Thank you for searching for our Economics Essay Competition; this page is from last year, and the deadline has passed. We will be announcing soon the 2023 Essay Competition. Please do not email asking for updates as the competition for 2023 is still under development. Feel free to follow @lsesueconsoc on Instagram for the most frequent updates; otherwise, please wait until our 2023 Essay Competition is posted.
Thank you for your patience.
Deadline extension to 15th August 2022!
The London School of Economics Students’ Union Economics Society is honoured to collaborate once again with the Centre for Economic Performance, one of the leading economic research centres in Europe, to launch the 2022 Essay Competition. The essay competition will encourage pre-tertiary students to think critically on current social issues such as economic assimilation, diversity in the economics profession, and to explore important intellectual debates, such as the distribution of the burden of environmental policies.
Eligibility
Entrants should be:
● in the final two years of secondary school,
● starting sixth form (or an equivalent institution) this year,
● in sixth form (or an equivalent institution), or
● starting university this year.
Full-time national servicemen who have completed their pre-tertiary education are also eligible.
This competition is open to students of any nationality and studying in any country.
Questions
In your essay, please answer one of the six questions below:
1. How can the lack of gender balance in Economics be explained? Does COVID-19 represent another set-back for efforts to achieve gender parity in the subject?
2. African nations will be left poorer and more economically vulnerable as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
3. Explain the economics behind Europe’s dependence on Russian Energy. How can policymakers reduce the impact of the transition away from these sources of energy?
4. Higher inflation is the inevitable consequence of the large fiscal packages and monetary accommodations introduced by Western Governments over the last few years. Do you agree?
5. What economic theories from the 19th century are most relevant to 21st century problems?
6. How significant is a country’s geographic location in determining its long-term development?
Prizes
The best 3 essays on each topic will receive an Award Certificate both in print and electronically from the LSE Economics Society
The best entry to Question 1 – (For LSE Offer Holders Only)
Signed Certificate and Book by Professor Nava Ashraf, Director of Research of the Marshall lnstitute.
The best entry to Question 2:
Signed Certificate and Book by Sir Christopher Pissarides, the Regius Professor of Economics.
The best entry to Question 3:
Signed Certificate and Book by Professor Silvana Tenreyro, Professor of Economics and External Member of the Monetary Policy Committee, Bank of England.
The best entry to Question 4:
Signed Certificate and Book by Professor Swati Dhingra, Associate Professor of Economics and External Member of the Monetary Policy Committee, Bank of England.
The best entry to Question 5:
Signed Certificate and Book by Professor Oriana Bandiera, Professor of Economics.
The best entry to Question 6 – CEP Prize.
Signed Certificate and Book by Professor Aghion, Professor of Economics.
Terms and Conditions
- The submission deadline is 15 August 2022, 23:59 GMT+1.
- There will be one winner for every question.
- Your entry must be in English and at 1,500 words maximum. However, titles, titles of charts, footnotes, citations or references are not included in the word count.
- Submit your entry as a PDF, in size 12, font Times New Roman, double-spaced.
- Name your file exactly as follows: Given Name_Surname_Question Answered (e.g. Adam_Smith_Question 1).
- Each person is allowed to submit only one entry. If you submit more than one entry, only your latest entry submitted before the deadline will be processed.
- Co-authorship is not allowed.
- All work must be your original content and must have been produced solely for this competition. If you refer to quotations or ideas by another author, please cite their work in your entry. We accept APA, Harvard, Chicago, MLA, and any other common citation method.
- Results will be announced by 6 September 2022.
- Enquiries on the LSE SU Economics Essay Competition should be sent to economics@lsesu.org.
- Entries not submitted in accordance with these terms, or entries that are incomplete or illegible (as determined in our sole discretion) will not be eligible.
- The decision of the judging panel is final, and at its sole discretion. No correspondence or discussion will be entered into by us in relation to that decision.
- The winners will be notified (by email, post or phone, using contact details provided with the entry)
- Once you have submitted your essay, you are happy for us to contact you about your submission
- We will make all reasonable efforts to contact the winners. If any winner cannot be contacted or is not available, or has not claimed their prize within 10 days of the announcement date, the LSE Economics Society reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant selected from the correct entries that were received before the closing date
- We are not liable for any damage, loss or disappointment suffered by you taking part or not being able to take part in this competition, or from being unable to claim your prize
- In the event of unforeseen circumstances, we may alter, amend or foreclose the competition without prior notice. We reserve the right to change these terms at any time
**The LSE SU Economics Society reserves the right, at its discretion, to change, modify, add, or remove portions of the terms and conditions of the LSE SU Economics Essay Competition.
General Guidelines and Advice
The questions are open to interpretation. We do not have an ‘ideal’ set of arguments or structures that your essay must check. The best essays will be ones that are creative and perceptive in the way they deal with the subject matter. We look for original ideas, clarity of expression, effective communication of ideas and well-substantiated arguments.
We encourage the use of charts, graphs, and other forms of data visualisation, as well as material or concepts that go beyond what you have studied in class. If you do so, please remember to cite! Note that the use of overly complex material without justification or clear sense will not be beneficial.
We look forward to receiving your entries, and we wish you the best of luck!
The LSESU Economics Society Executive Committee (2022/23)
Download the promotional flyer to encourage your students/pupils to enter!
Follow the LSESU Economics Society on social media for future announcements!
