Martin Miklos

What first attracted you to the IFS?

I was drawn to the IFS by the unique combination of being able to conduct rigorous academic research while directly informing public policy decisions. Its global reputation for producing high-quality, impactful work made the IFS especially attractive. The opportunity to pursue a part-time PhD alongside my role is also very appealing and something I am still considering doing. 

Which projects are you working on at the moment?

I have a diverse portfolio of projects, but most of my work centres on supporting finance ministries and revenue authorities in developing countries with tax policymaking as part of the TaxDev programme. At the moment, I am finalising a paper reviewing the distributional impacts of tax and benefit policies in Africa as well as another one comparing tax-benefit microsimulation tools for developing countries. I also work on tax-benefit policy in the UK and am currently evaluating a proposed reform of contributory unemployment benefits. In addition, I am involved in a project that focuses on accelerating climate action at finance ministries around the world.

What kind of things do you do during a typical day at work?

Each day can be quite different, depending on the project I am focusing on. I often spend a lot of time working with data in Stata, and then translating complex databases into interactive Excel calculators for our government partners. At other times, I focus on reading and engaging with relevant academic and policy literature to inform our work. Drafting papers and reports is another key aspect of the job, alongside discussing findings with colleagues or government partners.

What do you particularly enjoy about the job?

What I value most is the tangible impact of our work—whether it’s helping inform tax policy in developing countries or contributing to policy debates in the UK. I learn a lot during the process, which is highly motivating. I also enjoy the independence to drive forward my own projects and the pace of work, with a more longer-term focus.

How has your career progressed so far?

My path at the IFS has been somewhat atypical for a Research Economist. I spent 5 years working on tax policy at the Ministry of Finance in Slovakia before joining the IFS. I came here specifically to apply that experience to tax policymaking in developing countries. However, since then, I have become increasingly involved in other areas of UK policy and have the opportunity to drive my own projects.

What have you learned from working here?

I’ve gained an in-depth understanding of UK fiscal policy as well as the economic and political contexts of developing countries with their diverse set of challenges and opportunities. Through seminars, workshops, and day-to-day interactions, I’ve been able to learn from leading researchers and stay connected with the latest academic research, which continually informs and enhances my own work.

How would you describe the working environment?

The IFS places a strong emphasis on rigour and the quality of work, which creates an environment where you are constantly motivated to push yourself and deliver your best. At the same time, it is an extremely supportive workplace—colleagues are always willing to share advice or lend a hand. Being surrounded by such smart and dedicated people is inspiring, and the collaborative culture makes it a very rewarding place to work. The new office is just the cherry on top of an already great working environment.