Alan W. Heston Fellowship 2026 | Fully Funded Research Fellowship by ICP and the World Bank

Alan W. Heston Fellowship 2026 | Fully Funded Research Fellowship by ICP and the World Bank.

For Early-Career Researchers in Economic Measurement and International Comparisons

Fully Funded Research Fellowship by the International Comparison Program (ICP) and the World Bank

The Alan W. Heston Fellowship seeks to inspire and empower emerging scholars and practitioners to advance the field of economic measurement, with a particular focus on international comparisons of prices, real incomes, purchasing power parity (PPP) methods, and the data that underpins cross-country comparisons.

This fellowship honors the enduring legacy of Professor Alan W. Heston by supporting and cultivating the next generation of leaders in international economic statistics.

Programme Overview

About Alan W. Heston and His Legacy

Alan W. Heston (18 October 1934 – 25 October 2024) was a pioneering economist who, together with Irving Kravis and Robert Summers, helped establish the International Comparison Program (ICP). The project aimed to create a regular series of purchasing power parity-based comparisons of gross domestic product across countries.

Today, PPPs are widely recognized and extensively used in socioeconomic analysis to adjust for differences in price levels between economies and to equalize the purchasing power of currencies. Their primary purpose is to convert GDP and its components into a common currency, ensuring comparability by explicitly accounting for price level differences.

Professor Heston established a sound methodological foundation and an organizational framework for the ICP in its early years. He served as Chair of the Program’s Technical Advisory Group for the ICP 2005 cycle and remained an active member through the completion of the most recent 2021 cycle. Alongside his ICP work, he was instrumental in developing the Penn World Table, which has become an indispensable resource for economists, policymakers, and researchers worldwide.

In his memoir, Professor Heston shared that the most gratifying part of the ICP was witnessing a new generation of statisticians and researchers embrace the work with interest and enthusiasm. The Alan W. Heston Fellowship was established to carry forward this legacy.

Purpose of the Fellowship

The Alan W. Heston Fellowship aims to support and advance ongoing research or initiate new research projects focused on economic measurement in areas relevant to the ICP and international price level comparisons.

Fellows receive guidance from the ICP Global Office and the broader ICP community on data access, research methodology, and practical applications. They also have opportunities to publish their findings and share their experiences through the World Bank’s Data Blog and the World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series.

Research Priorities

The fellowship encourages research in the following priority areas:

• Advancing national and regional statistical applications and methodologies in relation to the ICP

• Developing new or improved data sources for price and quantity comparisons

• Improving understanding of global economic development and living standards through new or improved uses of PPPs

• Strengthening national and regional statistical frameworks and developing strategies for better user engagement and communication

• Undertaking research aligned with the current ICP research agenda, including alternative sources of data such as scanner data, web scraping, and satellite data, as well as ICP-CPI integration

Fellowship Experience

Duration

• 6 to 12 months

Mentorship and Guidance

• Receive guidance from the ICP Global Office and ICP community

• Access to data, research methodology support, and practical applications

Publication Opportunities

• Publish findings through the World Bank’s Data Blog

• Disseminate research through the World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series

Fellowship Deliverables

During the tenure of the fellowship, recipients are expected to deliver:

Intermediate Deliverables

• Summary of findings with updated budget table and timeline

• Meeting with the Fellowship Secretariat

Final Deliverables

• A draft intended for publication on the Data Blog

• A draft or final research paper and a brief plan for future publication

Compensation

The fellowship provides funding of up to USD 10,000 per recipient, covering a period of 6 to 12 months.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

Pathway 1: Early-Career Researchers

• Within 5 years after PhD completion, including post-doctoral fellows, assistant professors, and candidates currently in the PhD job market

• Fields of study: economics, economic statistics, policy studies, or related fields

Pathway 2: Statisticians

• Working at national or regional statistical organizations

• Conducting research to advance statistical practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in related research fields

• Focus on applying findings to improve national or regional statistical systems

Application Requirements

Interested applicants must submit the following documents through the online submission portal:

1. CV or Resume

2. Cover Letter (Maximum 500 words)

   • Outlining research interests and alignment with the fellowship’s goals

3. Project Proposal (Maximum 1,500 words, excluding annex)

   • Must include: Objectives, Proposed Methodology, Expected Impact, Timeline, Budget Table, and Deliverables

4. Pre-approval Letter (if applicable)

   • For applicants currently employed by a government agency: documentation confirming eligibility to receive the fellowship

5. Two Reference Contacts

   • Name, institution, job title, and email address for each reference

Application Timeline

How to Submit

Complete your application and upload all supporting materials through the online submission portal. Ensure all documents are prepared according to the specified guidelines before beginning the submission process.

About the International Comparison Program (ICP)

The International Comparison Program is a global statistical partnership that collects comparative price data and composes detailed GDP expenditure estimates to calculate purchasing power parities for participating economies. The ICP is housed within the World Bank and works with regional and national agencies to produce internationally comparable price and volume measures.

Contact Information

For questions about the Alan W. Heston Fellowship, refer to the official ICP website or contact the Fellowship Secretariat through the World Bank’s ICP office.

Final Tips for Applicants

• Start your application early. The deadline is firm.

• Ensure your research proposal clearly aligns with the fellowship’s research priorities.

• Demonstrate how your work connects to international comparisons and economic measurement.

• Prepare a realistic budget table that shows how the USD 10,000 will be used.

• If you are a government employee, secure your pre-approval letter well in advance.

• Choose references who can speak to your research abilities and potential.

• Proofread all materials before submission.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Alan W. Heston Fellowship

Good luck with your application

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