: How will the world's economy recover from the deepest recession since the 1930s? Which countries are best placed to sustain economic growth in an information economy over the the next decade? And can you help visualise it?

The Guardian Datastore and Google have teamed up to see who can help visualise the data which will show which governments are adopting the economic policies that will facilitate job growth and innovation to lead the world out of the economic slump.

We will help start you off by suggesting the data, all you have to do is develop the most imaginative way to help our readers to explore it.

Using some of the world's key economic datasets from the UN, World Trade Organisation, IMF and some of the world's major economic experts, we want you to show how the world's economy works - and the key drivers of growth in 2012 and the future. With the world's consumers at the end of a mouse click, what kind of new ways of economic thinking will get us out of this mess? Look at the data and see if you can show the answer.

And use your imagination: we want to see the best ways of exploring the data using the newest methods you can find. Use existing data visualisation tools - or develop your own new one. We want to be wowed - and educated.

And, coming soon, we will host some amazing events on Google+ hangouts to debate the issues the competition raises.

The competition is open to UK and US citizens - the winner will take home $2,000 and the result will be published on the Guardian Datastore on our new Show and Tell site.

Here are some of the key datasets we've found (list below) - and feel free to bring your own data to the party - we only ask that it's freely and publicly available data from a major international organisation such as the UN or the International Monetary Fund.

How do I enter?

You have two ways, either MAIL your entries to datavisualisation@guardian.co.uk

OR

Use this google form to send us a link. It is acceptable to enter using both methods.

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• CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES IS NOW 28 MAY 2012, 23:59 BST

Datasets

Here's some key data for you to get started with:

• OECD - ICT Outlook (available as a digital book)

• WEF - Global Competitiveness Report (public Google dataset)

• IMF - World Economic Outlook (public Google dataset)

• McKinsey - Internet Matters Report (available to download in .pdf format)

• McKinsey - Internet's Impact on Aspiring Countries (public Google dataset)

• BCG - G20 Digital Manifesto (report available to download in .pdf format)

• Eurostat - Digital Agenda Europe (data available to download as a Microsoft Excel file)

• World Bank - Science/Tech stats (data available to download as a Microsoft Excel file)

• World Bank - Economic policies and debt (data available to download as a Microsoft Excel file)

• Pew - Internet and American Life (data available to download in a wide variety of formats as individual files for year and category)

• GERA - Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (public Google dataset)

• OECD - Ease of access to loans (data available to browse and download as a Microsoft Excel file)

• OECD - Sci/Tech scoreboard (report available to download in .pdf format)

• OECD - Startup slowdown (data available to browse and download as a Microsoft Excel file)

• Federico Etro - Impact of Cloud Computing on Jobs/SME creation in Europe (report available to download in .pdf format)

• OECD - Trade balance (data available to browse and download as a Microsoft Excel file)

• UN - International merchandise trade statistics (search database for desired data, then available to browse and download)

• UN - Service trade statistics (search database for desired data, then available to browse and download)

• Eurostat - Broadband penetration in Europe (public Google dataset)

• Eurostat - EU Information society statistics (data for a range of subcategories available to browse and download in a wide variety of formats)

• World Bank - Infrastructure statistics (data available to download as a Microsoft Excel file)

• US Dept of Commerce - Fact sheet (data available to download as .pdf and Microsoft Excel files via links at base of page)

• OECD - PISA results 2009 (data available to download as a Microsoft Excel file using links under "Data sets in TXT format (compressed)" heading)

About the competition

Produced to a brief agreed with Google. Paid for by Google. All editorial overseen and controlled by the Guardian

For editorial guidelines visit: guardian.co.uk/sponsored-content

Terms and Conditions

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

Entering the Competition

1. The Data visualisation competition (the "Competition") is open to legal residents of the UK and US aged 18 and over as of the date of entry ("You") subject to paragraph 2. below.

2. Employees or agencies of Guardian News & Media Limited ("GNM", "We"), Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), their group companies or their family members, or anyone else connected with the Competition may not enter the Competition.

