Guidance

1 - Application of knowledge

Updated 20 December 2022

1. Applying economic theory and analysis

1.1 Level 1 - Awareness - Apprentice/Placement^{[footnote 1]}

• Has a clear willingness to learn and apply relevant economic theory and can discuss the limits of theory when it comes to real world application.

1.2 Level 2 – Practitioner: HEO

• Displays sufficient depth and breadth of understanding of core economics.
• Has the ability to explain and apply theory from different branches of economics - for example applying behavioural economics to a microeconomic context, applying economic history to macroeconomics / contemporary macroeconomic context etc. Can demonstrate an emergent capability to tailor such theoretical application to their environment (role, departmental context, policy context etc).

1.3 Level 2 – Practitioner: SEO

• Can explain and apply concepts in intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics.
• Is able to demonstrate elements of specialist economics knowledge in a specific field (such as international trade, industrial economics, development economics, public finance) and/or can demonstrate advanced Departmental or role-specific economic knowledge.

1.4 Level 3 – Expert: G7

• Can explain and apply a variety of economic tools, techniques, and methods to a range of work/policy areas, making use of relevant economic theory (e.g. international trade, industrial economics, development economics, public finance) to develop/oversee the evidence base for policy development. Must demonstrate this ability across the areas of macroeconomics and microeconomics.
• Able to scope areas of work identifying objectives, analytical methods, resources required and potential delivery risks.
• Able to recognise when complementary expertise and collaborative working is required e.g., scientists, other social scientists, other government analytical professions and data specialists.

1.5 Level 3 – Expert: G6

• Understands high-level business objectives and strategy to anticipate demands for economic analysis.
• Oversees and challenges as appropriate the application of economic tools, techniques, and methods to a range of policy areas, making use of deep department-specific economic knowledge.
• Scopes broad areas of work identifying objectives, analytical methods, resources required and potential delivery risks.
• Can recognise and digest complementary expertise from e.g., scientists, other social scientists, other government analytical professions, and data specialists.
• Leads teams to deliver cohesive analytical programmes across professions.

1.6 SCS

• Uses economic insight to interpret high level strategic challenges.
• Co-ordinates and directs analytical resources [or workstreams] to meet departmental and ministerial objectives.
• Addresses the challenges of competing priorities for resourcing of economic analysis.

2. Synthesising the evidence

2.1 Level 1 - Awareness - Apprentice/Placement

• Displays an ability to assess different methods, data or results being used, and to comment on the appropriateness of these methods.

2.2 Level 2 – Practitioner: HEO

• Analyses complex information and data, drawing on economic knowledge and applying it to questions of interest for the department, while being aware of the limitations of economic analysis and the available data.

2.3 Level 2 – Practitioner: SEO

• Analyses and synthesises complex information and data, drawing on economic knowledge and applying it to questions of interest for the department, while being aware of the limitations/risks of economic analysis and the available data. This may include developing detailed knowledge or expertise of a technical area.

2.4 Level 3 – Expert: G7

• Leads development of analysis and synthesises evidence from a range of data and complex information sources, combining and developing these as appropriate. This will include building an understanding of data sources, measurement techniques and analytical debate relating to specific policy areas and ensuring issues of economic inequality and distribution are considered as required.

2.5 Level 3 – Expert: G6

• Is accountable and ensures consistency between analytical products delivered across teams. This will include building an understanding of the opportunities and limitations of data sources, measurement techniques and analytical debate relating to specific policy areas and ensuring issues of economic inequality and distribution are considered as required.

2.6 SCS

• Creates and supports teams that challenge and improve the evidence base, draw on diverse perspectives across professional boundaries and consider economic inequality and redistribution as required.

3. Deliver economic analysis

3.1 Level 1 - Awareness - Apprentice/Placement

• Can contribute to an economic project with support.

3.2 Level 2 – Practitioner: HEO

• Works independently on an economic/analytical project.
• Escalates analytical issues appropriately.

3.3 Level 2 – Practitioner: SEO

• Is competent in scoping and leading analytical research design.
• Can take responsibility for wider analytical projects.

3.4 Level 3 – Expert: G7

• Uses horizon scanning methodologies to anticipate new trends, opportunities and challenges that may influence outcomes of interest to the customers.
• Delivery of high quality analysis to the standards set out in the green, aqua and magenta books.

3.5 Level 3 – Expert: G6

• Uses horizon scanning methodologies to anticipate new trends, opportunities and challenges that may influence outcomes of interest to team/departments/stakeholders.
• Leads the delivery, or contributes to delivery, of policy appraisal, impact assessments, evidence-based business cases, and evaluation to the standards set out in the Green. Aqua and Magenta Books. This will include engaging with, and bringing in expertise from, other analytical professions as appropriate.

3.6 SCS

• Leads experts to deliver high quality economic analysis, critically appraising methods in line with best practice guidelines. This also includes developing and adding to best practice where possible.

4. Expanding the evidence base

4.1 Level 1 - Awareness - Apprentice/Placement

• Skill not generally expected at this grade. However, some roles may include identifying evidence gaps.

