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Pension Lab: NextGen Competition

NCPERS has partnered with the Center for Municipal Finance at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy to engage the next generation of leaders on the future of public retirement systems.

The Pension Lab: NextGen Competition pairs student teams with pension professionals to explore innovative policy-driven solutions to improve the quality and sustainability of public pensions. These ideas will be put to the test in a live competition during NCPERS 2025 Public Pension Funding Forum, where an expert panel of judges and the audience will cast their votes to select the winning team.

Students are competing for a research internship with NCPERS (and accompanying stipend) where they will have the opportunity to publish their work in a publication widely read by the public pension community.

About the Competition
Leading up to the inaugural competition, students participated in a Policy Lab at the University of Chicago Harris School to develop their proposals. NCPERS then paired student teams with public pension leaders in the Chicago area to serve as mentors and to help further refine their ideas with an eye to the practical, fiscal, and political feasibility of their proposals. 

During the live competition, each student team will have 20 minutes to present their ideas. The presentations and accompanying briefs will be evaluated by judges and attendees based on the following criteria:

  • Financial Viability and Impact (30%) – Does the proposal demonstrate a clear understanding of pension funding mechanics and provide realistic solutions for improving funding status and generating sustainable and progressive revenue streams?
  • Implementation Feasibility (30%) – Is the proposal politically and administratively realistic given local jurisdiction's governance structure, existing legal constraints, and stakeholder dynamics? Does it account for regulatory requirements, union considerations, and the practical challenges of execution?
  • Risk Management and Sustainability (30%) – Does the proposal appropriately balance risk and return while considering long-term sustainability? How well does it address potential unintended consequences, market volatility, or changing economic conditions that could affect pension obligations?
  • Professional Quality and Presentation (10%) – Is the writing clear, concise, and professional? Are any graphics clearly labeled and well-designed? Did the team deliver its content with energy and clarity?
 
Questions? Please contact research@ncpers.org.