PhD Project: Developing innovative mathematical methods for tax system optimization
Towards transparent and effective tax systems: a breakthrough in fiscal optimization
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.
ThecollectivebargainingagreementofDutchuniversitiesapplies.
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.
This is where you’ll be working
Education and research at UvA Economics and Business (EB) covers a wide range of fields that includes economics, data science, business administration, business analytics, accountancy, control, econometrics, finance and entrepreneurship. This is organised in 2 Schools: the Amsterdam Business School (ABS) and the Amsterdam School of Economics (ASE). Over 7,000 students are enrolled in our UvA Economics and Business programmes and around 500 employees provide education and support.
- Find more information about Economics and Business on uva.nl/eb.
- Find more information about the Amsterdam Business School on abs.uva.nl.
- Find more information about the Amsterdam School of Economics on ase.uva.nl.
The strengths of our section Business Analytics, lie in artificial intelligence, digital business, statistics and operations research. The section Business Analytics includes about 50 people; faculty members, teaching staff, PhD students and affiliated faculty. The Business Analytics section fosters a lively academic climate. We frequently organise academic seminars and reading groups and regularly invite external visitors. We equally value scientific value on the one hand and societal relevance and impact on the other hand.
Are you interested in academic research, and looking to make an impact on society? Do you enjoy to develop optimization methods to solve an important societal problem? Would you like to be part of a vibrant research community in Amsterdam, with the possibility for research visits at MIT and LBS? Then we have just the right position for you! The Amsterdam Business School is looking for a highly motivated PhD student who will develop optimization methods to optimize tax systems in the Netherlands, and in other countries.
PhD Project: Developing innovative mathematical methods for tax system optimization
Towards transparent and effective tax systems: a breakthrough in fiscal optimization
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.
ThecollectivebargainingagreementofDutchuniversitiesapplies.
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.
This is where you’ll be working
Education and research at UvA Economics and Business (EB) covers a wide range of fields that includes economics, data science, business administration, business analytics, accountancy, control, econometrics, finance and entrepreneurship. This is organised in 2 Schools: the Amsterdam Business School (ABS) and the Amsterdam School of Economics (ASE). Over 7,000 students are enrolled in our UvA Economics and Business programmes and around 500 employees provide education and support.
- Find more information about Economics and Business on uva.nl/eb.
- Find more information about the Amsterdam Business School on abs.uva.nl.
- Find more information about the Amsterdam School of Economics on ase.uva.nl.
The strengths of our section Business Analytics, lie in artificial intelligence, digital business, statistics and operations research. The section Business Analytics includes about 50 people; faculty members, teaching staff, PhD students and affiliated faculty. The Business Analytics section fosters a lively academic climate. We frequently organise academic seminars and reading groups and regularly invite external visitors. We equally value scientific value on the one hand and societal relevance and impact on the other hand.
Do you recognize yourself in the profile and are you interested in the position? We are curious to hear from you and look forward to receiving your cover letter and
resume.
For questions about the position please contact Dick den Hertog via D.denHertog@uva.nl
Also important:
- We would like to receive a cover letter and resume as a pdf file.
- The response period closes on 31 March, 2026. Applications that we receive after the response deadline, that are not sent through the link, or are not complete, we unfortunately cannot consider.
- The first round of interviews will take place in April or May 2026.
