Bridgewater Associates has chosen five finalists from five countries for its “Forecasting the Future” talent initiative, offering $25,000 awards and potential employment opportunities at the $92bn macro hedge fund, according to a report by Reuters.

The programme, run in partnership with advocacy group Global Citizen, invited entrants worldwide to predict how rising protectionism and nationalist trade policies could reshape the global economy. Top submissions came from India, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, and Nigeria.

Finalists will now be considered for internships or full-time roles, offering an unusually open entry route at a firm traditionally reliant on headhunters and referrals. The initiative underscores the growing importance of economic research and macro insights in hedge fund hiring, particularly at firms that invest across asset classes and geographies.

The programme comes amid an expansion of global trade tensions, including recent tariff actions by the US, reflecting Bridgewater’s focus on understanding and capitalising on macroeconomic trends.