Getting into the Government Economic Service (GES) 2012
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Slides from the presentation on Monday 24 September which took place in the Careers and Employability Centre. Content includes an overview of the application and assessment process, the type of work done by the GES and the type of economics you will need to apply.
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Getting into the Government Economic Service (GES) 2012
- 1. GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics UNCLASSIFIED
- 2. GES careers Alex Shirvani Assistant Economist, BIS • What government economists do • What working for the GES is like • How to get in GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 3. Check the website There is a lot of information online: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/networks/ges I won’t duplicate it here ! GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 4. What economists do Economists are part of the analyst community - Government Economic Service - Government Statistical Service - Government Social Research Service - Government Operational Research Service Provide ministers and policy officials with analysis and evidence to support good policy making GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 5. Justifying intervention Identifying market failures - imperfect competition - externalities - public goods - asymmetric information See “Green Book” document http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_greenbook_index.htm GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 6. Justifying intervention Recommending policy responses - providing information, education and advice - direct provision / commissioning of a good / service - economic instruments (tax / subsidy / quota / permits) - regulation - creating a market See “Understanding Policy Options” document http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/2(6).pdf GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 7. Appraisal and evaluation Appraisal of a policy proposal - costs and benefits (net present value) - risks - extent of ‘additionality’ vs ‘crowding out’ - extent of ‘leakage’, ‘displacement’ or ‘deadweight’ - distributional impacts – winners and losers - may be comparing between more than one proposal - always compare against the ‘do nothing’ Evaluation of a policy proposal - when its up and running, is it working as we intended? GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 8. Other things we do Writing evidence papers - ‘what is the evidence base on…?’ Managing surveys or statistical releases - eg English Business Survey, UK Trade Figures Commissioning research papers - putting research out to tender and project managing it Economic support for Ministers - written and oral Parliamentary Questions - briefings and submissions GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 9. Career path Assistant Economist (£26k-30k) - Rotate jobs every year in your department - After 2 years can move department - After 2 years may be opportunities for funded MSc Economic Adviser (Grade 7; £45k +) - No longer rotate jobs - Significant responsibility, lots of economics Grade 6 - Still an economist but more ‘strategic’ role Senior Civil Service GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 10. What it is and what it’s not GES is great for… - Loads of variety of work and options to experience different areas of policy and branches of economics - Certain depts great for specialist transferable experience (Health / Energy / Environmental economics; Treasury macro) - Good work / life balance; friendly culture; public service focused workmates - Good pay and conditions But it might not be suitable if you… - Want to be a real top earner (better in financial services) - Want to do research papers or focus on econometrics (better in a research consultancy or academia) - Are particularly political GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 11. Applying Apply for the Economist Fast Stream You can also apply for other Analytical Fast Streams (GSS, GSR, GORS) but not the other streams Round 1 opens 17 September Round 1 closes 15 October Round 2 will open in Spring 2013 You can only apply once in any year GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 12. Starting the process Verbal & numerical reasoning tests - standard graduate scheme - practice free online SQL tests Application form with competency questions - working on own initiative - organising and prioritising time - producing results - building productive relationships GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 13. Economic Assessment Centre Written exercises on a pre-released topic - Technical report - Plain English report - Short Answer Questions Interview - 10 min presentation, 10 min follow up questions - 20 min on the SAQs - 20 min on your chosen specialised subject GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 14. Fast Stream Assessment Centre One non economics exercise done at EAC FSAC - Group exercise - Briefing exercise - Interview - Policy recommendation exercise GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 15. It is well worth applying Recruitment demand is up this year - initial bids are for an intake of 180 assistant economists in 2013 - shortages in many departments The GES is meritocratic and non-elitist - no ‘target universities’ or advantage for people with connections - at FSAC assessors have no information but your name Getting through EAC opens job options - if you pass EAC but fail FSAC you may be offered a provisional economist role (temp contract, resit FSAC next year) - or you may be offered an executive officer role (admin job) - you can ‘bank’ your EAC so can skip it if you reapply next year GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
- 16. It is well worth applying The Sussex curriculum prepares you perfectly - Micro 2, Macro 2, Advanced Micro, Advanced Macro cover everything you need to know - you are at an advantage compared to students where the curriculum is more technical and less applied/policy focused Preparing for EAC helps your economics - focus on core principles helps you really understand the basics of each topic - core principles go down well in exam essays Don’t be intimidated by the number of applicants - it’s a long process, lots of people drop out / get other jobs GES GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC SERVICE Making economists better Making better use of economics
Editor's Notes
- Estimating costs inc. opportunity costs Mention discounting Additionality v crowding out, govt spending could crowd out private sector spending so inefficient unless additionality to supply side of economy Leakage – benefits going to those outside the group which the intervention is intended to benefit