Topic Summary

Sovereign wealth funds have grown exponentially in size over the past few decades. Primarily used by resource extracting nations as a way to channel profits into meaningful investments and savings for a nation, sovereign wealth funds have taken on a far larger role in both diplomacy and the global economy. From funding sports leagues, purchasing historic monuments, and building new cities, sovereign wealth funds have become a tool of leverage in geopolitical negotiations and also a threat to nations seeking to preserve assets of key national and cultural significance. At the same time, developing nations often fail to reap any rewards from sovereign wealth funds, even though they can be powerful vehicles for investment and growth.

In dealing with the issue of sovereign wealth funds, the delegates of this committee must address two issues: whether or not to regulate the role of sovereign wealth funds and foreign governments in making international investments, and building mechanisms for developing nations to build their own sovereign wealth funds. Along the way, delegates must consider the feasibility of proposals, the impacts on global economic growth, and wealth inequity between nations. Overall, any solution must deal with the intricacies of foreign investment, diplomacy, and leverage on the world stage.

Director’s Letter

Esteemed Delegates,

It is my honor to welcome you all to the Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN) at Harvard National Model United Nations 2027. I am excited to serve as your director and preside over what I hope will be an exciting and constructive weekend of debate, and I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you.

My name is Rohith Raghavan, and I am currently a sophomore at Harvard College studying Math and Computer Science, with a secondary in European History. Having grown up in Sharon, Massachusetts, I have long maintained a deep interest in international relations and political science, previously serving as the Secretary-General of my high school’s Model United Nations organization. At Harvard, I compete as a member of the Harvard Intercollegiate Model United Nations (ICMUN) team and dedicate my time to directing for both the HMUN Boston and HMUN Dubai conferences. Beyond the realm of Model UN, I serve as a campus tour guide with the Crimson Key Society and work as a research assistant at the Harvard Systems and Theory Group. Outside of my academic pursuits, I enjoy exploring new restaurants with my friends (ask me for recommendations!) or taking walks along the Charles River.

Over the course of the conference, I hope we can tackle the growing role of sovereign funds in an increasingly interconnected and unequal world. I hope to see constructive debate that brings new ideas and perspectives backed by facts and analysis, along with collaborative discussion between delegates of all nations. I am eager to not only watch you all innovate new solutions and tackle these pressing issues, but also form personal connections with the committee as a whole. Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns, and see you at HNMUN 2027!

Sincerely,

Rohith Raghavan

Director, Economic and Financial Committee

ecofin@hnmun.org