Economist (Data Scientist) at Grab

Get to Know the Team We are the architects of the marketplace economy. We design the blueprints, incentives, and clearing mechanisms that power the platform. We combine rigorous economic theory with data science to solve the fundamental coordination problems of the on-demand economy—balancing supply, demand, and price in real-time. We do not just analyze the market; we shape it. We foster a culture where you have the freedom to explore. We balance the optimization of our current systems with a goal of tackling the open-ended, foundational questions to define the next horizon of our growth. We want to leave a lasting impact on the ecosystem of drivers, merchants, and passengers who rely on our equilibrium every day. Get to Know the Role We are looking for an Economist who can operate at the intersection of causal science and commercial strategy. You will be the bridge between theoretical rigor and real-world application. This role will report to Lead Economist (Data Scientist), Marketplace Strategy. You will go beyond standard A/B testing to "decode" the complex behaviors of our ecosystem. You will identify the hidden tradeoffs in every decision and mapping the second- and third-order consequences of our algorithms. Whether you are redesigning pricing principles or modeling labor supply elasticity, your work will provide the definitive "so what?" that guides our product roadmap and investment strategy The Critical Tasks You Will Perform • Architect Marketplace Mechanisms: You will own the economic logic for main pillars of our platform (Supply, Growth, Pricing, or Dispatch). You will design the incentives and clearing mechanisms that keep our marketplace healthy and efficient. • Decode Economic Behavior: You will build models to understand why users and partners make the choices they do. Your insights will move us beyond treating users as metrics, helping us build a more engaging, human-centric marketplace. • Be the Authority on Causal Truth: You will apply quasi-experimental methods and structural modeling to safeguard the business from mistaking correlation for causation. You will ensure our biggest bets are backed by rigorous evidence rather than coincidence. • Solve Big, Ambiguous Questions: You will help build the research agenda for the "unknowns" of our marketplace. You will investigate foundational topics—like long-run market dynamics, system efficiency frontiers, and partner choice architecture—to shape our multi-year vision. • Simplify Strategy: You will distill immense complexity into clear, applicable mental models. You will partner with senior leadership to cut through the noise, helping them define the true goals and principles of the business.