Who We Are:

EPoD India at LEAD at Krea University, in collaboration with Yale University’s Economic Growth Center and MacMillan Center, work together to use economic frameworks and analytical tools to answer pressing policy questions and spur real-world change. We partner with policymakers to understand challenges to achieving policy objectives, design and test interventions, and share applicable insights from economic theory and empirics to more effectively deliver public services and improve the well-being of vulnerable groups. Current areas of research include gender and economic engagement (labor markets, technology, and financial inclusion); environmental policy, and governance.

The Role:

EPoD India, in partnership with its host institution, LEAD at Krea University, is currently seeking a Research Associate to support a field-based project in Bihar while being based out of Patna. Further details on the project are outlined below.

The position requires a self-starting candidate who can conduct in-depth interviews and scoping activities, manage field activities and coordinate with field staff for the execution of surveys and randomized control trials (RCTs), and support with high quality cleaning and rigorous analysis of both primary and secondary data. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to join a team of leading economists and public policy experts from Yale University and EPoD India at LEAD to work on cutting-edge development research and gain first-hand experience working with policy partners, implementing surveys and field experiments, and conducting rigorous data analysis.

About the project:

EPoD India is undertaking a study that aims to introduce a cross-randomized intervention in a subset of our original RCT in Bihar localities to ask whether providing information directly to local elected officials, who have strong electoral incentives for the MGNREGA program to function well locally, can further reduce wage payment delays. This could occur by influencing the sub-steps in the payment process over which the officials have direct purview and via impacts on the bureaucrats charged with wage payment processing. The study will focus on whether leveraging local electoral accountability can enhance bureaucratic effectiveness, and the relative importance of each in the context of MGNREGA wage payment processing and implementation.

Responsibilities:

● Oversee the day-to-day implementation of field-based research (scoping, surveying, project implementation in the field) – including the management of field personnel, procurement, budgets, and reporting for the project**

● Assist in the design and field-testing of survey instruments and develop and implement appropriate structures and systems for a larger randomized intervention, including the procurement of supplies; development and oversight of field and quality control protocols; recruitment, training, and leading of field staff; and coordination with local partners

● Manage day-to-day relationships with national, state, and lower-level government officials and other potential partners (academics, policy organizations, NGOs, etc.) as requested

● Provide appropriate inputs for project management (budgets, reports, etc.) for Yale and EPoD India at LEAD and for program monitoring and reporting to the management hub

● Seek out and collect administrative data from partners and government agencies

● Conduct data cleaning, manipulation, and analysis using multiple primary and secondary data sources

● Review and report on academic literature of requested topics in support of policy briefs and research projects

● Contribute to analysis and writing of policy briefs for various government partners and case studies on project components

● Others, as required

Basic Qualifications:

● Bachelor’s candidates with at least 2 years of experience with data-based research, preferably in economics or a related field. Field experience is a plus.**

● Strong interest in public policy and economic development in low-income countries.

● Excellent oral and written English and Hindi communication skills.

● Proficiency in Stata and the Microsoft Office suite is required; experience in spatial analysis

● Mature, self-directed individual with ability to balance multiple tasks and prioritize effectively to meet deadlines in a fast-paced working environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

● Master’s degree in economics or a related field.**

● Candidate should have strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to engage with policy partners at various levels.

This position will be based in Patna, Bihar, with regular travel expected.

This vacancy is archived.

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