The 3 winners of the 2012 IMF Essay contest will be invited to attend the 2013 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, as part of the Youth Fellowship program, in Washington D.C. The IMF will cover their expenses in the U.S.A.

Although Asia is the engine of global economic growth, not all youth in the region feel part of this dynamism. Youth unemployment remains high in the Asia-Pacific region, with youth accounting for half of the unemployed and being six times more likely to be jobless than older workers. Growth that creates jobs—in Asia and around the world—continues to pose a challenge for policy-makers; the young generation feels a sense of frustration, as they see others shaping their future. Panelists representing youth from across Asia will discuss these concerns at the Youth Dialogue, a platform for the IMF to listen to the concerns of Asian youth.