The 2025 Nobel economics prize, the final award of this year’s Nobel season, will be announced on Monday at 11:45 am local time (0945 GMT), with experts suggesting the prize could go to groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence or economic inequality.
Last year’s award recognised Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson for their work on wealth inequality between nations. This year, economists and analysts are eyeing candidates in fast-evolving fields like information economics, AI’s economic impact, and inequality.
Micael Dahlen of the Stockholm School of Economics highlighted information economics as a strong contender, particularly in the wake of AI`s growing influence. He pointed to American Erik Brynjolfsson as a possible laureate for his research on technology’s impact on productivity and labour.
Other names gaining attention include Germany’s Monika Schnitzer for her work in international economics, and American economist Susan Athey, known for her research on how emerging technologies reshape markets and public policy.
Despite its prestige, the economics prize—formally known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel—is not part of Alfred Nobel’s original will. It was established in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank, and is occasionally referred to as a “false Nobel” by its critics. Still, many argue that if Nobel were alive today, economics would be a natural addition to the prize list.
Gender representation remains a concern, with only three women among the 96 winners since 1969. This year’s broader Nobel season saw some progress, with American Mary Brunkow winning in medicine and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado taking the peace prize.
Wealth inequality remains another likely focus. French-American Emmanuel Saez, France’s Thomas Piketty, and French economist Gabriel Zucman are all considered strong contenders. Their data-driven approaches have shaped the global conversation around taxation and redistribution. However, Zucman’s recent proposal in France for a tax on the ultra-rich could be seen as too politically charged, some analysts warn.
Belgian economist Marianne Bertrand and American Sendhil Mullainathan are also in the spotlight for their work on racial discrimination and behavioural economics. Swiss researcher Ernst Fehr could be another pick, possibly sharing the prize with Americans George Loewenstein and Colin Camerer for their roles in advancing behavioural and neuroeconomics.
Other frequently mentioned candidates include Japan’s Nobuhiro Kiyotaki and Britain’s John Moore for their influential work on how small shocks can trigger major economic cycles.
The winner or winners will receive a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash award of $1.2 million.
