Associate/Full Professor of Applied Economics & State Economist

About The Job

Associate Professor or Full Professor of Applied Economics and Minnesota State Economist. Located in the Department of Applied Economics, Twin Cities Campus, University of Minnesota and in Minnesota Management and Budget, St. Paul, Minnesota. This is a tenured faculty position. We are seeking one candidate for this role, which is cross-posted as both a Tenured Faculty and a Contract Faculty position, serving as Minnesota State Economist.

Background

Minnnesota Management and Budget (MMB) is the state agency responsible for managing the state’s financial and human resources. Within MMB, the State Economist oversees the work products of the Economic Analysis Team. The State Economist in collaboration with this team produces the state’s twice-yearly economic and revenue forecasts. The State Economist and the team forecast the major sources of general fund tax revenue—the income, sales, and corporate taxes—among others. These forecasts set the baseline for the state’s biennial budget decision making and provide estimates for the adjustments necessary to keep the budget in balance. In addition, the team publishes fifteen statutorily mandated reports each year. The State Economist briefs the governor, legislators, the media, and the state’s bond rating agencies on the economic and revenue forecasts and serves as MMB’s spokesperson on Minnesota’s economy.

Key Responsibilities

• University Teaching – Applied Economics (APEC) (10%): Teach one, half-semester-length course (or the equivalent) yearly in the Department of Applied Economics, as assigned by the Department Head. The extent of teaching load is negotiable and can vary over time as conditions warrant.
• Applied Research (15%): Develop a nationally or internationally recognized research program related to applied economics. This includes publishing articles in leading peer-reviewed journals, obtaining research grants, and advising graduate and undergraduate research.
• Minnesota State Economist (75%): Duties Fulfill the duties of the State Economist as listed in the governing contract between the University and MMB. These include, but are not limited to: Oversee the production of the state’s twice-yearly economic and revenue forecasts. In collaboration with Economic Analysis staff, forecast state economic variables and revenues from the individual income, sales, corporate income, and other taxes. With State Economic Analysis staff, write and edit the economy and revenue sections of the Budget and Economic Forecast report and presentation. Brief government officials, the media, and others on the economic and revenue forecasts. Provide leadership and vision for the Economic Analysis Team in collaboration with the director of the state team. Provide the scholarly base for, and be responsible for the quality of, the team’s models, forecasts, analyses, reports, and presentations. Oversee the production of statutorily mandated reports, including monthly reports on state tax receipts and quarterly revenue and economic updates. Serve as the economic spokesperson for MMB and state government by making public speaking engagements and engaging with the media upon request. The incumbent is an employee of the University of Minnesota (entitled to its benefits and subject to its rules).

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in economics, applied economics, or closely related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience.
• Evidence of high quality written and oral communication skills for professional and non-professional audiences.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and management skills.
• Research experience in economics, applied economics, or related fields.

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of high-quality research and of potential for publication in peer-reviewed field journals and general interest journals in economics.
• Experience in economic and/or tax revenue forecasting.
• Rigorous training in public finance, public economics, or tax policy.
• Research experience in public finance, public economics, tax policy, or tax revenue forecasting.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in teaching at the undergraduate or graduate levels.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in mentoring and advising graduate students.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in communicating with audiences without an economics background.
• Previous appointment as a tenured faculty member in an economics or related academic field.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in creating a positive and inclusive campus climate by advancing inclusive excellence.
• Experience securing or working on extramurally funded research.