Senior Economist, AI Risk & Global Economics

Future of Life Institute; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 2 428 000 - 3 297 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent research organization seeks an innovative economist for its Geostrategic Dynamics team, analyzing the economic impacts of advanced AI systems. This role includes developing models for economic risks, collaborating with experts, and translating complex analyses for policymakers. Candidates should have a strong economics background, comfort with uncertainty, and excellent communication skills. Salary is $140,000 - $190,000 a year, with good benefits for U.S. employees.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in Economics with expertise in labor economics and international economics.
• Demonstrated ability to rethink traditional economic models in response to paradigmatic disruptions.
• Strong publication or research record showing original thinking on economic systems and risks.
• Comfortable with uncertainty and using limited data, to predict novel economic phenomena.
• Excellent writing skills with proven ability to communicate complex economic concepts to non-specialist audiences.
• Self-motivated researcher with demonstrated interest in AI's systemic risks.
• Strong critical thinking skills for evaluating competing economic theories in unprecedented scenarios.
• Familiarity with US and EU policy landscapes and basic understanding of international relations.
• Systems thinking capability to identify complex interdependencies between economic factors.

Responsibilities

• Develop economic models to anticipate how advanced AI systems could create novel systemic risks.
• Build scenarios for potential economic disruptions from rapid AI advancement.
• Model how AI-driven productivity changes could interact with existing economic structures.
• Analyze potential concentration of power dynamics across markets as AI capabilities advance.
• Identify early warning indicators for economic instability and financial system shocks.
• Translate complex economic risk analyses into actionable insights for stakeholders.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary experts to integrate economic risk perspectives.

Job description

A prominent research organization seeks an innovative economist for its Geostrategic Dynamics team, analyzing the economic impacts of advanced AI systems. This role includes developing models for economic risks, collaborating with experts, and translating complex analyses for policymakers. Candidates should have a strong economics background, comfort with uncertainty, and excellent communication skills. Salary is $140,000 - $190,000 a year, with good benefits for U.S. employees.