Economist

World Bank Group; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

World Bank Group in Washington, DC, seeks an Economist to design and implement cutting-edge analytics on poverty and equity, and to develop models linking welfare, fiscal and social policies. You will work with country teams to strengthen data systems and produce actionable policy insights.

The role requires a Master’s (PhD preferred) in economics with quantitative rigor and at least five years of experience, including geospatial analysis and advanced econometrics.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (PhD preferred) in economics or related field with a strong quantitative background.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience integrating geospatial and household survey data to analyze poverty and inequality.
• Strong programming skills and ability to translate findings into policy.
• Excellent communication and ability to present findings clearly.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement analytics on poverty and equity to guide policy.
• Develop micro-empirical models linking welfare, fiscal, and social policies.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Geospatial analysis

Policy translation

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Master’s degree in economics or related field

PhD preferred

Tools

GIS

Remote sensing

Econometrics software

Job description

Economist

Job #: req38802

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Economics

Grade:

GFTerm Duration:Open-Ended Staff (OPEN-OP)

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Location: Washington, DC,United States

Required Language(s): English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date: 11/6/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTCDescriptionAt the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visitWithin this architecture, the Prosperity vertical helps countries accelerate inclusive growth and job creation; strengthen macro‑fiscal foundations, including debt sustainability, debt management, domestic resource mobilization, and expenditure efficiency; promote a resilient and inclusive financial sector, business‑enabling policies and regulations, and trade facilitation; while advancing transparent, effective, accountable institutions. The Distributional Impact of Policies Global unit in the Fiscal Policy and Growth Department focuses on integrating distributional analysis of reforms and investments into operational knowledge and lending and comprises applied microeconomists, statisticians, data scientists, and social and behavioral scientists who support WBG teams and governments to ensure that WBG interventions and country policies and programs reduce poverty and inequality in a sustainable manner.

Duties and Accountabilities

• Design and implement cutting edge analytics on poverty and equity that provide policy relevant guidance and foster public debate, including acting as a team member on global reports.
• Support the development of micro-empirical models to examine the linkages between welfare, fiscal and social policies, incorporating spatial dimensions as appropriate.
• Develop and apply innovative analytical frameworks, tools, and technologies to assess spatial disparities and the distributional impact of policies.
• Support country teams in integrating geospatial and subnational fiscal analytics that can strengthen operational engagement and inform policy dialogue.
• Provide support to country teams in the design of operations, and in strengthening data systems to underpin evidence-based policymaking.
• Contribute to the production of public goods and knowledge products and facilitate knowledge flows between country and global teams.
• Contribute to corporate engagement of the Department, including reviews, preparation of briefs and policy notes on thematic issues, and the delivery of just-in-time rapid analytics and diagnostics.

Selection Criteria

A Master’s degree (PhD preferred) in economics, public policy, or other related field with a strong quantitative background, solid programming skills, and at least five years of relevant professional experience.

Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

Technical competencies

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with demonstrated experience in performing complex econometric analysis and statistical modeling, and the ability to translate findings into actionable recommendations for strategies, policies, and programs for poverty and inequality reduction.
• Demonstrated experience integrating geospatial and household survey data to analyze the spatial dimensions of poverty and inequality, including geographic disparities in public service delivery, infrastructure, and the effects of subnational fiscal policies using GIS, remote sensing, and econometric methods.
• Demonstrated in-depth expertise in at least two (2) of the following technical areas: poverty mapping/small area estimation techniques, spatial econometrics and modelling; processing and management of big data sources; and fiscal analysis with a subnational focus, including experience using revenue and expenditure data and the analysis of distributional impacts of tax and expenditure policies.
• Experience in the design and delivery of technical training and workshops, effectively communicating complex methodological content to diverse audiences including government counterparts, researchers, and practitioners across varying levels of technical expertise and adapting training content and delivery to different regional and institutional contexts.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present technical findings and policy implications clearly and compellingly to a wide range of audiences (such as senior management, policymakers, academic audiences, and the public); and to produce high-quality written outputs (such as technical papers, policy notes, and presentations) that are well-structured and accessible.

Given the fast‑paced, global nature of the unit’s engagement, the candidate must demonstrate strong teamwork and organizational skills

• Solid organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple deliverables simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment where priorities may shift rapidly.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement, and take initiative with minimal supervision while remaining aligned with team objectives and institutional priorities.
• Ability to work flexibly, creatively, and to multitask as the need arises. High degree of self‑motivation, positive attitude, commitment, and drive.
• Superb interpersonal skills, ability to collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams, and to listen to and integrate ideas from diverse sources, governments, NGOs and donors, while being respectful and sensitive to cultural, political and gender issues.
• Ability to work with staff from all levels.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who: Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries. Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.

WBG Culture Attributes

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.