Empower young scholars as they rise to the challenges of our time.
But neither their curricula nor their institutions are equipped to support them on that path.
This is where YSI comes in.
thinking
Conformist, competitive, method-centric.
Promotes the detached observer over the engaged citizen. Little interdisciplinary work.
Creative,cooperative,question-driven.Rooted inservicetosocietyanddrivenbyengaged, transdisciplinarythinkers.
Lack of support for innovative work
Many scholars, especially in under-resourced regions, work in isolation without access to networks, mentorship, or funding.
Mini-grantsfuel200+member-ledprojectseach year—onreal-worldchallenges,withINET’s seniorscholarsandglobalallies.
Disconnected institutions.
Efforts remain fragmented, with little structure for follow-up, synthesis, or sustained collaboration.
Structuretobringlearningstogether
Acustomdigitalplatformpoolslearnings, nurturescommunity,anddrivesforwarda sharedagendaforchange.
We envision economic thinking that is free of intellectual barriers, resonates with reality, and serves our global society.
Rob Johnson (President of INET) at the YSI Plenary in Budapest, 2016:
“These people are setting an example of a community that can stay alive for a very long time.
I hope that 20 years from now, YSI is an enormous organization, a significant share of the population of people aspiring to be economists, in favor of dynamism and flexibility; all the things economists prescribe for the world, when they run their own profession like a politburo.”
In 2016, YSI had 2000 members. Today, we are 25,000 members strong.
Our community of 25k members organized 190 projects in 2024.
Partners & Volunteers
Projects are member-organized, collaboration with partners and s scholars who care.
Innovative Tech
To manage 100’s of globally dist events and processes efficiently Lean Team: Cross-functional skills and exper global programming.
Members turn into alumni who continue to work on global challenges at increasing levels of influence. Once established, they come to serve as mentors and provide new pathways for next cohort.
who become mentors
who become mentors who becomementors
Cecilia joined us in 2018. had limited access to the In YSI, her working group agenda on the political ec hundreds of young scholar She became the head of re Innovation and Public Pu London, founded by Maria Today she is a leading voi publishing widely and advi
Her department has h →
Receive:
seat on the steering committee, with the opportunity to set 2-3 annual priorities
bi-annual reporting
Support goes to:
core programming (50%)
flagship programming (25%)
key operations and wages (25%)
Commitment:
$1M/year for 3 years
Receive:
seat on the steering committee, with the opportunity to set 2-3 annual priorities
bi-annual reporting
Support goes to:
core programming flagship programming key operations and wages
Commitment:
$100-500k/yr for 3 years
May use a matching arrangement
Receive: opportunity to set thematic direction and key partners for the project.
Support goes to: a specific project
Commitment:
$20-500k
Program costs
> Core programming
> Flagship Conferences
Overhead, platform, and ops
Boost our impact for 2026+ Your gift would be transformative. with a gift of $1M USD $900,000 $300,000 $500,000 $1.75M
Total
We face growing demand, but lack the resources to meet it.
With the right partner, we can meet the demand. And continue to grow our impact.
We’ve built a strong, growing, and resilient community of global thinkers.
With this foundation in place, there is a unique opportunity to shape and evolve the trajectory of the community.
Partner with us to develop:
New thematic areas (energy, AI, migration, etc)
New formats (summer schools, policy workshops, publications)
New collaborations (NGOs, ministries, corporations, etc)
Join us to support the next generation of economic thinkers.
And watch them change the world.
Thank you.
Based in different parts of the world, each team member brings a wide range of skills and knowledge.
rategy Grants
Operations Community
Finance Ministry of Saarland
