Young Economist Prize for PhD Students in Economics and Finance – Innovation, Growth, and Stability European Central Bank in Germany

The European Central Bank (ECB) invites applications for the 2026 Young Economist Prize, a prestigious research competition for PhD students in economics and finance. This annual prize recognizes outstanding research and innovative thinking on topics relevant to central banking and the euro area economy. The 2026 theme is “shaping Europe’s future: innovation, growth and stability,” and eligible PhD students are encouraged to submit papers addressing topics such as the tokenisation of financial assets, prudential cycles and their implications for financial stability, accelerating growth in the EU, the role of innovation versus diffusion, migration and its impact on productivity, artificial intelligence in finance, and Europe’s position in the global trade landscape. Papers on other central banking topics, including monetary policy, economic and monetary union, financial system functioning, and banking regulation, are also welcome.

Finalists will be invited to the ECB Forum on Central Banking in Sintra, Portugal, from 29 June to 1 July 2026, where they will present their research to policymakers, top academics, and market economists. The overall winner will receive a €10,000 prize, and all finalists’ papers will be published on the ECB website. The selection process evaluates innovative thinking, scientific merit, policy relevance, and pertinence to the Forum theme. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a PhD programme in economics or finance, not employed by the ECB or a national central bank of the European System of Central Banks, and must not have previously attended the Forum as a finalist.

To apply, candidates must submit a CV and research paper, and arrange for their supervisor to send a recommendation letter to [email protected] by 2 March 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for emerging scholars to share their research, network with leading figures in central banking, and gain recognition for their work on critical economic and financial issues.