For 50 years, Bridgewater has studied global markets and macroeconomics to answer one essential question: What drives the world economy, and how can we stay ahead of change? 

History shows that every economic turning point creates massive change — from the inflation shocks of the 1970s to the 2008 financial crisis. Today, we’re living through another such period with global implications: the rise of modern mercantilism.

In simple terms, modern mercantilism is a new era where countries are prioritizing national self-interest over global cooperation — reshoring industries, restricting trade, and competing over strategic technologies like AI. This disruption to globalization is triggering a massive realignment of supply chains, trade dynamics, and power structures.

To make sense of this transformation, we’re asking a few big questions: Who will win, who will fall behind, and why? That’s why Bridgewater and Global Citizen have teamed up to launch Forecasting the Future: A Modern Economics Challenge. 

We’re issuing a global call for predictions from anyone, anywhere. We’re seeking applicants with sharp thinking and a clear perspective to forecast which countries, sectors, and populations will be most impacted in the years to come.

Brilliant ideas can come from anywhere. And we want yours!

Your Submission
To participate in the Forecasting the Future: A Modern Economics Challenge, your entry must showcase original thinking, strong analytical rigor, and a clear vision for how modern mercantilism will reshape the global economy. Here's what to submit:

• Part 1: Your Forecasts — Lay out 20 or more precise forecasts and their probabilities related to the “modern mercantilism” theme. The forecasts should span a range of timeframes, from what will happen over the next year to what might happen over the next 10 years. 
• Part 2: Your Framework — This is the core of your framework: an executive level write-up that clearly synthesizes your most compelling forecasts. Focus on the major cause-and-effect relationships you believe will define the next economic era. Highlight which countries, sectors, or populations will be most affected and explain your reasoning.
• Part 3: Analytical Appendix (optional) — If you want to go deeper, you may include additional work to further substantiate your predictions and framework with supplementary reasoning, evidence, and analysis. How you use this section is up to you — you could further expand on your methodology, dive into modelling of specific regions or sectors, or explore counter scenarios.

Remember to cite every data source and explain how your tools informed your thinking.

Evaluation Criteria and Who Can Participate
We’re looking for submissions that demonstrate:

• Cause-and-effect rigor: Aligning with Bridgewater’s “timeless & universal” principles.
• Data originality: Creative or proprietary data sourcing will score higher.
• Policy relevance: Actionable insights that can influence decision-makers.
• Clarity of argument: Clear communication of your ideas and reasoning.
  

This challenge is open to thinkers, students, economists, data analysts, technologists — anyone with a sharp perspective and solid analysis. We encourage global participation.

Prizes & Pathways
The Top 100 submissions will receive a finalist review by senior investors at Bridgewater. The Top 5 will each be awarded $25,000, and may be considered for career opportunities at Bridgewater.

Why This Matters Now
This is your chance to shape the economic narrative of the next decade. Blake Cecil, Deputy CIO, at Bridgewater Associates underscores the importance of this moment: 

“For half a century, Bridgewater has worked to uncover timeless and universal investment principles — and to compound those insights in a systemized model of how economies and markets work. This means each of us can build on top of that shared understanding and focus on how the world is evolving. Now, we’re partnering with Global Citizen for a global call for predictions into how this new world order will redefine the macroeconomic landscape. We’re looking for brilliant independent thinkers who are obsessed with understanding how the world works — people who have the chops to take on complex problems and challenge the status quo. If that sounds like you, join us in Forecasting the Future: A Modern Economics Challenge”.

By forecasting the impacts of modern mercantilism, you can contribute to the global conversation and position yourself at the forefront of tomorrow's economic landscape. Don’t miss the opportunity to influence strategy, win $25K, and have your ideas heard by leading investors. Ready to map the future? Applications open May 20, and you can learn more here.