A candidate in a Boston economic consulting office reviewing econometric data and competition economics charts for an Analysis Group interview

Analysis Group Case Interview: Process, Question Types, and How to Prepare (2026)

Analysis Group interviews are mostly behavioral with occasional economic consulting cases. Learn the two-round format, what AG actually tests, and how to prepare for Analyst and Associate roles.

Analysis Group's career page says they don't do case interviews. Dozens of Glassdoor reports say they absolutely do. The truth is somewhere in the middle—and being caught off guard by an economic consulting case in a "behavioral" interview is a fast way to lose an offer.

Here's what AG actually interviews look like, and how to prepare for every component.

What Analysis Group Is (and Why It Matters for Prep)

This distinction drives the interview. AG isn't looking for the same skills as McKinsey or BCG. They want:

  • Strong quantitative and econometric analysis ability
  • Deep research experience (thesis work, academic projects, prior internships)
  • Applied microeconomics knowledge (competition policy, pricing, game theory)
  • Ability to explain technical analysis clearly to lawyers and executives

If you've been preparing primarily for strategy consulting cases, you'll need to shift your approach for AG.

Interview Process: Two Rounds

Round 1: Virtual Behavioral (30 minutes)

One or two consultants. Almost entirely behavioral questions.

What they ask:

  • Walk me through a quantitative project you've worked on
  • Tell me about a time you worked with messy data and how you handled it
  • Describe a research paper or thesis you wrote—what was your methodology?
  • Why economic consulting over strategy consulting?
  • Why Analysis Group specifically?

What they're actually evaluating:

  • Whether you can speak precisely and technically about analytical work
  • Whether your quantitative experience is substantive (not just Excel-level)
  • Whether you understand what economic consultants do

Key preparation: Pick 2–3 research or analytical projects from your resume and prepare to discuss them at a technical level: What data did you use? What analytical method? What were the limitations? What did you find?

Round 2: Final Round (In-person or virtual, 2–3 hours)

For Analyst roles: 3–5 interviews with consultants at various levels, including behavioral, research discussion, and occasional case components.

For Associate roles: 4–8 meetings across partners and senior consultants.

Components you should prepare for:

  1. Behavioral deep dives (same as Round 1, but more senior interviewers)
  2. Research walk-through: You may be asked to discuss your most significant research project in depth—methodology, data, regression approach, findings, and limitations
  3. Case discussion (not always formal): A business or economic scenario presented as a discussion, not a structured case
  4. Micro-economics concepts: Some interviewers test basic microeconomics (supply/demand, elasticity, Nash equilibrium, game theory scenarios)

The AG Case: What Economic Consulting Cases Look Like

AG cases differ from standard consulting cases in three key ways:

DimensionStrategy Consulting CaseEconomic Consulting Case
StructureClient problem → framework → recommendationEconomic argument → evidence → conclusion
Quantitative emphasisMarket sizing, back-of-envelope mathRegression design, statistical significance, damages estimation
Knowledge requiredBusiness frameworksMicroeconomics, game theory, industrial organization
OutputStrategic recommendationExpert opinion / economic analysis

Sample AG Case Scenario

Case prompt (from Wall Street Oasis, 2025): "Two major US airlines want to merge. They've hired AG to analyze whether the merger will harm consumers. Walk me through how you'd approach this analysis."

Strong answer framework:

  1. Define the market: Which routes overlap? What's the geographic and product market definition? (Price, quality, alternatives)

  2. Competitive effects analysis:

    • Horizontal overlap: on overlapping routes, both carriers compete directly
    • Pricing effect: are these routes highly concentrated (HHI analysis)? Will removing one competitor cause fares to rise?
    • Coordinated effects: even on non-overlapping routes, will the merger facilitate tacit collusion?
  3. Efficiencies and consumer benefits:

    • Cost synergies from combined operations
    • Network effects: does the merger improve connectivity for travelers?
    • Are benefits large enough to offset competitive harm?
  4. Data and methodology:

    • Regression analysis of historical price effects at merging airports
    • Diversion ratio analysis (what % of passengers would switch to the other carrier vs. alternatives)
    • Upward Pricing Pressure (UPP) test
  5. Conclusion: AG would assess whether efficiencies outweigh anticompetitive effects and advise the client accordingly.

What Economics Knowledge to Review

Most AG candidates come from economics or quantitative backgrounds. Brush up on:

TopicWhy It Matters
Demand elasticityFoundation of pricing cases and consumer harm analysis
Nash equilibrium / game theoryCoordination effects in antitrust cases
HHI and market concentrationRequired for merger analysis
Regression analysis (OLS)Core methodology for most AG projects
Price discriminationComes up in antitrust and pricing strategy cases
Damages estimationCore deliverable in litigation support engagements

If you studied economics at undergrad level or above, most of this should be familiar. If not, a 20-hour review of Pindyck & Rubinfeld's "Microeconomics" covers the core concepts.

Comparison: AG vs. Other Economic Consulting Firms

FirmFocusCase Style
Analysis GroupAntitrust, litigation, financial analysisBehavioral + occasional case
Charles River Associates (CRA)Competition economics, regulation, litigationGuided case + behavioral
NERA Economic ConsultingFinance, antitrust, energyMix of behavioral and case
Cornerstone ResearchSecurities litigation, M&A damagesWritten case component heavy

See our Charles River Associates case interview guide for a detailed comparison with CRA's process.

Preparation Checklist

Checklist

Execution checklist

  • Prepare 3 quantitative project stories (STAR format with technical detail)

    AG evaluates research depth more than case skill—your stories are 60% of the interview

  • Review antitrust economics basics: HHI, market definition, pricing effects

    Economic cases at AG require vocabulary and concepts beyond standard business frameworks

  • Read AG's published reports and expert declarations

    Understand what the firm's work actually looks like; name specific cases or reports in your 'why AG' answer

  • Practice articulating statistical findings to non-technical audiences

    You'll often explain regression results to lawyers—clarity is as important as technical accuracy

  • Prepare a clear 'why AG vs. strategy consulting' narrative

    Every interviewer will ask; having a specific, research-motivated answer demonstrates genuine interest

Connecting to Broader Prep

AG interviews are less about case frameworks than most consulting interviews. Still, MECE thinking, structured problem decomposition, and case interview communication tips all apply to the economic case discussions.

For the behavioral component, review behavioral interview consulting and practice STAR-format stories specifically about quantitative and research projects.

Test Your Knowledge

Test yourself

Question 1 of 3

Which type of analysis is Analysis Group most commonly associated with?

Sources and Further Reading (checked March 25, 2026)

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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