Our Future Agenda

The Economy Reboot What if You Could Hack the Economy?

Overwhelmed by headlines about debt and disaster, Jacob is pulled into a simulation of the global economy.

He uncovers a rigged system, guarded by powerful forces and built to keep young countries trapped in an endless cycle of debt…

But what if he could rewrite the rules?

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The global economy is rigged.

It’s time for a reboot.

Young countries – where 50-80% are under 30 – are stuck in a cycle of borrowing, repayments, and rising interest. Climate disasters force them deeper into debt. Powerful lenders, credit agencies, and legacy institutions keep calling the shots. Meanwhile, the basic building blocks of progress – education, healthcare, jobs – stay locked behind impossible conditions.

This isn’t a glitch. It’s the system working exactly as designed.

But what if the rules were different? What if global finance served the future, not the past? And what if someone – someone like you – could hack the system from the inside?

Premiering at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the Economy Reboot is a three-episode animated series focusing on economic justice, global finance, and young people’s leadership. It breaks down complex global financial issues and empowers young people to rewrite the rules for a fairer future.

Three Episodes

Welcome to the System

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The Great Debug

Episode 2 – July 30

The Final Showdown

Episode 3 – August 6

Meet the Characters

Jacob

“Technically, cereal is just cold soup.”

Level: 15
Status: Googled “How to fix the economy” once… now he’s inside of it
Likes: Memes, energy drinks, doomscrolling at 2am

Jacob isn’t a superhero or a world leader – he’s a high school student with a messy room, a permanently low phone battery, and way too many browser tabs open. He spends most nights gaming online, laughing at memes, and he once wore sunglasses indoors for an entire day, claiming it was “a vibe.”

But beneath the jokes and clutter, Jacob is genuinely worried about the state of the world. He’s tired of watching economic crises and climate disasters pile up, feeling powerless as the news gets worse and worse. When a mysterious digital console pulls him into a virtual simulation of the global economy, Jacob realises this might be his chance to stop scrolling – and start hacking the system for good.

Young Country

“I’m running uphill with weights you put on me.”

Level: Beginner
Status: Overworked, underfunded, dodging storms.
Likes: Progress, clean energy, a fair shot.

The Young Country isn’t a villain or a sidekick – they’re the heart of the story. On the surface, they’re a digital avatar sprinting on a treadmill, but behind that glowing jersey is a real-world struggle: unfair loans, low aid, punishing interest rates, and climate crises they didn’t cause – all falling hardest on countries where 50-80% of people are under 30.

They’ve been trying to catch up since day one – and they haven’t stopped. Every step is uphill, and every time they move forward, The System pushes back harder. But they keep going. Persistent, Determined, and full of potential, they’re not giving up.

Aging Country

“This economy works fine… for me.”

Level: Easy Mode
Status: Coasting
Likes: AAA ratings, low interest, legacy perks

While others are sprinting just to stand still, the Aging Country takes a gentle stroll toward already-unlocked rewards. Benefiting from decades of privilege, influence, and favorable terms, they don’t see the urgency — because the system was built with them in mind. They’re not evil. They’re just comfortable. And comfort resists change.

Ffd4

The International Conferences on Financing for Development are the only space where leaders from all governments – along with financial and trade institutions, businesses, civil society and the UN System – unite at the highest levels on how to fund the future.

Global forums like Financing for Development have historically struggled to engage young audiences. High-level finance discussions often prioritize short-term gains and dense jargon, leaving little room for young people and future generations. As a result, many young people feel left out of conversations about policies that will define their world.

The Economy Reboot was created to bridge this gap, translating the outcomes of the conference into stories that resonate with young people and enable them to be part of the solution, and premiering at its fourth edition (FfD4).

The final outcome document sets the tone for what’s next – and what still needs to change:

Resources

FfD4 Explainers

Breaking down complex global finance issues and empowering young people to advocate for financial justice at FfD4.

The Price of Progress | The Tax Dodge | Aid or Illusion | The Debt Trap | Beyond GDP

Our Future Agenda Quarterly

The March issue, released ahead of FfD4 focuses on the global financial system. What if the global financial system was designed to protect the future?

Dive in

A World of Debt

UNCTAD’s 2024 report highlights the alarming surge in global public debt, driven by cascading crises in recent years.

Dive in

The Costs of Achieving the SDGs

UNCTAD’s SDG costing project shows how much is needed to accelerate sustainable development.

Dive in

FfD4 Communications Toolkit

Key messages, social media samples, and other digital resources to support an ambitious, politically feasible outcome document at FfD4.

Dive in

Common Ask Framework

Mobilizing for increased and better funding for feminist movements and women’s rights organizations, especially in the Majority World.

Dive in

Global Financial Governance and Debt Sustainability in the Global South

Debt across many developing countries is growing, this article offers updates on regional debt thresholds and recommendations.

Dive in

#LifeOverDebt Campaign

The #LifeOverDebt campaign provides advocacy and common narrative tools to build a more equitable system.

Dive in

Net financing flows to developing countries remain precariously low

This analysis examines aid and concessional loans in developing countries, and actionable recommendations for reducing the challenges tied to declining aid.

Dive in

Six Transitions: Investment Pathways to Deliver the SDGs

This brief outlines six transformative entry points for advancing the SDGs.

Dive in

Pact Decoded: Sustainable development and financing for development

As part of Our Future Agenda’s “Decoded” series, this chapter breaks down the areas of action for advancing the SDGs and financing for development.

Dive in

Who Made this?

This animation is product of the Unlock the Future coalition, hosted by the United Nations Foundation to unite the world’s largest child and youth organizations.

Story Lab, an initiative of the Unlock the Future coalition. As part of the coalition’s Road to 2100 strategy, the Story Lab is designed to make complex global issues feel accessible, urgent, and actionable – especially for young people around the world. The Economy Reboot series draws from real-world data and global policy debates, transforming them into a story about systems change, digital resistance, and hope.

The animation’s production is led by Vidushi Yadav and her studio, We Are Stories, in collaboration with The Kairos Pictures.

unlock the future
we are stories
the kairos pictures

Take Action

Watching The Economy Reboot is just the start. Join a growing community of young changemakers who are rewriting the rules for a fairer future on the Engine Room Discord channel.

💬 Connect with others

Join the Partnerships Action Group on Discord and get involved with youth-led campaigns to make global financing fair.

📱 Follow us

Stay updated and share your ideas on Instagram, X, and Linkedin.

📚 Learn more

Dive deeper into economic justice with the resources above and discover how you can make a difference.

The future is yours to shape. Let’s reboot it – together.

 

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Click the button to begin your onboarding, start earning XP, and be part of a global youth-led movement shaping tomorrow’s world.

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Join the Conversation

Whether you’re a young innovator bursting with fresh ideas or an experienced leader seeking to guide the next generation, there are multiple avenues for you to get involved.

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