship between ex-ante regulation and ex-post competition policy enforcement in online platform markets;

  • Taxation of digital services;

  • The economics of cybersecurity;

  • Artificial intelligence: development, adoption and regulation;

  • Technology and the public sector;

  • E-commerce and cross-border digital trade;

What Bruegel offers

Established in 2005, Bruegel is the European think tank that specialises in economics. Bruegel’s mission is to improve the quality of economic policy with open and fact-based research, analysis and debate. Committed to independence, impartiality, openness and excellence, Bruegel offers a stimulating research and policy environment. Researchers contribute to Bruegel’s intellectual community, and collaborate with other Fellows and the communication and development teams under the guidance of the Director. The successful candidate will have access to Bruegel’s expansive network to discuss and disseminate research findings and interact with policy makers and other stakeholders. 

Requirements

  • Strong knowledge in applied microeconomics;
  • Ability to analyse policy-relevant issues in some of the following areas: digital and technological markets, online platform, data, artificial intelligence markets, competition policy, regulation;
  • Data, programming and empirical skills; knowledge of data manipulation languages (e.g. SQL, Apache Pig, Python) is an advantage;
  • A good understanding of the EU;
  • Ability to contribute to all our types of publications including Bruegel’s podcasts and online events;
  • Dedication to high quality and accurate work, within short deadlines when necessary;
  • Strong organisational and planning skills;
  • Outstanding writing and communications skills;
  • Knowledge of English language at a professional level. Knowledge of another European language is a plus;
  • Willingness to develop outreach skills and interact with the media;
  • Willing to contribute to the organisation of events;
  • Willingness to travel to participate in international events and engage with relevant stakeholders on a national and EU level;

Application procedure

To apply, please submit your application to [email protected] with the subject line: “Economist_Digital and competition _Applicant’s name”. 

Your application must be submitted by Tuesday 31 December 2024.

It must contain the following documents, in one single PDF document (merged):

  1. an updated CV,

  2. A cover letter (including the candidate’s motivation to work in a European policy think-tank), and

  3. a writing sample (for example, a job market paper or a recently published paper)


Applications with missing documents and/or that do not meet the above-mentioned requirements will NOT be considered.

Because of the high number of applications that we usually receive, we are unfortunately unable to reply to all applicants. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted within a few weeks. 

Bruegel is committed to ensure equal opportunities and treatment for all, by ensuring that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, gender, marital status, caring responsibilities, sexual orientation, disability or chronic illness.

Bruegel is a European think tank working in the field of international economics. Established in 2005, Bruegel is independent and non-doctrinal. Its mission is to improve the quality of economic policy with open and fact-based research, analysis and debate. We are committed to impartiality, openness and excellence. Bruegel’s membership includes European Member State governments, international corporations and institutions. For more information about Bruegel, please consult: www.bruegel.org