YES Young Economist Incubator Program

4001-699-686

Authoritative Recognition

Officially organized by the Yale Entrepreneurial Society (YES).

Yale Mentorship

Led by an elite committee of Yale mentors who host in-depth discussions on diverse economic topics.

Academic Heritage

Built upon YES’s signature Incubator program at Yale University, bringing a world-class economic challenge to Asia.

Frontier Topics

Focuses on the most pressing global economic issues and encourages students to propose innovative and feasible solutions.

Academic & Practical

Blends theoretical insights with realworld business scenarios, fostering interdisciplinary thinking and multidimensional analysis.

Official Certification

Participation and award certificates are issued by
the Yale Entrepreneurial Society.
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    13 Years of Legacy

    A core component of the World Youth Economic Forum
    (WYEF) since 2012.

    About the Organizer

    Founded in 1999, the Yale Entrepreneurial Society (YES) is an officially recognized student organization at Yale University and one of its largest and most influential associations. YES is dedicated to connecting global leaders in finance, innovation, and entrepreneurship, empowering future business talents through a wide range of resources, mentorship, and experiential opportunities

    Yale University has long been recognized for its excellence in financial intelligence and economics education. The Yale Department of Economics ranks 5th in the 2025 U.S. News Best Universities ranking, renowned for its rigorous theoretical foundations and pioneering empirical research. Nobel Laureate Professor Robert J. Shiller, awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his empirical analysis of asset prices and behavioral finance, exemplifies Yale’s distinctive tradition of combining theory with practice.

    According to the PitchBook 2024 report, which evaluates universities based on the number of entrepreneurs, startups founded by graduates, and total capital raised, Yale ranks among the Top 15 universities globally for producing successful entrepreneurs. Its distinguished alumni include Joseph Tsai (Co-founder of Alibaba Group), Neil Shen (Founding Partner of Sequoia Capital China), Anne Wojcicki (Founder and CEO of 23andMe), and Stephen A. Schwarzman (Co-founder and CEO of The Blackstone Group).

    As an integral part of Yale’s innovation ecosystem, YES brings together more than 580 members from worldleading institutions such as Yale, Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, and Fudan University. Through training programs, lectures, competitions, workshops, and real-world projects, YES provides a comprehensive platform for learning and collaboration. The Society has successfully incubated several notable startups, including Prepared (backed by First Round Capital) and Craniometrix (supported by Y Combinator).

    Building on Yale’s prestigious incubation tradition, the YES Young Economist Incubator Program inherits YES’s academic spirit and global perspective, providing students passionate about economics with an advanced international platform to explore, innovate, and lead. （website：https://www.yesatyale.org/incubator）

    Project Overview

    The YES Yale Young Economist Incubator Program, organized by the Yale Entrepreneurial Society (YES), is designed to provide students passionate about economics with a platform to apply their economic knowledge to real-world social and business contexts — helping them identify problems and develop practical, innovative solutions.

    Led by distinguished YES senior members from Yale, the Challenge explores pressing global economic issues through lenses such as micro and macroeconomics, policy and development economics, behavioral economics, game theory, and data modeling. Participants will integrate theoretical knowledge with empirical research and field investigation in interactive innovation workshops, identifying real-world challenges and presenting feasible, impactful solutions that combine insight with execution.

    The program features a series of immersive and intellectually rigorous sessions, blending academic inquiry with hands-on application. Students will strengthen their ability to interpret and apply economic theories, conduct research and data analysis, and engage in critical reasoning around contemporary economic topics. Through presentation and research showcases, participants will also develop public speaking, analytical, and problem-solving skills, while expanding their professional networks among elite peers and mentors from the global finance and economics community.

    2025: The Intelligent Revolution: Reshaping the Workforce for a New Era

    Challenge Rules

    Recommended Grade Levels: Grades 9-12
    Format: Through thematic sessions of the Yale Economist Incubator Bootcamp, students explore current economic issues and, under mentor guidance, apply their knowledge to developing innovative solutions, culminating in a team presentation.
    Participation: Individual （*As participants come from different countries, to ensure fairness and promote cross-cultural exchange, around 5-7 students/group.）
    Language: English

    Step 1

    Participate in the Yale Economist Incubator Bootcamp

    • Global Hotspot Bootcamp:
      Focuses on pressing global issues, where mentors guide students to think about how economics can help solve social problems from a macro perspective.
    • Economic Case Bootcamp:
      Through real-world economic cases, mentors lead students to uncover the hidden economics in everyday life, teaching them to think through economic perspectives.The bootcamp also includes an Economic Decoding Challenge, allowing students to apply theory in practice.
    • Research & Presentation Bootcamp:
      Mentors introduce cutting-edge economic methodologies and teach how to gather information to validate hypotheses, as well as how to deliver impactful presentations to enhance logical organization and academic expression.

    Past Bootcamp Themes (Selected):

    AI & Technology

    • Economic Late-Mover Advantages in the AI Era: How to Leverage Technological Transformation to Drive Economic Growth.
    • The Matrix or Global Harmony: What Future Awaits Humanity in an AI-driven World?

    Media & Economics

    • Systematic Analysis of Wealth Gaps in Global Markets: How to Use Social Media to Voice the Times
    • Media at Our Fingertips: Are Competing Ideologies of Progress Forming A New World Order?

