Doctoral positions in “global public economics” (m/f/d)

The climate needs bright minds. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) addresses crucial scientific questions in the fields of global change, climate impacts and sustainable development. It is one of the world's leading research insti­tutions in its field and offers natural and social scientists from around the world an inspiring environment for excellent inter­disciplinary research.

The working group Welfare and Policy Design at PIK, located at EUREF Campus in Berlin-Schöneberg, headed by Prof. Dr. Matthias Kalkuhl, is offering

Doctoral positions in “global public economics” (m/f/d)

(Position number: 09-2026 PhD Public Economics)

in the field of mechanism design for tax clubs and jurisdictional reward funds, starting on 01.05.2026.

The positions are funded for 36 months with a 75% share of the total E13 salary in accordance with the German public tariff scheme (TV-L Brandenburg).

Background: The candidate is expected to contribute to our existing research agenda on tax clubs and jurisdictional reward funds that is described here. This agenda aims to work out optimized proposals for new international mechanisms that could increase global welfare by mitigating harmful tax competition and raise money to reward countries for policies for climate change mitigation, pandemic prevention and other global public goods. To design and evaluate the proposals, we have developed a range of empirically calibrated economic models.

Key responsibilities:

• solve economic models (analytically and numerically)
• visualize and clearly communicate results
• contribute to academic publications and policy briefs
• refine and further develop existing models
• support empirical calibration efforts
• develop new models and proposals for policy evaluation
• collaborate closely with other researchers
• contribute to impact-oriented research

Requirements:

• strong programming and mathematical skills (or strong willingness to learning them)
• experience with Mathematica and Python
• work with models in public economics (e. g. optimal taxation, tax competition, tax incidence, welfare economics)
• apply concepts from international trade theory (e. g. monopolistic competition, Nash equilibrium vs cooperative trade policy)
• use game theory and mechanism design theory

Prior knowledge of any of these fields is valuable but can also be acquired effectively in the course of the analytical and numerical work with our models, through selected readings suggested by other team members and through extensive discussions within our team.

Further valuable skills:

• contribute to academic publications, presentations and policy briefs
• apply strong writing and presentation skills
• engage with rich empirical data to support research communication (now greatly facilitated by LLMs)
• translate research findings into ongoing academic and policy debates
• distill essential aspects into new economic models
• support policy design and evaluation through model development

We offer:

• chance to contribute to an ambitious research agenda that aims to optimize for expected positive impact, combining academic rigor with focus on relevance
• the opportunity to complete a high-quality dissertation within an excellent, collaborative, and transdisciplinary research environment
• a lively community of PhD students on the campus, offering the chance to engage and connect - our PhD Representatives offer information and advice when needed
• the chance to be part of an engaged, interdisciplinary team
• attractive working space at the EUREF-Campus in Berlin Schöneberg
• Flexi-time and mobile working (up to 50% of your hours)
• a collective pay scheme and associated benefits as well as a subsidized travel card or Deutschland-Ticket Job

PIK values equality and diversity. We encourage applications without photo. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of ethnic and social origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, care responsibilities, or age. PIK seeks to increase the share of women in scientific positions and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. In cases of equal qualification and within the given legal scope, women will be given preference. PIK also encourages applications by parents returning from parental leave.

Please apply by 05.04.2026 directly using our application form below this job advertisement on our website.

If you hold an international higher education qualification, please also submit a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your application. If you do not yet have a transcript evaluation, please note that you may have to request one if your application is successful. For further information, please visit the website: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education.html

For further information or to discuss the position please contact Dr. Lennart Stern.

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