Bridgewater Associates, the hedge fund founded by billionaire Ray Dalio, has selected five finalists from four continents for a talent program that offers $25,000 awards and a potential job, the hedge fund said in a video seen by Reuters.
The "Forecasting the Future" program, run with advocacy group Global Citizen, asked entrants worldwide to predict how a protectionist, nationalist turn in trade could reshape the global economy.
Bridgewater, a macro hedge fund that invests across asset classes and countries, has long leaned on economic research to inform its bets.
"To get things right, we have to make sure that the best ideas win, no matter who has them or where they come from," Chief Executive Nir Bar Dea said in the video.
The contest comes as the Trump administration expands its use of tariffs, with a major wave in April, as leverage in talks with trading partners including China, India and Brazil.
Top submissions came from India, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil and Nigeria.
Finalists will now be considered for internships or full-time roles, an unusually open route at a firm where hiring is typically handled by headhunters or referrals.
Hedge funds generally hire sporadically and put candidates through multiple screenings, interviews and assessments.
Bridgewater had $92.1 billion in assets under management as of March 2025.
