Senior researcher at the Frisch Center

What does your job entail?

I do research on how the Norwegian welfare state functions. I look at the social security system, tax system, pension system, and child welfare, trying to understand how they operate in practice. The work is quantitative and is based on large amounts of registry data. The goal is to determine how elements in these systems work, for example, whether reforms lead to more people in work.

What's the most exciting part of your job?

The most exciting part is discovering something new about important societal issues that matter to many and that many can learn from.

How do you apply your education in your job?

Economic mechanisms and incentives are at the core of much of what I do. I use quantitative methods all the time. And I write¡ªarticles, reports, dissemination. The latter is something one could perhaps practice more during studies.

What is a typical day at work like?

I try to find the right way to analyze data. It takes time. Most of the job involves understanding the institutional context around the data, what they mean and where they come from, and setting them up correctly. Once the analyses are run, most of the work is already done.

How did you get the job?

I obtained a PhD and worked on applied issues that were well-suited for the institute sector. Many associate research with universities, but there is a large and active research environment outside of them as well. I also worked for a couple of years in the Ministry of Finance, a year as a consultant, and as a researcher at the Institute for Social Research.

What's your best tip for other students who want a job like yours?

Work thoroughly on methodology, data analysis, and critical thinking. These are skills that give you substance and open up many opportunities¡ªin both research and various other types of work.

(The interview was originally conducted in Norwegian and is translated into English).