Riccardo
Manager, Washington, DC
- Why did you choose Analysis Group?
- After obtaining my Ph.D. in economics, I wanted to apply my research skills to complex cases regarding a variety of different industries and topics. During my experience as a summer associate at Analysis Group, I was very happy to find a collaborative environment where I felt intellectually challenged, and so I decided to join full-time.
- What do you work on at Analysis Group?
- So far, I have been part of teams working on antitrust and competition, finance, intellectual property, tax disputes, and commercial damages matters.
- How does life at Analysis Group compare to grad school?
- There are similarities, in that the complexity of the topics and the level of rigor are comparable. Three differences stand out at Analysis Group, though: I work in a more collaborative setting compared to my Ph.D. experience, the projects I work on here are more fast-paced, and the topics and industries I focus on are more diverse.
- How was your experience as a summer associate?
- As a summer associate in the Chicago office, I worked on several different cases. This helped me realize that the match between my training as a research economist and the work of an associate at Analysis Group was a natural fit.
- Give us a glimpse into a “day in the life” as an associate with a Ph.D. in economics. How do you spend your time?
- I spend roughly half of my time conducting research, reviewing documents, and drafting work products, with the goal of designing and adopting the best analytical framework to approach the specific problem my team is trying to solve. I spend the other half reviewing and analyzing data that will be ultimately used as inputs to empirical analyses. All these activities are performed in a mix of independent work and close collaboration with other team members.
- What has been your favorite case so far?
- I’ve worked on several interesting cases. Currently, I’m working on a tax dispute case in which we are analyzing a framework to identify the contribution to the firm-wide value added generated by each entity of a multinational corporation. As part of this project, my team and I have been analyzing the global and local structure of markets for the final product and for factors of production (such as labor and capital), and we have studied the internal organization of the firm and its competitors in the relevant market. Our work involves the use of tools and insights from both theoretical and empirical economics, as well as a deep understanding of relevant institutional characteristics.
- What advice would you give to current economics Ph.D. job market candidates?
- I would suggest candidates spend time understanding the fit between their preferences and all of the positions they are considering on the job market. A career in economic consulting may be very interesting and engaging for many Ph.D. candidates; and Analysis Group is full of brilliant potential colleagues with whom a new associate would collaborate on a daily basis.
- What do you do when you’re not working?
- I spend time with my daughter and my wife. I also read, hike, and observe birds and other critters.
- How do you find a suitable work/life balance?
- Analysis Group’s work environment is flexible and goal-oriented, but communication and effective coordination are key. The teams I work with put effort into ensuring that, at any point in time, no one is overloaded with tasks. This allows all of us to be able to tend to activities outside work while still being able to meet deadlines and maintain our quality standards.
