Stellenbosch wins big at Young Economist Competition 2025

The Young Economist competition hosted its 21st annual event on the 22nd of October. Students from three Western Cape Universities (SU, UCT and UWC) competed for the title of Young Economist 2025. Students were required to forecast eight economic indicators and provide a short motivation  explaining the rationale behind their forecasts.  A total of 158 students participated in the forecasting challenge with Stellenbosch University leading the pack with 81 students in total enrolled in the competition. Students who placed in the top ten were invited to the prize-giving event at Nasdak.

Alessandro Mangiagalli from Stellenbosh University placed first (third from right) and Mia Rossouw and Stefanus Burden (first and second from right) placed second. Zane Alexander (center) placed sixth, Tasmeen Faro (far left) placed seventh and Hylton Lotter placed ninth (second from left).

Students were given economic insights and forecasting advice in speeches delivered by Craig Lemboe the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Economic Research and Jan-Hendrik Pretorius a junior lecturer and PhD candidate in the Economics Department at Stellenbosch University.