3. By entering the Competition You are accepting these terms and conditions.

4. To take part, you must create an original visualisation of a publicly available data set that identifies the aspect of the global economy that will be most responsible for global economic recovery ("Submission"). You must email datavisualisation@guardian.co.uk to notify us of your intention to enter the Competition. On receipt of the e-mail the Guardian will send further instructions by email explaining how you can upload your submission to a Guardian dropbox, and you must follow those instructions in order to enter your Submission for consideration in the Competition. You must provide a copy of the publicly available data set that you used as the basis of your Submission and verify the source of that publicly available data. If you have any questions about how to enter or in connection with the Competition, please e-mail datavisualisation@guardian.co.uk with "Data visualisation competition" in the subject line providing your full name and contact details in the body of the message.

5. You are responsible for the cost (if any) of sending your Submission to us.

6. Only one Submission is permitted per person. Multiple entries using different registration information for a single individual will be disqualified. In the event of dispute over the identity of an Entrant, the Submission will be deemed submitted by the authorised account holder of the email account of the email address submitted during the registration process.

7. The closing date and time of the Competition is 23:59 BST on 21 May 2012. Entries received after that date and time will not be considered.

8. You own the copyright to your Submission as its author.

9. By submitting an entry to the Competition, You give GNM and Google:

a. Permission for your entry to be published on guardian.co.uk and guardiannews.com, and you grant GNM and Google a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to republish your Competition entry in electronic format, hard copy, and in any media now known or hereafter devised for purposes connected with the Competition, including promotions or marketing related to the Competition; and

b. The right to use your name and town or city of residence for the sole purpose of identifying You as the author of your Submission and/or as a winner of the Competition.

10. Your Submission must be your own work, must not be copied, must not contain any third-party materials and/or content that You do not have permission to use and license to GNM and Google as provided in paragraph 9.a. and must not otherwise be obscene, defamatory or in breach of any applicable legislation or regulations. If We have reason to believe your entry is not your own work or otherwise breaches this paragraph 10, then We may not consider it.

Picking the winner

11. A panel of judges will choose one winning entry from all the Competition entries. This panel will include at least one independent member to be appointed by the Guardian. GNM reserves the right to replace the judges where a judge is no longer available.

12. When choosing the winner, the judges will be looking for the most original, thought-provoking and topical example of data visualisation, showing artistic merit and conveying the data in an effective manner.

13. The judges' decision of who the winner is will be made on or before 28 May 2012. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The Prize

14. One winner will win $2000 cash. If the winner is a resident of the United kingdom, the prize will be awarded in UK Sterling, converted at the rate quoted in the Financial Times on 28 May 2012.

15. The winner will be notified by GNM by email and/or phone call on or before 28.05.12. If any documents sent to a potential Winner by any means are returned as undeliverable or if a potential Winner is found not to be eligible or not in compliance with these Terms and Conditions, the potential Winner will be disqualified, even if the disqualified potential Winner's name may have been published by GNM, and the prize will be awarded to the next highest scoring entrant who complies with these Terms and Conditions.

16. Details of the winner and their winning entry also may be published on www.guardian.co.uk/data at a later date.

17. The prize cannot be exchanged or transferred by You and cannot be redeemed by You for any other prize. You must pay all taxes and other costs associated with your acceptance of the prize and not specifically included in the prize.

18. We retain the right to substitute the prize with another prize of similar value.

Some other rules

19. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed.

20. GNM and Google take no responsibility for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason. Proof of delivery of the entry is not proof of receipt.

21. Details of the winner can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to the following address: Data visualisation competition, Data store news desk, Guardian News & Media Limited, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU.

22. No purchase is necessary.

23. The winner may be required for promotional activity.

24. The Promoter of the Competition is Guardian News & Media Limited whose address is Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Any complaints regarding the Competition should be sent to this address. For avoidance of doubt, Google is not a Promoter of the Competition and is not responsible for the administration of this Competition.

25. GNM and Google accept no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by You as a result of entering the Competition or accepting any prize. GNM and Google further disclaim liability for any injury or damage to You or any other person's computer relating to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials in connection with the Competition.

26. GNM reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this Competition with or without prior notice due to reasons outside its control (including, without limitation, in the case of anticipated, suspected or actual fraud). The decision of GNM in all matters under its control is final and binding.

27. GNM shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, supervening legislation or any other circumstances amounting to force majeure.

28. The Competition will be governed by English law