Youthonomics is SANEM’s flagship youth engagement initiative, built on the belief that economics is not just for economists- it is a part of everyday life, shaping opportunities, livelihoods, and futures. Designed to make economic thinking accessible, relevant, and engaging, Youthonomics bridges the gap between complex economic ideas and the lived realities of young people across disciplines.

Why Youthonomics

Young people in Bangladesh are not merely future stakeholders; they are already navigating profound macroeconomic challenges. High inflation continues to erode purchasing power, job markets remain tight despite rising aspirations, and persistent skills mismatches limit opportunities even for educated youth. These realities make youth perspectives indispensable for understanding economic problems and crafting innovative, inclusive solutions.

At SANEM, youth have long been at the centre of research and policy engagement. A significant portion of SANEM’s work focuses on youth-related issues, ensuring that research evidence informs youth-centred policies. Youthonomics emerged from this foundation recognising that economic literacy, dialogue, and storytelling are essential tools for empowering young people to engage meaningfully with policy and public discourse.

From Essay Competition to National Platform

Youthonomics was originally launched in 2019 as a monthly essay competition aimed at encouraging young people to think critically about economic issues. Over time, the initiative evolved in response to growing interest and changing needs. By 2025, Youthonomics had transformed into a multi-disciplinary youth engagement platform one that listens first, then amplifies youth voices.

Through a series of university outreach sessions, SANEM engaged hundreds of students from both public and private universities, including North South University, Southeast University, Jagannath University, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, and the University of Dhaka. Students from diverse academic backgrounds actively participated, demonstrating that economics resonates far beyond traditional academic boundaries.

The strong response and collaboration requests from multiple institutions signalled Youthonomics’ potential as a scalable, national platform for youth engagement in economic dialogue.

What Youthonomics Offers

Youthonomics combines learning, dialogue, and creative engagement to make economics approachable and actionable. Key areas of engagement include:

Thoughtful Dialogue: Roundtables, discussions, and debates on pressing socioeconomic issues, providing space for young people to share perspectives and gain recognition for their ideas. Learning from Experts: Direct interaction with economists, researchers, and policymakers, offering insights into economic research, policymaking, and real-world applications. Competitions and Creative Engagement: Essay writing, case studies, and other creative formats that allow participants to apply economic thinking and showcase innovative ideas.

Youthonomics and SANEM’s Vision

Youthonomics is grounded in SANEM’s broader mission to foster economic development and social progress through rigorous research, policy advocacy, and capacity building. While SANEM bridges economic theory with practical policy solutions, Youthonomics focuses on empowering young people as communicators, thinkers, and future leaders.

The initiative recognises young professionals and students as catalysts for change equipping them with the tools to critically analyse economic issues, communicate evidence effectively, and contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic narratives.

Building Future Leaders and Campus Communities

Building on its growing momentum, SANEM plans to expand Youthonomics further in 2026 through two key pathways:

Future Leaders Programme:

A one-year intensive programme open to students in their fourth year and above, across all disciplines. Led by SANEM experts, the programme emphasises hands-on experience through research projects, programme initiatives, and communications work, while ensuring a diverse and gender-balanced cohort.

Campus Ambassadors Programme:

A nationwide initiative to appoint student ambassadors across universities in Bangladesh, with a focus on engaging first- and second-year students and fostering campus-based communities passionate about economic literacy and dialogue.

Looking Ahead

Youthonomics is envisioned as a long-term investment in Bangladesh’s policy and research ecosystem. By expanding beyond Dhaka and deepening engagement across campuses, the initiative aims to create sustained pathways for youth participation in research, policy communication, and evidence-based dialogue.

At its core, Youthonomics reflects SANEM’s belief that inclusive growth and sustainable development require informed, engaged, and empowered young people because economics is not just about numbers, but about lives, choices, and futures.