Marshall Society Economics Essay Competition 2019

The Marshall Society, the economics society of the University of Cambridge, is excited to launch its 2019 essay competition. The deadline for essay submissions is 11:59pm 11th August 2019.

This is an opportunity for all students currently working towards A-levels, the IB or equivalent qualifications to demonstrate their ability to write a convincing and well-structured essay. Emphasis should be placed on sound explanation of economic theory and well-reasoned arguments, drawing on relevant real-world evidence. Entrants are advised to make their essays as concise as the topic allows: the guideline is 1500 words.

Feel free to either produce your own title or use one of the suggested titles below:

1. How should Venezuela tackle its hyperinflation?
2. Is an authoritarian government better for economic development than a democracy?
3. Explain the impact on the UK economy of military involvement in the Middle East since 2000.
4. Why do we need the Bank of England to act as a lender of last resort and how does this affect the incentives faced by financial institutions?
5. Is a high degree of inequality bad for the richest in society?
6. Milton Friedman said Keynes has a “very bad” influence on economic policy and the general intellectual climate. Do you agree?

All essays will be judged impartially, irrespective of whether students use their own title or a suggested title.

Entries should be submitted via email attachment to magazine@marshallsociety.com (please ensure that it is attached as either a Microsoft Word or PDF file, and is titled in the format ‘Last Name, First Name’). The email should contain your full name, school, date of birth and a declaration of any assistance you received from teachers or tutors.

The deadline for essay submissions is 11:59pm 11th August 2019.

The essays will be judged individually and the shortlist, runners up, and winner will be announced in early September. The author of the winning essay will also receive £50; the two runners up will receive £25 each.

In addition to this, a selection of the best essays will be published in the 2019-2020 edition of the Marshall Society’s magazine, The Dismal Scientist. If you have any queries regarding the competition, please contact the magazine editor at magazine@marshallsociety.com

Terms and conditions for this competition can be found here