4.2 Level 2 – Practitioner: HEO

• Undertakes analysis to fill evidence gaps identified.
• Considers the broader economics of biodiversity and climate change when conducting analysis.

4.3 Level 2 – Practitioner: SEO

• Takes responsibility for wider analytical projects which address identified evidence gaps.

4.4 Level 3 – Expert: G7

• Expands and develops the evidence base for future policy development. This includes anticipating evidence gaps and future evidence needs, scoping work projects, managing internal and external analytical programmes and building links with academia and wider research communities.

4.5 Level 3 – Expert: G6

• Expands and develops the evidence base for future policy development. This includes anticipating evidence gaps and future evidence needs, scoping work programmes, managing internal and external analytical programmes, proactively building networks with academia and wider research communities. Includes finding new ways of influencing policy and keeping up to date with policy debates in the area of expertise.

4.6 SCS

• Identifies where and how new analysis can provide insight into strategic challenges. Marshalls analytical resources to do so, leveraging external networks where appropriate.

5. Applying appraisal techniques

5.1 Level 1 - Awareness - Apprentice/Placement

• Is familiar with and learning the basics of techniques such as monetisation and discounting as outlined in the Green Book, in order to apply Cost-Benefit Analysis.

5.2 Level 2 – Practitioner: HEO

• Learns and applies techniques such as monetisation and discounting as outlined in the Green Book, in order to produce Cost-Benefit Analysis.

5.3 Level 2 – Practitioner: SEO

• Uses techniques such as monetisation and discounting as outlined in the Green Book, in order to apply Cost-Benefit Analysis.

5.4 Level 3 – Expert: G7

• Uses and supervises the application of techniques such as monetisation and discounting as outlined in the Green Book, in order to apply Cost-Benefit Analysis.
• · Where appropriate, demonstrates the ability to develop and improve techniques used and actively participate in quality- assurance procedures and processes.
• · Critically reviews and suggests improvements to techniques to establish/identify robust counterfactuals to effectively measure policy impact and causation as detailed in the Magenta Book.

5.5 Level 3 – Expert: G6

• Supervises the application of and critically assesses techniques such as monetisation and discounting as outlined by the Green Book, in order to apply Cost Benefit Analysis. Where needed, this includes balancing conflicting methods and techniques used in the analysis and managing the quality-assurance process.
• · Critically reviews and suggests improvements to techniques used by the team to establish/identify robust counterfactuals to effectively measure policy impact and causation as detailed in the Magenta Book.

5.6 SCS

• Influences stakeholders at all levels to ensure cutting edge, timely appraisal is carried out and influences decisions.
• · Takes a strategic approach to longer term development of techniques and tools available.

6. Development as an economist

6.1 Level 1 - Awareness - Apprentice/Placement

• Actively engages in wider learning and development to support formal learning.

6.2 Level 2 – Practitioner: HEO

• Develops oneself as a professional economist by continuing to seek out training and support that enables confident delivery of the above.
• Uses skills and experience to grow community of economists across government by supporting economist recruitment campaign for apprentices as a trained assessor

6.3 Level 2 – Practitioner: SEO

• Develops oneself as a professional economist by continuing to seek out training, teaching and coaching opportunities as well as promoting economics that enables confident delivery of the above.
• Uses skills and experience to grow community of economists across government by supporting economist recruitment campaigns as a trained EAC assessor

6.4 Level 3 – Expert: G7

• Keeps up to date with relevant academic literature, developments in data science, techniques (e.g. behavioural insights) and contributes to wider debates within the organisation and economic profession.
• Operates with credibility in an inclusive way, is accountable for the work of the team(s) (where applicable) and champions the economics profession including volunteering as a GES Assessor as per requirements.
• Seeks out mentoring opportunities and/or acts as a mentor (formally or informally) to GES Apprentices, HEOs and SEOs.
• Seeks out opportunities to embed D&I learning to enable inclusive approaches.

6.5 Level 3 – Expert: G6

• Keeps up to date with the latest relevant academic literature, developments in data science, techniques (e.g., behavioural insights) and contributes to wider debates within the organisation and economic profession.
• Operates with credibility in an inclusive way, is accountable for the work of the team(s) (where applicable) and champions the economics profession.
• Actively keeps abreast of, and contributes to, relevant economic developments within and outside the Department, including internationally, adopting, and promoting good practice.
• Acts as a mentor to GES Apprentices, HEOs SEOs and G7s.

6.6 SCS

• Engages in senior management events and leadership training sessions to build capability and influence others.
• Acts as a mentor to G6/G7s.
• Can lead and coach policy/economic colleagues and Ministers through analysis and support their understanding.
• Oversees the development of economists by ensuring training and support is accessible.
• Provide highest level QA in line with departmental processes.

1. Awareness, Practitioner and Expert levels have been introduced to sit alongside grades within this framework (following civil service best practice). This allows greater flexibility when working across multiple frameworks for career progression, and allows for a wider application of this framework across departments with differing grade structures. Search for ‘Skill Level definitions’ within the Government Analysis Career Framework) for further definitions. ↩