My experience with the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) was exceptional. During my internship, I was given meaningful responsibilities and gained invaluable insights into the inner workings of a professional non-profit organization. Conversations with AIER scholars and staff expanded my knowledge in areas such as political economy, financial markets, economic freedom, and sound money. This experience was undoubtedly the highlight of my professional career and played a pivotal role in my decision to pursue a full-time career in economic policy analysis.
I wholeheartedly recommend AIER to any emerging economic scholar looking to immerse themselves in a vibrant intellectual community while surrounded by the natural beauty of the Berkshires.
What I wish was different
Advice
Having a particular research topic in mind is helpful, as it will give your work direction and purpose. Peers, visiting scholars, and staff can then help you develop your research and assist with publishing.
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Graduate Research Fellow
May - August 2022 • Great Barrington, MA
What I liked
As a graduate research fellow, I was welcomed at AIER by a pool of staff, fellows, and interns who accomplished a balance between intellectual passion, persistent work ethic, and relaxed community as though it was second-nature. Days at work were filled with exposure to novel research and advocacy work by staff and visitors, while lunches and evenings were filled with decompressed fellowship with the opportunity to share unique insights and quirky humor. The experience smoothly facilitated a dive into some of the more unique aspects of economics, philosophy, and politics with a principled respect and emphasis, but also an openness and serious consideration of a diversity of views. The organization stuck by me and was supportive through my research and personal hurdles of the summer, and I've ultimately been able to bring stronger methodological rigor to my current dissertation work as a result of the lessons learned and feedback shared.
An additional unique highlight of the experience was how AIER broadened my outlook on academic work with both training in primary research for academic audiences, and support in learning to communicate research insights to more general audiences for policy, journalistic, and non-profit endeavors.
What I wish was different
I do wish that I had been more fully prepared with respect to the expectations of my primary institution during my summer away. Although ultimately manageable, balancing between a PhD program and an external graduate fellowship can be tricky at times, and maintaining open lines of communication both with one's department and AIER while giving both obligations their full due respect is an important balance for any fellow to learn.
Advice
More than anything, I think that one will benefit the most from this fellowship by embracing the atmosphere of inquiry and mutual respect. Disagreement and questioning can be uncomfortable for some, but AIER is one of the few places where these characteristics form part of the engine of success and growth rather than being being perceived as an obstacle or a byproduct. I would say do not be afraid to ask for help when research gets tough! The peers and fellows have been through the challenges, and have genuine feedback and support to offer that will raise you up and help you to persist constructively.
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Research Intern
January - March 2021 • Great Barrington, MA
What I liked
As a research intern at AIER, you won't be assigned to tedious intern duties; during my three months at AIER, I helped gather data, perform statistical analysis, and write op-eds on public policy with scholars and on my own. At AIER, you are treated like a serious thinker and expected to live up to this high (and reasonable) standard while receiving attentive and kind mentorship from their resident economists.
What I wish was different
I wish my internship had been longer—I had an absolute blast.
Advice
Apply to intern at AIER if you are passionate about learning, economics, and writing for public consumption—you won't regret it.
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Research Intern
May - August 2023 • Great Barrington, MA
What I liked
My time as a research intern at AIER (American Institute for Economic Research) was an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience. I had the privilege of working alongside some of the brightest minds in economics, and it left a lasting positive impression on me. One of the highlights of my internship was the opportunity to attend seminars and discussions led by renowned economists and experts. These sessions not only expanded my understanding of economics but also encouraged critical thinking and thoughtful analysis.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Research Intern
May - August 2023 • Great Barrington, MA
What I liked
I had an incredible experience interning at the American Institute for Economic Research this summer. The other interns, graduate fellows, and I were granted the freedom to pursue our own research interests while attending lectures and workshops that helped us engage with the fundamental ideas of Austrian economics, Public Choice economics, and alternative forms of governance, among many other topics. We also had the opportunity to work directly with the distinguished faculty on various projects.
What I wish was different
Advice
I would highly recommend applying for this position, and doing so sooner rather than later. If a student is looking to get an internship for the summer term, they should start looking to apply in the fall. Most of all, though, make the most of the opportunity! Engage with everyone at AIER and use the opportunity to grow your network and learn a lot.
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Summer Intern
May - August 2023 • Great Barrington, MA
What I liked
I appreciated how they've created a culture of discussion and learning. Questions were encouraged and they were totally fine if people had differing opinions. I also appreciated how independent our work was. Instead of working as a research assistant to one of the scholars, I got to choose my own research project. So I got to do something I was interested in but could talk to any of the AIER staff if I needed help or got stuck on whatever I was working on.
What I wish was different
I wish we had done more workshops on econometrics and data analysis.
Advice
If you are interested in doing academic/policy research as a career, this is an incredibly useful internship. I've been considering pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics and becoming a professor, and this internship gave me a much better idea of what that would be like.
