To work as an international economist, you’ll typically need a four-year bachelor’s degree. You can get a head start in high school by studying economics and business, as well as meeting foreign language requirements and other college prerequisites. Selecting a university that offers a good program in international economics, finance, or business administration, and then earning a four-year degree, is typically the first step toward achieving this type of career. Although an entry-level job can usually be obtained with only a bachelor’s degree and some relevant work or intern experience, you may want to pursue an advanced degree. To that end, you might want to look for internships or part-time jobs that are related to this field while you’re still in school.
International economists are highly educated business professionals who study and analyze financial issues such as international markets, trade policies, and currencies. They usually conduct research into those topics and related areas, conduct surveys, and use other methods to collect data, which is then broken down and analyzed to establish trends and forecast future outcomes. Many businesses hire international economists to keep an eye on the economies of countries where they already do business or where they want to expand.
Obtaining a relevant bachelor’s degree in an area such as international business, finance, or economics is the first step toward becoming an international economist. During your studies, you should concentrate on macro- and microeconomics, statistics, global economics, and econometrics, among other topics. In addition to a degree, you might want to look into internship opportunities. Many employers prefer to hire graduates with a lot of internship or real-world experience. Work such as analyzing data, conducting surveys, and preparing reports are typical part-time jobs that can help you prepare to become an international economist.
You will typically be ready for an entry-level position once you have completed your degree and internship or work experience. Taking an entry-level position in a finance, marketing, or research department is one way to become an international economist. You can start as an assistant, but it’s important to work for a firm that hires international economists. To advance from an assistant or entry-level position to a job as an international economist, it is sometimes necessary to move between companies, and many advanced positions require a master’s degree or doctor of philosophy (PhD) in economics.