Support for Growth in Applied Economics in Scotland
For Summer 2026 we are delighted to announce that we have another great range of placements available from our partners (listed below) cutting across a variety of sectors. Please see the list below for more information on these opportunities.
More details on our placements are detailed below:
EF-01 Competition and Markets Authority - Applied Economic Experience at the UK's principal independent competition and consumer protection authority
The successful applicant will be embedded directly within a case team on one of the CMA’s live projects. The CMA’s workload is fast moving, meaning it is not possible to specify the exact project that placements will be allocated to. However, some examples of our recently completed and ongoing work include:
- assessing a merger between two firms to understand whether the merger would result in a lessening of competition in the telecoms market, and therefore be harmful for consumers;
- investigating concerns over fake and misleading online reviews on certain websites;
- assessing market power of some of the largest digital firms, with a view to implementing regulation to encourage competition and protect consumers; and
- undertaking a major study into the veterinary industry.
EF-02 Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) - The cost of concessionary charges in Scotland
SPICe have developed, or have access to, a number of economic models that we use to provide impartial information to MSPs to support parliamentary business. These models help to estimate the impact and cost of policy decisions and proposals.
The project would support us to improve the accuracy of these models, specifically our model on the cost to the public purse of providing concessionary travel (ie. subsidised public transport), but possibly the cost of other universal policies.
EF-03 Scottish Fiscal Commission
This project will explore how property income differs from other sources of income and between Scotland and the rest of the UK. You will have the opportunity to investigate property income using publicly available datasets and a review of literature and expand the body of knowledge in an under-researched area.
This will look at income from property revenue broadly, with comparisons for example on:
- how property income differs from other sources of income
- how property income varies between Scotland and the rest of the UK and/or how property income has changed over time
- how other factors such as differences in property markets or regulations between Scotland and the rest of the UK could affect property incomes
EF-04 & EF-05 Fraser of Allander Institute - Applied economic experience at the FAI
With up to 2 placements available, successfull candidates will embedded within the insitute team supporting several pieces of ongoing research. AN example project includes:
- Scottish Productivity Index: The purpose of this project is to produce a comprehensive review of data available for businesses in Scotland, including whether regional or international comparators are available. This will include traditional measures of growth and productivity, but also data on the drivers of productivity, such as investment, skills, and wellbeing.
EF-06 & EF-07 University of Strathclyde Economics Department - Applied economic experience in an academic environment
With up to 2 placements, successful candidates will work with academics in the Economics Department at Strathclyde.
New placements may be added during the application process and will be advertised via our mailing list and LinkedIn profile.