The Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde Business School is spearheading a Scotland-wide initiative to create more opportunities for students interested in a career as an applied economist.
The new three-year Economic Futures programme is funded by the Scottish Funding Council and operates on behalf of all Scottish Universities. Any student studying for an economics or economy-related degree is eligible.
The funding will support work placements for undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain experience in an applied economics capacity in academic, public policy or business.
Training events with leading applied economists will be run throughout the year focussing upon the toolkit of an applied economist including policy evaluation, economic modelling and data analysis.
The first round of work placements – to fill opportunities at the University of Stirling, the Fraser of Allander Institute, the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Scottish Funding Council – attracted over 70 outstanding applications for the eight posts on offer.
Professor Graeme Roy, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute and
one of the project leads on Economic Futures, said, “Across Scotland,
there is a growing demand for skilled economists to work in an applied
public policy and business environment.
“Economics is the study of almost everything we care about in society.
Take a look around the world today and you’ll see major challenges which
have economics at their core, whether that be rising income inequalities,
globalisation or climate change.
“This exciting new Scottish Funding Council initiative will help support
the next generation of economists with the knowledge, transferable skills
and experience to help shape Scotland’s future.”
Professor David Bell, from the University of Stirling, said, “We think that the Economic Futures project offers a great opportunity to introduce students to important economic challenges that Scotland faces. Good policy depends on good evidence. The students will develop new skills and competencies which will help them engage with the interface between policy and evidence."
Claire Murdoch, Head of Devolved Taxes and Social Security, Scottish Fiscal Commission, said: “The Scottish Fiscal Commission relies upon being able to recruit well trained economists from our universities and is very pleased to be involved in this programme. We will be able to work with the students on real life questions that are essential to our work such as how people respond to changes in income tax and what will happen to house prices in the future.”
Raakhi Odedra, Bank of England, said, “This is a great new pathway for students to work on projects that will inform public policy thinking. It is critical that we have talent with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds to bring diversity of perspective and to shape thinking in economic analysis.”
Economic Futures is a strategic investment by the Scottish Funding Council to support the development of applied economics capacity in Scotland. It is run by the Fraser of Allander Institute and the Project Leads are Graeme Roy and Mairi Spowage.
Economic Futures Steering Group
Andrew Hebden, Bank of England
Raakhi Odedra, Bank of England
Catia Montagna, University of Aberdeen
David Bell, University of Stirling
Anna Babloyan, University of Edinburgh
Julia Darby, University of Strathclyde
Claire Murdoch, Scottish Fiscal Commission
Simon Fuller, Scottish Government
Roger Halliday, Scottish Government
Pat Watt, Skills Development Scotland
2019 Work Placements (Phase 1)
Scottish Fiscal Commission
Gary Mullins, University of St Andrews
Project: House Prices
Michaela Vahovska, University of Glasgow
Project: Income Tax
Fraser of Allander Institute
Sophie Eales White, University of Edinburgh
Project: Subjective Wellbeing
Julia Robbie, University of Strathclyde
Project: Impact of the Scottish Professional Football League clubs on the
Scottish economy
Scottish Funding Council
Callum McGrath, University of Edinburgh
Project: Investment in Post-School Education
Christopher Arrowsmith, Heriot-Watt University
Project: Funding for Access and Retention
University of Stirling
Mairi McHale, University of St Andrews
Project: O*NET Project
Ewan Thomson, University of Dundee
Project: HAGIS Project
Mairi McHale was presented with her certificate of participation in the Economic Futures initiative by Mairi Spowage, Economic Futures Project Co-Lead.
Mairi said of her work placement experience as a research assistant at the University of Stirling, “My time working as a research assistant at the University of Stirling has given me an insight into the sort of things a career in applied economic analysis would involve and has opened it up as a career option I will consider pursuing. I have also been able to experience what a career in an academic environment would involve which has been very enlightening. Not only has the programme allowed me to develop techniques involved in economic analysis but also apply them to interesting current issues in order to come to informed conclusions. The work I have participated in has been investigating the profile of skills demand in Scotland by making use of the skills measures involved in the US Occupational Information Network (O*NET). This was used alongside LFS data to compile information in order to inform agencies like Skills Development Scotland of future skills requirements.
“I have learnt a lot during the work placement. Before starting at
Stirling, I had never used Stata before and did not think coding was one
of my strengths. However, in order to undertake any analysis in the
project I had to become familiar with Stata and how it works. With a bit
of time and guidance I was able to get the hang of it and feel a lot more
confident in my coding abilities. So much so that I have decided to study
econometrics when I return for my fourth year at university which I would
not necessarily have chosen to do had I not partaken in the project. I
have also had the chance to brush up on my excel skills and learn
shortcuts which I am sure will come in useful in my last year as well as
any job I end up in. The Economic Futures team were very friendly and
helpful, and I appreciate them organising meetings for us to meet the
other students doing work placements to hear about their projects too.
Having the chance to present at the meetings was also invaluable as it was
good practice and experience after not having presented to people since
high school. I am very grateful for the opportunity Economic Futures has
given me and would highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in
economics.