Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program on Long-Run Fiscal Policy

The Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program on Long-Term Fiscal Policy was launched by the NBER in 2016 with support from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. The program aims to promote research on the economic consequences of different debt trajectories, policy choices and to expand the pool of researchers in this field. It has provided a year of research for sixteen fellows studying tax policy, entitlement programs, government budget rules, and debt dynamics. The program has encouraged early-career economists to develop research agendas addressing fiscal policy issues, with many fellows subsequently securing positions at leading economics departments. Key research questions include the impact of government debt on economic growth, the role of entitlement and tax reform, the links between tax policy and economic growth, the fiscal consequences of an aging population, and the study of fiscal institutions and rules. The selection process involves a call for proposals, review by a committee of experts, and provides fellows with dedicated research time and opportunities to build professional networks.