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Fully Funded PhD Positions in Applied Macroeconomics and Political Economy at ETH Zurich, Switzerland 2026
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Fully Funded PhD Positions in Applied Macroeconomics and Political Economy at ETH Zurich, Switzerland 2026

Application Deadline
September 30, 2026

Fully Funded PhD Positions in Applied Macroeconomics and Political Economy at ETH Zurich, Switzerland 2026

ParticularsDetails
Host InstitutionETH Zurich
InstituteKOF Swiss Economic Institute
DepartmentDepartment of Management, Technology and Economics (D-MTEC)
PositionPhD Researcher / Doctoral Candidate
Opportunity TypePhD / Fully Funded Position
LocationZurich, Switzerland
Contract Duration18 Months (Extendable to 4-5 Years)
Working HoursFull-Time
FundingFully Funded (Competitive Salary)
Eligible ApplicantsMaster's Graduates in Economics or Related Fields
Eligible CountriesAll (International Applicants Welcome)
Application ModeOnline (ETH Zurich Portal Only)
Application DeadlineSeptember 30, 2026
StatusApplications Open

Description

ETH Zurich invites outstanding candidates from around the world to apply for PhD Positions in Applied Macroeconomics and Political Economy at the prestigious KOF Swiss Economic Institute. This doctoral opportunity provides researchers with the chance to conduct cutting-edge empirical research, collaborate with internationally recognized economists, and earn a PhD from one of the world's highest-ranked universities. The positions are designed for ambitious graduates who want to investigate real-world economic challenges using advanced econometric methods and large-scale datasets.


Research Areas

Research AreaDescription
Globalization and Fiscal PolicyGlobal economic integration, fiscal sustainability, government spending, public finance reforms
International TaxationCorporate taxation, tax havens, multinational profit shifting, international tax competition
Political EconomyElectoral incentives, political institutions, economic freedom, government accountability
Applied MacroeconomicsBusiness cycles, inflation, monetary policy, economic forecasting, productivity, economic growth
International EconomicsGlobal trade, international markets, cross-border investment, economic integration
Migration and Labour MarketsLabour-market dynamics, migration economics, employment outcomes, demographic changes
Corruption and GovernanceInstitutional quality, governance reforms, corruption, policy effectiveness

Data Types Used

Data TypeAvailable
Firm-Level DataYes
Household DataYes
Country-Level DatasetsYes
Administrative DataYes
Survey DataYes
Geospatial DatasetsYes
International DatasetsYes
Text-Based DatasetsYes
Microeconomic DatabasesYes
Macroeconomic DatabasesYes

Research Methods

MethodUsed
Panel-Data AnalysisYes
Time-Series EconometricsYes
Causal InferenceYes
Quantitative AnalysisYes
Statistical ModellingYes
Forecasting TechniquesYes
Advanced Empirical MethodsYes

PhD Responsibilities

ResponsibilityRequired
Develop Original DissertationYes
Design Innovative Research ProjectsYes
Formulate Research QuestionsYes
Conduct Empirical AnalysesYes
Publish Academic PapersYes
Collect and Manage Research DatasetsYes
Present Work at SeminarsYes
Attend International ConferencesYes
Participate in WorkshopsYes
Complete Doctoral CourseworkYes
Contribute to Teaching ActivitiesYes (Limited)
Collaborate with Fellow ResearchersYes

Benefits

BenefitAvailable
PhD from ETH ZurichYes
Employment at Leading European UniversityYes
KOF Swiss Economic Institute MembershipYes
Competitive Salary (ETH Regulations)Yes
International Research ExposureYes
Access to Leading EconomistsYes
Participation in International ConferencesYes
Professional MentoringYes
Career Development SupportYes
Access to Advanced DatasetsYes
Strong Interdisciplinary CollaborationYes
Research Workshops and SeminarsYes
International Academic NetworkYes

Employment Conditions

ConditionDetails
Initial Appointment18 Months
ExtensionBased on Satisfactory Progress
Total PhD DurationApproximately 4-5 Years
SalaryCompetitive Gross Salary (ETH Regulations)
Starting DateNegotiable

Eligibility Criteria

RequirementDetails
EducationCompleted Master's degree in Economics or closely related discipline
Research InterestEmpirical economic research, macroeconomics, political economy, public finance
Quantitative SkillsStrong quantitative and econometric skills
Software ExperienceExperience with Stata, Python, or R
LanguageExcellent English communication skills
CollaborationInterest in collaborative research

Preferred Skills

SkillAdvantageous
Panel-Data MethodsYes
Time-Series EconometricsYes
Causal InferenceYes
Large Microeconomic DatasetsYes
International Taxation KnowledgeYes
Tax Competition KnowledgeYes
Fiscal Federalism KnowledgeYes
Political Economy KnowledgeYes
Research Career AspirationsYes
German Language SkillsOptional

Supervision

SupervisorRole
Prof. Dr. Jan-Egbert SturmAcademic Supervisor
Dr. Enea BaselgiaAcademic Supervisor (depending on research area)

Required Application Documents

DocumentRequired
Letter of MotivationYes
Curriculum Vitae (without photo)Yes
Writing Sample (Master's thesis or research paper)Yes
Complete Academic TranscriptYes
Copies of Degrees and CertificatesYes
Contact Details of 2-3 RefereesYes

Important Dates

EventDate
Application DeadlineSeptember 30, 2026
Expected Start DateNegotiable

Important Links

DescriptionOfficial Link
Apply Here

https://www.ethz.ch/en/doctorate.html

ETH Zurich Official Website

https://www.ethz.ch

KOF Swiss Economic Institute

https://kof.ethz.ch

D-MTEC Department

https://mtec.ethz.ch


FAQs

QuestionAnswer
Who can apply?Master's graduates in Economics or related quantitative disciplines
What is the contract duration?18 months, extendable to 4-5 years
What is the salary?Competitive salary per ETH Zurich regulations
Is German language required?No, German skills are optional
What is the application deadline?September 30, 2026
Can I apply via email?No, only through ETH Zurich online portal
Is this position open internationally?Yes, applicants from all countries welcome

CareerFlora Expert Insight

The ETH Zurich PhD positions at KOF Swiss Economic Institute represent a premier opportunity for aspiring economists. ETH Zurich consistently ranks among the world's top universities, and KOF is Switzerland's leading institute for applied economic research. The program offers exceptional training in empirical macroeconomics and political economy, access to world-class researchers, and a competitive salary. Candidates with strong quantitative backgrounds, research experience, and clear interest in applied economic research are strongly encouraged to apply.


Best Opportunity For

CategorySuitable
Economics GraduatesYes
Quantitative Research EnthusiastsYes
Macroeconomics ResearchersYes
Political Economy ResearchersYes
Public Finance ResearchersYes
International Economics ResearchersYes
Data Scientists with Economics TrainingYes
Statisticians with Economics BackgroundYes
Policy ResearchersYes

Competition Level

CategoryLevel
International CompetitionVery High
PhD PositionsMultiple (Limited)
Selection DifficultyVery High

CareerFlora Recommendation

Recommendation AreaDetails
Overall RatingOutstanding
University ReputationExcellent
Research QualityExcellent
Career DevelopmentExcellent
International ExposureExcellent
Salary PackageExcellent
Apply EarlyStrongly Recommended

Written by S NAR

Career Expert & Researcher. Dedicated to bringing you the most authentic and verified updates on global scholarships, internships, and career opportunities to help you stay ahead.

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