Project Description

This internship – in the South and Southeast Asia (SSEA) office in International Affairs - offers an excellent opportunity to engage on policy issues across 20 countries that provide an interesting mix of transition, developing, frontier, and emerging market policy issues to dive into. Interns will engage in multiple projects, rather than a since one. We have the largest office in terms of population covered, but one of the smallest in terms of staff and therefore guarantees a rewarding experience. Engaging with this region is a key piece of the Indo-Pacific strategy and our office works on multiple interagency processes to help shape our foreign policy objectives. Our Southeast Asia priorities in the coming year include supporting sound COVID-19 economic responses, analyzing Chinese investments across the region, closely monitoring fiscal and monetary policy, and supporting high standards in electronic payments and other ASEAN integration processes. Our South Asia priorities in the coming year include helping India tackle stress in the corporate and banking sectors, helping Pakistan avert a balance of payments crisis, and determining how to engage in Afghanistan after a peace agreement.

Interns will provide economic analysis for Treasury officials to develop U.S. international economic policy toward South and Southeast Asia. Specific tasks will include:

• Collecting, analyzing, and presenting economic data in support of policy priorities;
• Assisting with preparing reports and memos for senior Treasury officials;
• Preparing regular updates of regional financial and currency market activity;
• Conducting background research on relevant economic and financial issues;
• Attending (virtually) and reporting on official meetings in and outside of government;
• Coordinating with other Treasury offices; and
• Assisting with trip preparation and briefing books.

This internship will provide candidates the opportunity to learn about and contribute to the formation of public policy. Students will become proficient at researching and compiling data using Bloomberg and Haver, as well as analyzing and presenting the data. Students will learn how to draft talking points and prepare briefing materials, as well as how to make a point succinctly to busy senior officials. Students will also have an opportunity to attend and report on relevant financial and economic seminars and conferences around Washington DC.

Required Skills or Interests

Additional Information

Candidates should have a solid understanding of international economics and/or finance. Candidates should also have strong quantitative, research, writing, organizational, spreadsheet, and communication skills; the ability to meet tight deadlines; talent in constructing well-reasoned arguments and extracting key data/information from large documents; and the capacity to work independently and as part of a team. Data visualization skills are a plus.