This is a random list I put together in November 2002 (but didn't post publicly) of who I think might win the "Nobel Prize" in economics over the next few years.

Also, there is an award (the John Bates Clark Medal) made every two years to the best American economist under the age of 40. Anyone who makes this list is a good bet to get a Nobel prize in the next 30 years. Earlier (it has been discontinued now), they used to give out the Francis Walker Award every five years to the best economist. I think all of these guys are dead now, so there are probably no more prizes here: