项目介绍

2026年2月19日

Tax systems in developed economies have evolved into intricate frameworks where dozens of rules and exceptions interact in complex ways. What began as legitimate reforms, aimed at redistribution, labour market incentives, or support for vulnerable groups, has resulted in opaque tax codes where even minor adjustments can trigger unpredictable consequences. 

Policymakers and civil servants grapple with fundamental questions: What are the real effects of a new tax rate? What unintended incentives are we creating? And how can we design reforms that are both equitable and economically efficient?

TaxSolver, an innovative optimization tool developed by the Dutch Ministry of Finance, offers a new approach: designing optimal tax systems based on clearly defined policy objectives and constraints. However, the current version faces limitations in computational power and methodology.

This project will push those boundaries.

We tackle the biggest challenges: scaling up to national datasets, generating diverse reform scenarios, integrating deductibles and behavioural effects, multi-year reform planning, and joint optimization of rates and brackets. By deploying advanced techniques, from problem decomposition to robust optimization and constraint learning, we will transform TaxSolver into a powerful instrument for evidence-based policymaking.

The impact extends far beyond the Netherlands.

In collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Finance, the UK Tax Authority, and the World Bank’s tax development team, we are working on solutions applicable in both developed and developing countries. The result? A breakthrough in how governments worldwide can design tax reforms that are both politically feasible and socially effective, grounded in data, optimization, and science, not intuition alone.

This is what you will be doing

You will be appointed by the Amsterdam Business School and your main task is to pursue and complete a PhD thesis within the appointed duration of four years. 

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Follow PhD level coursework;
• Actively collaborate with the researchers from Amsterdam Business School and the Dutch Ministry of Finance;
• Present research findings at international conferences;
• Submit your work to prestigious management science journals;
• Assist in teaching activities, such as tutorials and MSc thesis supervision.

This is what we ask of you

Formal requirements:

• Masters’ degree in Business Analytics, Econometrics, Mathematics, with a thorough background in Optimization.

Task-related requirements:

• Strong motivation and interest in the field of Optimization;
• Demonstrated expertise in programming with Python;
• Excellent speaking and writing ability in English, ideally with some experience in academic writing;
• Strong interpersonal skills to communicate and collaborate with the Ministry of Finance.

Additional requirements:

• Strong motivation to pursue an international career as a leading scholar;
• Ability to balance academic contributions, managerial relevance, and scientific integrity;
• Intellectual curiosity, eagerness to learn, and openness to feedback;
• An affinity for or interest in economics and/or taxation is a plus.

This is what we offer you

• A role in which your own initiative and input is strongly valued;
• An expert supervisory team with experience in supervising PhD students and publishing in top tier journals;
• A truly international context and participation in a project with high academic and societal impact;
• The possibility for a longer research visit to the topschools MIT and LBS;
• An enthusiastic, welcoming, and supportive department of faculty and PhD students;
• A vibrant, international work environment in the centre of Amsterdam.

We offer full-time employment for the period of 4 years with a probationary period of 18 months, preferably starting from 1 September 2026 (in total, the contract will be for four years, fully funded). 

The UFO profile ‘Promovendus’ (PhD student) applies to this position. This position is classified in scale PR. This means a gross monthly salary between € 3,059 and € 3,881 for full-time employment (38 hours per week), excluding holiday allowance (8%) and year-end bonus (8.3%). The salary scale depends on competences and work experience.

The collective bargaining agreement of Dutch universitiesapplies.

The UvA has an extensive package of fringe benefits, including:

• 29 days’ holiday with full employment & extra holidays between Christmas and the New Year;
• Excellent work (from home) facilities;
• Reimbursement of commuting expenses;
• Pension accrual with ABP;
• In addition, the UvA offers excellent study and development opportunities and encourages employees to continue their professional development;
• You may participate in the open UvA lectures with which you can earn up to 30 credits per year.