About EMIC

A student research community studying the policy, capital, and institutions shaping emerging markets — in partnership with Cornell's Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets.

Our history From little brother to research arm

EMIC began as "The Little Brother of EMI," the former name of the Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets. A shared commitment to research has since grown that relationship into something larger — EMIC is now the Center's primary research arm, while building independent projects of our own and growing rapidly along the way.

Members of the Emerging Markets Institute Club at Cornell University

New Member Education 10 weeks · capstone

A 10-week curriculum, led by upperclassmen, builds new members' foundation in market research and analysis, before closing with a capstone project — new members finish the program by either self-publishing a paper for our yearly research report, or pitching an investment opportunity.

Market fundamentals

GDP growth, inflation, labor markets, trade flows, central banking, FX reserves, sovereign dynamics

Applied skills

Valuation methods, quantitative modeling, global databases, professional presentation

Teams Select a team to expand

Beating Sisyphus (BS) is the primary vehicle through which EMIC conducts and shares research, produced in part on behalf of the Cañizares Center. Housed on Substack, and also on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts — BS produces academic papers, podcasts, videos, and written pieces.

A student-run portfolio management team investing real capital into emerging markets, guided by professionals and alumni. Portfolio managers are trained and advised by EMIC's corporate sponsors. A returns tracker is coming soon.

Published each semester, compiling EMIC members' completed and ongoing research. Members lead their own project through to a final paper, then present to an audience of professionals and academics — last semester, that included Lord O'Neill of Gatley in the UK House of Lords.

EMIC's short-form media — a quick, digestible overview of recent emerging market developments and EMIC's outlook, faster to read than our longer academic work.

Held in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and other universities, returning Fall 2026. Teams register through EMIC; every competing team must include at least one EMIC member. Sign-up details coming soon.

Works closely with the Cañizares Center to produce a multi-day conference in New York City, bringing together financiers, economists, policymakers, and members of multinational organizations to discuss emerging markets.

Watch President Iván Duque at the conference ↗

Interested in joining? Go to Recruitment →