Research Associate – Budget and Entitlement Policy

Cato Institute

Research Associate conducting economic policy research for Cato Institute. Supporting analysis, summarizing fiscal data, and assisting with various research publications.

Posted 4/14/2026full-timeWashington, DC • District of Columbia, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $57,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support the research of the Budget and Entitlement Policy team
Support the administrative and organizational needs of the Budget and Entitlement Policy team
Produce the weekly Debt Digest, including synthesizing fiscal developments, analyzing budget data, and drafting concise summaries for publication, and similar newsletter features

Requirements

What you’ll need

A bachelor’s degree in economics or political science
No prior work experience required
Passion for the intersection of economics, government policy, and libertarianism
Familiarity with basic economic and budgeting concepts
Empirical skills and familiarity with R, STATA, Excel, and other statistical programs are a plus
Strong organizational skills and a commitment to accuracy
Strong writing skills
Intellectual curiosity and demonstrated ability to question assumptions, think independently, and advance new ideas

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
Generous vacation and sick days
Paid parental leave
Employer-provided life and disability insurance
401(k) employer match
Transit/Parking benefits
Pet discount plan

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

budgeting conceptseconomic analysisdata synthesisstatistical analysis

Soft Skills

organizational skillswriting skillsintellectual curiosityindependent thinkingcommitment to accuracy