    International Economics

    • Game Theory and Global Strategy: How Analyzing Strategy Games Can Inform Theoretical International Relations
    • Exploration and Reflection on Multinational Diplomatic Relations and International Politics

    Mathematical Economics

    • The Science of Prediction: Using Cutting-Edge Quantitative and Qualitative Data to Predict Outcomes Across Economic Sectors

    Education & Economics

    • How Technological Innovation Shines in the Education Sector
    • Will Education Remain Society's "Equalizer"?

    Green Economy

    • How Renewable Energy Impacts Economic Activities
    • Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Green Tech

    Behavioral Economics

    • Using Field Experiments to Change the World: How Can Field Experiments Within Companies Drive Social and Economic Change?
    • Fixing Real Problems with Realer Solutions: Public Policy and Behavioral Insights

    Step 2

    Global Challenge Spotlight

    After exploring global issues and economic case studies through the bootcamp, select a topic of interest for further exploration and research.

    Step 3

    Solution Sprint

    Based on the selected global issue, conduct a brainstorming session to generate creative solutions. Propose a series of potential solutions or hypotheses addressing the problem. Teams will conduct preliminary evaluations and present their core ideas to mentors, who will provide feedback to help refine the final proposal.

    Step 4

    Impact Experiment Lab

    Under mentor guidance, teams continue in-depth research on the economic issue, validating their solutions or hypotheses through qualitative or quantitative analysis to determine the feasibility of the final solution.

    Step 5

    Final Pitch Ignite

    Building on previous stages,students polish a comprehensive report. Students act like a true economist and policymaker, prepare a wellstructured presentation and deliver a 15-minute team pitch to an expert judging panel, showcasing research findings and responding to questions. This step will help hone exceptional public speaking and communication skills. Mentors will evaluate teams based on originality, content comprehensiveness, organization and logic, solution validity and argumentation, and presentation delivery.

    Award Setting

    Final Pitch Ignite Awards:

    • Top 5% Gold Award
    • Top 10% Silver Award
    • Top 40% Bronze Award
    • Top 60% Commendation
    • Best Presenter Award: 1-2 winners will be selected from each group.

    *Students who have successfully completed the full program and finish final pitch will receive a Certificate of Participation issued by the Yale Entrepreneurial Society (YES). Award winners will receive ASDAN Entrepreneurial Award certificate, accredited by the UK Department for Education.

    Agenda & Featured Activities

    2026.7.29-8.3

    Shanghai, China

    9-12

    English

    Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
    Morning • Opening Ceremony - Keynote Speech
    • Conference Rules Procedures    		 • Global Hotspot Bootcamp • Impact Experiment Lab • Final Pitch Ignite • Departure
    Afternoon • Check-in • Economic Case Bootcamp • Solution Sprint
    • Research & Presentation Bootcamp    		 • Final Pitch
    • Preparation & Revision with Chair Feedback    		 • Closing & Award Ceremony
    Evening • Ivy League Unlocked • Social Night • Talent Show

    *The above schedule is subject to change.

    Ivy League Unlocked

    Engage face-to-face with Ivy League alumni to unlock exclusive insights on top-tier university admissions.

    Day2

    Social Night

    Take the spotlight to showcase diverse talents and deliver a spectacular cross-cultural audiovisual experience.

    Day3

    Talent Show

    Dance with global peers to elegant melodies, forge friendships through interaction, and refine your international social etiquette.

    Day4

    Past Chair Lineup

    Past Themes of WYEF

    The Young Economist Incubator Program has always been an integral part of the World Youth Economic Forum. Each year, YES collaborates with WYEF organizer ASEEDER to explore trending economic topics of the year. These topics are then established as the central themes of the forum and serve as the guiding framework for all committees.

    Student Voices

    These issues may seem like just daily news to many of us, but they are actually real events happening in our world right now, affecting every one of us. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to explore trending global economic issues and hear voices from different regions and cultures. Stepping out of my comfort zone to confront these topics closely related to human social development and our own lives, I've learned to think critically and take responsibility, gradually growing into a global citizen rooted locally but with a planetary perspective. To make a voice and you can change the world.

    —— 2017 Participant

    I met many talented and interesting people, including a global top-50 debater and a social media influencer with millions of followers. Don't miss this rare opportunity to exchange—you can discuss academics with fellow participants and seek advice from mentors. Seize every opportunity. I described this experience in my applications and ultimately received an offer from the University of Toronto.

    ——— 2019 Participant

    This activity was completely new and unfamiliar territory for me. I had no prior training, had never participated in similar activities, and didn't even understand the procedures or rules. The mentors provided in-depth analysis of current economic situations through case studies, extending to many more topics—all of which left me amazed and inspired. With feedback and guidance from the chairs, I revised and polished my work, ultimately completing the challenge. Although I didn't win an award, I gained so much and saw the direction for my future efforts.

    ——— 2018 Participant

    This activity allowed me to systematically learn a great deal of "portable" economics knowledge. This content is not just an extension of textbook learning, but a key to understanding the era we live in. I'm grateful for this experience—it taught me not only knowledge, but also how to analyze real-world issues through an economic lens.

    ——— 2024 Participant

    Information

    Date: 2026.7.29-8.3

    Recommended Grade Levels: Grades 9-12

    Language: English

    Location：Shanghai, China

    Contact us:info.asia@seedasdan.org”