ECONOMIST

Summary

FTC economists make independent policy recommendations to the Commission based on their theoretical and empirical analysis of relevant issues. Research by FTC economists is supported and encouraged, in part through the Bureau's working paper series, seminar series, and annual FTC Microeconomics Conference. FTC economists regularly present their work at seminars/conferences, and publish in top journals. Economists in all fields of applied microeconomics and econometrics are encouraged to apply.

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Duties

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As an Economist at the Federal Trade Commission you will perform the following duties:

• Apply statistical, mathematical, and econometric techniques to the analysis of data to empirically analyze economic theories and test hypotheses in support of policy recommendations.
• Provide analysis and interpretation of economic and related information collected from companies to support policy and program decision-making.
• Identify and collect the appropriate data needed to analyze the validity of competing economic theories.
• Conduct investigations, reviews, and studies that apply a thorough knowledge of microeconomic theory to study the behavior of individual consumers, firms, and industries in order to analyze how markets establish relative prices among goods and services and thereby allocate limited resources among alternative uses.
• Analyze the likely effects on consumers and firm competition of mergers, agreements between firms, and individual firm business practices.
• Prepare economic impact assessments under the laws that govern federal rulemaking to ensure adequate considerations of the costs and benefits of proposed rules.
• Develop oral and written products, tailored to the needs of the audience, in support of recommendations involving issues such as the economic aspects of new or proposed investigations, policies, or rules affecting FTC programs.
• Undertake research aimed at addressing unresolved theoretical or empirical questions in topics related to competition, consumer protection, and general understanding of consumer and firm behavior.
• Draft, present, and defend positions for policy, enforcement decisions, and education of other competition and consumer protection agencies.
• Lead teams of economists and statisticians conducting complex economic analysis; provide technical guidance and oversight; and ensure the quality and relevance of analytical work in support of enforcement, policy, or regulatory initiatives.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
• This position is subject to a background investigation.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
• You may serve a one-year probationary period under this appointment.
• This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is represented by the National Treasury Employees Union.
• If selected for this position, the agency will evaluate your fitness and whether continuation of employment advances the public interest before extending your appointment beyond one-year probationary period.
• Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Qualifications

To qualify for an Economist position, you must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

1. Degree: Economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus.

OR

2. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in 1 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. In addition to the above, you must meet the requirements described below:

To qualify for an Economist at the GS-15, you must meet the following Additional Requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks:

1. Independently or as a lead producing formal written materials (e.g., memoranda, reports, briefing materials, manuscripts, white papers, or research papers) based on economic analysis that is of publication-level quality in a leading field journal analyzing antitrust issues, mergers, competition policy, competitive effects of firm conduct, consumer protection enforcement, regulatory impacts, and/or deceptive or unfair business practices.
2. Leading a collaborative team with other researchers, students, or colleagues in a university, research institute, business, non-profit, or government setting on a microeconomic or microeconometric research project, demonstrating an ability to identify and collect appropriate information and/or data to analyze economic theories, issues, or hypotheses.
3. Applying at least graduate-level knowledge of microeconomics and/or microeconometrics to lead novel economic research and/or analysis of antitrust issues, mergers, competition policy, competitive effects of firm conduct, consumer protection enforcement, regulatory impacts, and/or deceptive or unfair business practices in formal written material of publication-level quality.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Education

THIS POSITION HAS AN EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:

Additional information

This announcement will be filled through OPM-authorized Direct Hire Authority due to a Critical Hiring Need. Veterans preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to this vacancy.

Click Here for more information on OPM's authorization of Direct Hire Authorities.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

For more information visit: ICTAP/CTAP

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.