Meet CBO Analysts

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Associate Analyst

Budget Analysis Division

Making a Difference

Finding a job you like is always tough.

I've always been interested in problem solving and trying to make a difference in the world. That led me to pursuing degrees in both economics and public policy, which eventually led me to CBO--a place where problem solving helps to make a difference in the world. I found my way to CBO in 2001, when my senior adviser at Morehouse put a CBO internship information sheet in my hand (and told me to apply). I took a chance and landed an internship in the Health and Human Resources Division working on unemployment insurance issues, which unbeknownst to any of us, would become very important in the wake of 9/11. Because of the work I'd done in the summer, I was invited to intern for the rest of the year in the Budget Analysis Division and had the opportunity to work on issues ranging from fugitive felons to Alaskan bush pilots.

After entering my graduate program, I began to look for jobs that would both fit and enhance my newly acquired skill set. Given what I knew about the people and the quality of the work, the only place that came to mind was CBO. As an intern, I'd gained insight on CBO's environment and the type of work produced at CBO, but what led me back was the fact that I would immediately be responsible for specific policy areas.This is often a concern for new graduates; no one wants to take a job where your work doesn't matter. Lucky for me, at CBO, all of the work matters.

I accepted a job in the Defense, International Affairs, and Veterans Affairs Unit of the Budget Analysis Division and work on issues relating to veterans' disability compensation, pensions, and related issues. Having always wanted to work in a sector dealing with people, something difficult to do when you work in budgeting, this particular job suits me well: I deal directly with issues that affect millions of disabled veterans of the U.S. military.

Working at CBO provides me with the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment, yet gives me plenty of time to enjoy all that the nation's Capitol has to offer. There are days when the work is challenging and you need to get 12 things done in an hour, but the supportive management team and staff always find a way to help you accomplish everything--and do it well.

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Principal Analyst

Health and Human Resources Division

When I finished my Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, I was hoping to contribute to policy discussions at the national level in a serious way. And I was hoping to do so quickly. I can think of no better place for that than CBO. I know my work has informed debates among policymakers, and it has been cited by major news outlets. It is gratifying to know that people listen to what CBO says.

Academia or not

Coming out of graduate school, I was faced with the decision of whether to go "academic" or not. I must say, I've never regretted opting out of those tenure-track assistant professor days (and nights). Besides, CBO offers a variety of outlets for its analysts' work. Some of the projects here are longer term, giving you time to really delve into the details of an issue (an example is our 2008 paper Recent Trends in the Variability of Individual Earnings and Household Income). Other projects are shorter term and focus on answering a specific question more quickly (for instance, our 2010 issue brief Social Security Disability Insurance: Participation Trends and Their Implications). CBO is very supportive of analysts who want to publish in academic journals (as I have) and encourages participation in conferences and in the economics community overall. Since coming here, I have also taken the opportunity to teach as an adjunct professor in the Georgetown economics department. The ability to switch things up is one of the things that keeps the job fresh and interesting.

CBO has a stellar reputation for producing excellent and objective analyses of tough issues in a timely and accessible way. That's no mean feat. We are a small agency, but the bang for the buck here is incredible. The people are smart, hard-working, dedicated, and engaged. There is at least one expert on every domestic program or policy issue. Our editorial staff cannot be beat. The support staff is fantastic. It didn't surprise anyone here when we were recently ranked as one of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government.

The work is rewarding and interesting in its own right, but it is the people at CBO who keep things lively and fun on a day-to-day basis. CBO'ers are sailors, glass blowers, linguists, sports enthusiasts, runners, triathletes, actors—the list goes on and on. We also have people who devote time and energy to a wide variety of charities, including Race for the Cure, homeless shelters, and mentoring programs for local at-risk youth. It really is amazing—no one seems to do anything halfway around here!

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Assistant Analyst

Macroeconomic Analysis Division

I've been working in the Macroeconomic Analysis Division since 2009. I learned about job opportunities at CBO while participating in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's internship program. An analyst presented a seminar to the interns about CBO and the work it does for the Congress, and I immediately became interested in working here. I graduated from the University of Tampa with a double major in economics and political science and wanted a policy-oriented job where I could put my quantitative skills to use. CBO has been the perfect match. While working here, I have grown tremendously both professionally and personally.

Economic Forecast

What I enjoy most about my job is working on the forecast of the economy. I prepare and compile the data for CBO's economic model. Working on the forecast has increased my econometric and programming skills and given me a broader understanding of macroeconomics. Sometimes, I feel that coming to work is equivalent to being in school, because I learn so much on a daily basis. It helps that my colleagues are not only highly qualified professionals, but also always willing to answer questions and explain often complicated topics.

Working at CBO has also been enriching personally. I have bonded with a lot of my coworkers and feel lucky to be surrounded by such a kind and eclectic group of people.

As a firm believer in public service, I find working at CBO to be very satisfying, because I know the importance of our analysis to Congress. CBO's unyielding commitment to honest, nonpartisan analysis makes me proud to be a part of this agency. In a nutshell, I can't think of a better first job.

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Senior Analyst

Microeconomic Studies Division

I joined CBO as a new Ph.D. economist in 1980, just a few years after the agency's founding. Since then, I have worked in many areas, depending on the needs of policy analysis: energy, taxes, financial institutions, telecommunications, and pharmaceuticals, for example. Working on new issues keeps one fresh.

CBO analysts can be confident that their work is relevant and that it will be noticed. In contrast to other settings where analysts write for narrow and specific audiences, at CBO the analysts study the substance of the Congressional agenda, and our work is read and discussed by Members of Congress, staff members, reporters in the popular press, writers in the scholarly press, and policy observers across the country. I was in the audience at a recent conference on telecommunications policy when I heard several speakers cite my most recent report. One corporate official told me he had sent the work to his company's board of directors.

Substantive Contributions

That example is not unique. Over the years, I have seen my work turned into newspaper editorials, quoted in national magazines, and featured on radio and television. I have briefed Members of Congress and Hill staffers, and floor managers have taken my reports into the House or the Senate to argue from them.

But visibility isn't the most exciting aspect of the work. Even more important is that CBO analysts typically have access to the leading people in the field. A few years ago while I was working on a report on science and technology funding, the project was reviewed by several Nobel Prize winners. In the past, I have been briefed by leading computer designers and inventors to ensure that I understood the issues in their area.

Although many agencies produce reports that match CBO's work in scope and importance, CBO has a size advantage. Because CBO is small, individual analysts often can make substantive contributions to the debate. And things can move quickly: Within a month of arriving at CBO, my work was being discussed in the Congress. At another agency, I might have waited years to be in a similar position.

What inspires me at work is the possibility of making a difference. For an analyst's work to garner attention, it must lay out the issues in a way that clarifies the policy choices facing the Congress or it must illuminate new dimensions in those issues. This desire to produce work that is beyond the ordinary, that is beyond the first cut, keeps me engaged nearly three decades after my arrival.