Economist

Job #: req11372

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Macroeconomics

Grade: GF

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 4/9/2021 (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 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 ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices 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

REGIONAL CONTEXT

The World Bank Group serves 23 client countries in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region, with a total population of about 2 billion people and a GNI per capita of about $3,862 (in constant 2010 US$). Clients span the lower- to upper-middle-income range and include fragile states along with a number of small island economies in the Pacific.

EAP has made the fastest progress in growth and poverty reduction of any region around the world over the last quarter century. Over the period, a succession of countries in the region has progressed from low-income to middle-income and even to high-income status. More than 90 percent of the region's population now live in 10 countries, many of which can realistically aspire to high-income status in the next generation or two. This dramatic transformation has helped move hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and into economic security. This rapid transformation, coupled with slowing growth in global trade, rapid technological change, rapid urbanization and accompanying congestion, climate change, and demographic aging, are creating new sets of challenges for development policy, however. Countries in the region need to continue longstanding reforms as well as address emerging priorities if they are to continue to grow, reduce poverty, and promote economic security, and do so in a sustainable way.

THE MALAYSIA RESEARCH HUB The Malaysia Research Hub is a regional center of excellence for research on all areas of economic development. The Malaysia Research Hub is the result of collaboration between the World Bank Chief Economist Office for East Asia and the Pacific (EAPCE) and the Development Economic Research Group (DECRG). The hub's main mandates are 1) conducting policy relevant and applied research of regional and global significance and 2) building a community of development researchers in the region. The hub has been in operation for over five years and is looking to expand its activities over the foreseeable future. Its main products and activities to date can be seen by visiting https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/malaysia/brief/decrg-in-kuala-lumpur. Research economists are expected to maintain a strong scholarly publication record, to help build a research community in the region, and to provide relevant policy advice and analysis to the rest of the World Bank and policymakers in client countries. Collaboration with DECRG is possible and highly encouraged.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES The research economist will be part of a joint EAPCE-DECRG team based in the Malaysia Research Hub in Kuala Lumpur. The hub seeks a research economist with (i) strong technical skills; (ii) a record of - or good prospects for - publication of high-quality original research in peer-reviewed journals; (iii) the ability to communicate knowledge and expertise for the benefit of policy makers and development practitioners; and (iv) excellent spoken and written proficiency in English.

We are considering new and recent PhDs.

His/her key responsibilities will include:

  • Conduct policy relevant and applied economic research of regional and global significance in the area of macroeconomics.
  • Contribute research inputs to selected analytical or knowledge products, based on requests from Malaysian or other regional counterparts and/or from the Office of the East Asia and Pacific Chief Economist.
  • Help build a community of development researchers in Malaysia and the Region by actively contributing to the activities organized by the Research Hub. Engage with researchers, policy makers, think tanks, and civil society representatives in EAP countries to support the exchange of knowledge.
  • Publish research through academic journals, working papers, and briefs. Disseminate this work through participation in conferences, workshops, and seminars.
  • Provide quality assurance inputs, through peer review and other modes of engagement with teams, on key country-level, regional and global/corporate products, and represent the Region at review meetings, as needed.

The selected candidate will report to the Chief Economist for the East Asia and Pacific Region. S/he may work directly under the supervision of other staff identified by the Chief Economist.

Selection Criteria

  • Advanced Degree in Economics (PhD preferred) or other relevant discipline and a minimum of five years of substantive and sustained work experience in development economics, which may include doctoral studies.
  • A record of - or good prospects for - publication of high-quality original research in peer-reviewed journals
  • Excellent understanding of the most relevant economic theories and methods. Analytical skills to apply economic knowledge to real-world situations and formulate appropriate policy recommendations. Strong writing and communication skills. Fluency in working with economic software, such as STATA and MATLAB.
  • Strong client orientation, ability to work effectively and collaboratively with multiple disciplines and operational staff.
  • Demonstrated skills in team work, including coaching, mentoring and motivating junior colleagues, and resolving conflicts.

The WBG Core Competencies: https://bit.ly/2kbIA7O

Poverty has no borders, neither does excellence. We succeed because of our differences and we continuously search for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds from around the globe.

cck9WCt-owT1v

This vacancy is archived.

Recommended for you