KAP 2025-2026 - Economic Research Analyst - The Buckeye Institute

The Koch Associate Program (KAP) is a career accelerator for early to mid-career professionals with a drive to tackle our country’s most pressing challenges in more effective, principled ways. KAP equips associates with the tools, mindsets, and community to succeed as social entrepreneurs—individuals excited to find new and better ways to break barriers and eliminate injustice. Associates spend one day each week engaging in experiential learning with Stand Together Fellowships and work at one of our many partner organizations the rest of the week. Our curriculum is designed to supercharge your development and equip you for long-term success as you seek to have an impact on the problems that prevent people from realizing their potential.  

About The Buckeye Institute

Founded in 1989, The Buckeye Institute is an independent research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to advance free-market public policy in the states.

The staff at Buckeye accomplish the organization’s mission by performing timely and reliable research on key issues, compiling and synthesizing data, formulating sound free-market policies, and promoting those solutions for implementation in Ohio and replication across the country.

The Buckeye Institute is located directly across the street from the Ohio Statehouse on Capitol Square in Columbus, where it assists legislative and executive branch policymakers by providing ideas, research, and data to enable the lawmakers’ effectiveness in advocating free-market public policy solutions.

You can learn more about Buckeye here and by visiting our website.

About The Economic Research Center (ERC)

There are tradeoffs with any change to public policy, and even small policy changes impact state budgets and taxpayers’ pocketbooks.

To help citizens and policymakers understand how policy decisions impact businesses, families, the economy, and state revenues, the Economic Research Center (ERC) at The Buckeye Institute performs reliable independent research and custom dynamic economic modeling.

Impact of Buckeye’s Work

·       Using a custom dynamic scoring model developed in-house by economists at The Buckeye Institute, experts are able to demonstrate the true costs of policy changes.

·       Economists and analysts at Buckeye conduct research on a variety of issues, including but not limited to tax reform, fiscal policy/budgetary spending, energy policy, education, and health care policy.

·       Buckeye experts develop tax plans tailored for the specific needs of states and meet with policymakers to clearly explain how those plans benefit taxpayers and boost economic growth.

·       Since 2016, Buckeye’s work has saved taxpayers in 14 states more than $10.3 billion.

You can find out more about the Economic Research Center here.

About the Role

The Buckeye Institute is seeking an Economic Research Analyst to work on-site, in person, in Columbus, Ohio.

The Economic Research Analyst will conduct research, assist in preparing dynamic economic models, draft policy papers, and collaborate with other staff of The Buckeye Institute. The Economic Research Analyst will help create free-market public policy solutions for a diverse range of economic issues, including but not limited to fiscal (tax and budget) policy, energy, labor, education, and health care.

Job Duties

·       Gather and input data to help model the potential economic impact of public policy proposals at the state level, examples include: changes in tax law and energy prices

·       Assist in conducting rigorous research and drafting original policy papers and opinion pieces, primarily in fiscal and energy policy

·       Work with the Executive Director of Buckeye’s Economic Research Center (ERC) to achieve the organization’s larger objectives

Education and Skills Required

·       Proficiency in at least one statistical programming language is strongly preferred, especially MATLAB or STATA

·       A degree in economics (or similar subject) demonstrating a proficient understanding of econometrics

·       Initiative to start and complete work projects thoroughly and on-time

·       Demonstrated commitment to free-market principles

·       Ability to work both independently and with a team

·       Ability to write clearly and concisely

The Economic Research Analyst is expected to work full-time during regular business hours when The Buckeye Institute’s office in Columbus, Ohio, is open (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

This position may also include in-person exposure to the proceedings of the Ohio legislature.

To Apply

Please apply here and submit a cover letter explaining why you are interested in this position at The Buckeye Institute. If selected for an interview, we will request the following items: 

·       Transcript (unofficial records are acceptable).

·       Writing sample (no more than ten pages in length that has not been edited by anyone else), which can be in the form of a blog post, a short paper, or an excerpt from a longer paper.

·       Two to three references of people who have overseen your past professional work or academic research

The application process is highly competitive. Accordingly, applicants should demonstrate academic excellence, outstanding verbal and written communication skills, strong research capabilities, and a commitment to limited government and free-market public policy solutions.

About Stand Together Fellowships 

Learn more about Stand Together Fellowships.

Stand Together Fellowships believes that diversity in experiences, perspectives, knowledge and ideas fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success. Our admissions office treats all program participants and applicants with honesty, dignity, respect and sensitivity. We welcome all qualified applicants regardless of color, race, religion, religious creed, sex, gender or gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, ancestry, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy (including medical needs which may arise from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), military and veteran status, genetic information, marital or familial status, political affiliation, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.