38^th International Master Thesis
Competition in Economics and Finance

Inscriptions until December 31^st, 2026

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: RETHINKING RISK, VALUE, AND PERFORMANCE

Faced with a world marked by conflict, a protracted war on the European Union’s borders, and a shift in the global balance of power, Europe must, now more than ever, invest in the future: artificial intelligence, control over its data, energy and industrial challenges, securing its supply chains, developing independent and competitive technology, and pursuing the ecological transition without compromising its agriculture—which must ensure food self-sufficiency—are the challenges of today and tomorrow. To address these challenges, an effective financial system that channels savings toward the needs of tomorrow and enables the continuation and adaptation of a protective social model is essential.

With a focus on these topics, the jury of the 38th Competition will award prizes to the best theses (Master’s 1 and 2) in Economics and Finance, written in French or English, that explore one of the following themes in depth and lead to concrete proposals:

• The role and position of states and international organizations in a rapidly changing geopolitical and commercial landscape
• The burden and management of debt, approaches to inflation, financial stability, and the role of currencies; electronic currencies and new payment methods
• Risk assessment and management by banks, insurance companies, and asset managers; new forms of credit; and the mobilization of long-term savings
• Financing infrastructure and strategic priorities (reindustrialization, defense, energy, water, raw materials, technology); managing climate and ecological transitions in the face of constraints
• Funding for research and innovation and the challenges related to sovereignty, competitiveness, and productivity
• AI, data management, cybersecurity
• Public services and their financing (health care, long-term care, education, training, unemployment, retirement, etc.); demographic imperatives
• New ways of working and employment, the role of people
• Management of territories, living areas, and their priorities; transportation, security, sports, and culture
• The implications of taxation and legal certainty; areas of sovereignty
• Challenges related to regulatory and accounting standardization; the implementation of non-financial accounting and ESG

With this in mind, we invite all first- and second-year master’s students whose thesis topic aligns with one or more of these suggestions and takes a forward-looking approach to submit their applications to the 38th International Thesis Competition in Economics and Finance, for which registration will open in September.

The partners of the Competition

The schools and universities that participated

in the previous edition (37CIMEF)