Thomas Jefferson Fellowship

The Center for Fiscal Accountability (CFA) in Washington, DC, a project of Americans for Tax Reform, offers a fellowship to a graduate student with a background in the field of economics interested in the areas of federal and state fiscal and regulatory policy.

The fellowship is named after one of the most influential thinkers in American history, and one of the leading proponents of accountable government – Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and third president of the United States of America.

Acknowledging that the American people and its economy can best thrive and prosper when the role of government is limited and subject to the scrutiny of taxpayers, the Center for Fiscal Accountability seeks to shed a light on government expenditures, and to promote the Jeffersonian principles of fiscal accountability, fiscal restraint and free-market principles. 

The Fellowship

The aim of the fellowship is to offer a graduate student the opportunity to work independently in the area of federal and state fiscal and regulatory policy and in collaboration with prominent experts and institutions in the field.The primary task during the fellow’s time is to work on CFA’s annual study, the “Cost of Government Day® Report.” Previously a project line of the Americans for Tax Reform Foundation, the annual study calculates the date of the calendar year, counting from January 1, on which the average American has earned enough in cumulative gross income to pay for his or her share of government spending (total federal, state, and local) plus the cost of regulation. It will be the role of the fellow to conduct the 2008 study and to further refine the methodology in order to provide the framework for an expansion of the study in future years.

Time permitting, the fellow will have the opportunity to work on one or more projects of his or her interest. These will be agreed upon with CFA executive director Sandra Fabry and must be compatible with the Center’s principles and objectives. Lastly, the fellow will have the opportunity to attend meetings and conferences dealing with federal and state fiscal and regulatory policy held in the Washington, DC area.

The fellowship takes place during the summer months and varies in duration from 3 to 6 months. Only one fellow is selected each session from a highly competitive field of candidates. The fellow receives a$2,000 stipend each month. In addition, the individual receives a one-time travel and housing stipend.

Required Background and Information on Applications 

 Please send via mail, email or fax the following:

• Your resume or curriculum vitae.
  
• A letter of recommendation from a member of your school or program’s faculty. Additional recommendations may be submitted but please limit them to just one other.
  
• A one page letter explaining your interest in this opportunity and why you should be selected for the Thomas Jefferson Fellowship.

Please send all information to:
 

Phone: 202-785-0266

Fax: 202-785-061

Email: sfabry@atr.org