Jan-Egbert Sturm

PhD opportunity in Applied Macroeconomics, Public Finance, and Political Economy at ETH Zurich. The Chair of Applied Macroeconomics at the KOF Swiss Economic Institute is inviting applications for one or more PhD positions based at ETH Zurich in Zurich, Switzerland. The positions are especially suitable for candidates interested in international taxation , tax competition , tax havens , multinational profit shifting , and the macroeconomic and distributional consequences of international tax rules . Broader dissertation topics may also cover applied macroeconomics, political economy, international economics, public finance, fiscal federalism, business cycles, forecasting, monetary policy, migration, corruption, and policy-relevant empirical research. The doctoral researchers will work in a collaborative environment at KOF, Switzerland’s leading academic institute for applied economic research, and will be affiliated with the Chair of Applied Macroeconomics. The dissertation topic will be developed jointly with the supervisory team, allowing the project to align with the applicant’s interests and experience. Supervision: Prof. Dr. Jan-Egbert Sturm and, depending on the topic, Dr. Enea Baselgia. Funding: Fully funded PhD position with internationally competitive employment conditions. The appointment is initially for 18 months and may be extended for the normal four- to five-year doctorate, subject to satisfactory progress. Salary follows ETH Zurich regulations. Eligibility: A Master’s degree in Economics or a closely related field is expected by the start date. Applicants with quantitative backgrounds in statistics, data science, political science, public policy, or finance are also welcome if they have sufficient economics training. Strong econometrics, statistics, quantitative analysis, programming skills (Stata, R, or Python), and good English communication skills are required. German is welcome but not required. How to apply: Submit the application through ETH Zurich’s online portal only. Include a motivation letter, CV without photo, writing sample, academic record, diplomas/certificates, and contact details for two or three referees. Applications must be submitted by 30 September 2026 .

ETH Zurich is advertising fully funded PhD positions in Applied Macroeconomics and Political Economy at the KOF Swiss Economic Institute in Switzerland. The opportunity is aimed at ambitious graduates who want to build a doctoral research career in empirical economics, policy-relevant analysis, and advanced quantitative research. The research environment is centered on the Chair of Applied Macroeconomics within the Department of Management, Technology and Economics (D-MTEC). Successful candidates will join both the Chair and KOF Swiss Economic Institute, working closely with supervisors to develop an individualized dissertation project rather than a fixed topic. The post highlights research themes such as globalization and fiscal policy , international taxation , political economy , applied macroeconomics , international economics , migration and labour markets , and corruption and governance . Methodologically, the position is strongly oriented toward econometrics and empirical analysis, including panel-data methods, time-series econometrics, causal inference, forecasting, and statistical modelling. Candidates will work with a wide range of datasets such as firm-level, household, country-level, administrative, survey, geospatial, and macroeconomic data. The post is fully funded and includes a competitive gross salary under ETH Zurich regulations for an expected duration of 4–5 years . The initial appointment is 18 months, with extension possible based on satisfactory progress. ETH Zurich also offers an international research environment, conference participation, mentoring, and access to advanced datasets and seminars. Eligibility is aimed at applicants with a completed Master’s degree in Economics or a closely related discipline . Candidates from quantitative backgrounds such as Statistics, Data Science, Political Science, Finance, or Public Policy may also be considered if they have sufficient economics training. Strong quantitative skills, knowledge of econometrics and statistics, experience with Stata, Python, or R , and excellent English communication skills are expected. A Master’s thesis, research paper, or equivalent writing sample is required; German is optional and considered an advantage. Applications must be submitted through the official ETH Zurich online application portal . Required documents include a motivation letter, CV without a photograph, writing sample, transcript, copies of degrees/certificates, and contact details for two or three referees. The deadline is 30 September 2026 .