Exploratory Modeling of human-natural systems research group

We are looking to hire an outstanding researcher in the overlapping fields of Computational Economics and Data Science/Computer Science, as we are actively expanding our macroeconomic research unit. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of a data-intensive macroeconomic agent-based model (ABM). Specifically, they will leverage diverse and extensive micro-datasets for model calibration, focusing on the in-depth exploration of critical aspects related to income distribution and other significant macroeconomic dynamics. Following a one-year fixed-term employment contract, we intend to offer the successful candidate an open-ended contract with IIASA.

background

The Exploratory Modeling of Human-natural Systems (EM) Research Group is one of four research groups in the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Program. EM’s mission is to produce methodological advances that will underpin IIASA research on transformations toward sustainable social-economic-environmental systems with a focus on socioeconomic complexity, integrative Earth systems models, and macro-level systems models. As part of EM’s focus on socioeconomic complexity and building on methodological advances from the former ASA program, a novel macroeconomic ABM is developed that can compete with mainstream approaches, such as econometric and DSGE models, in out-of-sample forecasting and allows more reliable policy analysis and could revolutionize the way we monitor and forecast economic activity. This ABM has recently received the Complexity in Macroeconomics Award from the Rebuilding Macroeconomics Network in the UK and is currently used in several applications

main tasks and responsibilities

The successful applicant will contribute to developing and applying the IIASA macroeconomic agent-based model under the supervision of Dr. Sebastian Poledna. Specific tasks of the successful applicant include but are not limited to:

• Develop the IIASA macroeconomic agent-based model further according to the needs of the applications.
• Coordinate with internal and external project partners from central banks; universities and other research institutions.
• Calibrate the ABM with micro- (firm- and household-level register-based data) and macro-economic (national accounting) data sources; This includes data processing from various sources.
• Setup, run, exploit, and share simulations made with the ABM.
• Write and contribute to scientific articles and science-policy reports derived from the above work, and present those at scientific workshops and conferences.

• In line with the team spirit that prevails at IIASA, the incumbent may occasionally work on other tasks assigned by their superiors, that might not be directly related to this appointment but where the post holder has relevant experience and skills, and/or a shortage of immediate personnel capabilities requires such.