Government Economic Service (GES) Assessment Centre GES Recruitment Framework and Assessment Process Syllabus

What does STAR stand for in answering behaviour-based interview questions?

Situation, Task, Action, Result — a framework for structuring evidence-based examples of past behaviour.

How does a strengths-based interview differ from a behaviour-based one?

Strengths interviews use many short, rapid questions about what you enjoy and do naturally, expecting spontaneous authentic answers (not prepared examples), to assess motivation and energy rather than rehearsed competence.

List the Civil Service Behaviours most relevant to GES economist roles.

Common GES-relevant behaviours include: Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, and Changing and Improving (selected behaviours vary by role and grade).

What are the four core values of the Civil Service Code?

Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity, and Impartiality.

Define 'impartiality' as set out in the Civil Service Code.

Acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions — without allowing personal political views to determine advice or actions.

Define 'objectivity' under the Civil Service Code.

Basing advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence, and providing information and advice (including ministerial advice) on the basis of the evidence and accurately presenting the options and facts.

Why is impartiality especially important for a government economist?

Because economic advice must reflect the evidence and serve any government of the day; an economist must give honest, evidence-based analysis even when conclusions are politically inconvenient, preserving trust in the analysis.

How are competencies mapped to assessment exercises at the GES Assessment Centre?

Each Success Profile element is tested by a dedicated exercise: Technical/economics skills via the economics interview and written policy note; Behaviours via the behaviour-based interview; Strengths via the strengths interview; Ability via online tests — so evidence is triangulated across multiple exercises.

What standard of performance is expected at HEO / Fast Stream entry level for economists?

The ability to apply economic theory independently to real problems, produce clear written analysis with minimal supervision, communicate to non-specialists, and demonstrate sound judgement and professional integrity appropriate to an accredited entry-level economist.

How is the GES written exercise typically marked (scoring approach)?

Against a published competency/marking scheme: assessors score defined criteria (economic analysis, use of evidence, recommendation, communication) on a numeric scale, often anchored by descriptors, with scores combined into an overall standardised mark.

What is competency scoring in the Civil Service selection context?

Assessors rate evidence for each competency/behaviour against a fixed scale (e.g. 1–7) using anchored descriptors; scores across exercises are aggregated and candidates are ranked on a merit list for appointment.

What is the standard cost-benefit decision rule used in economic appraisal (and taught for GES policy work)?

Approve a policy/project if its Net Present Value is positive, i.e. $NPV = \sum_{t=0}^{T} \frac{B_t - C_t}{(1+r)^{t}} > 0$, where $B_t$ and $C_t$ are benefits and costs in year $t$ and $r$ is the discount rate.

State the Net Present Value (NPV) formula used in HM Treasury Green Book appraisal.

$$NPV = \sum_{t=0}^{T} \frac{B_t - C_t}{(1+r)^{t}}$$ where $B_t$ = benefits, $C_t$ = costs in period $t$, $r$ = social discount rate, and $T$ = appraisal horizon.

What is the Benefit–Cost Ratio (BCR) and how is it interpreted in appraisal?

$BCR = \frac{\text{PV of benefits}}{\text{PV of costs}}$. A project has positive net value when $BCR > 1$; the GES uses BCR to compare value-for-money across options.

What discount rate does the HM Treasury Green Book recommend for social cost-benefit analysis?

A standard social discount rate of $3.5\%$ per year for the first 30 years (declining thereafter for very long horizons), reflecting social time preference.

Define opportunity cost, a core concept tested in GES economics assessments.

The value of the next-best alternative forgone when a choice is made. It underpins economic appraisal: the true cost of using a resource is what it could have produced in its best alternative use.

What is the difference between microeconomics and macroeconomics as relevant to GES technical assessment?

Microeconomics studies individual agents, markets, prices and the allocation of resources; macroeconomics studies the whole economy — aggregate output (GDP), inflation, unemployment, fiscal and monetary policy.

Define market failure and name its main types (a frequent GES interview topic).

Market failure is when free markets fail to allocate resources efficiently. Main types: externalities, public goods, information asymmetries, and market power (monopoly). These justify government intervention.

What is the marginal decision rule that underlies most economic analysis?

Undertake an activity up to the point where marginal benefit equals marginal cost, i.e. $MB = MC$. Beyond this point additional units reduce net benefit.

In the GES economics interview, how should a candidate handle an unfamiliar policy question?

State assumptions clearly, choose an appropriate economic framework (e.g. supply/demand, market failure, cost-benefit), reason step by step toward a conclusion, acknowledge trade-offs and uncertainty, and give a justified recommendation rather than a single 'right' answer.

What is the role of the merit list in GES recruitment?

After scoring all exercises, candidates are ranked by aggregated competency scores; appointments are made strictly in merit order down the list as posts become available, ensuring selection 'on merit through fair and open competition'.

What does 'selection on merit through fair and open competition' mean for the GES?

It is the statutory Civil Service recruitment principle: appointments are based solely on a candidate's ability to do the job, assessed transparently and consistently against published criteria, with no favouritism or bias.

What is the difference between a direct-entry GES role and the Economist Fast Stream?

A direct-entry role is a permanent post in a specific department at a defined grade (e.g. HEO). The Fast Stream is an accelerated, rotational leadership development programme with structured postings and faster progression toward senior economist grades.

What is meant by 'cross-departmental deployment' for badged economists?

Because the GES badge is a Service-wide accreditation, an economist can move between government departments (e.g. Treasury, DWP, DfE) carrying their professional status with them, supporting flexible deployment where economic expertise is needed.

What are the key marking criteria of the behaviour-based interview?

Quality and relevance of the real example, evidence of the candidate's own actions (not the team's), demonstration of the targeted behaviour, and the outcome/impact — each scored against behaviour-level descriptors on the competency scale.

How are strengths scored at the GES Assessment Centre?

Assessors gauge authenticity, energy and consistency of responses across many rapid questions, judging how well the candidate's natural strengths align with the role's required strengths, contributing to the overall profile rather than a single STAR-style mark.

What is a key communication standard expected of GES economists in written exercises?

The ability to translate technical economic analysis into clear, concise, jargon-free advice that a non-economist minister or senior official can act on — leading with the recommendation and supporting it with evidence.

State the price elasticity of demand formula, a quantitative concept assessed in GES.

$$E_d = \frac{\%\,\Delta Q_d}{\%\,\Delta P} = \frac{\Delta Q_d / Q_d}{\Delta P / P}$$ Demand is elastic when $|E_d| > 1$ and inelastic when $|E_d| < 1$.

What is a Pigouvian tax and why is it relevant to GES policy economics?

A tax set equal to the marginal external cost of an activity, designed to correct a negative externality by internalising it: the optimal tax $t = MEC$ at the efficient output level, restoring allocative efficiency.

What evidence standards should a GES policy note meet?

Use relevant, accurate and appropriately referenced data; distinguish facts from assumptions; quantify impacts where possible; acknowledge uncertainty and sensitivity; and ensure conclusions follow logically from the evidence presented.

Summarise how the five Success Profile elements together determine a GES appointment.

A candidate's Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical (economics) evidence are each scored through dedicated exercises; the combined standardised scores place them on a merit list, and economics technical competence plus integrity/impartiality are essential to earn the GES badge and an offer.