Royal Economic Society Young Economist of the Year
The Young Economist of the Year competition invites students aged 16 to 18 in the UK to submit essays addressing current economic issues. The competition aims to enhance students' understanding of economics and encourage critical thinking. Winners receive cash prizes, and their work may be published.
Interested in the competition?
Competition Overview
Year 10 – Year 13 students
Eligibility
Free
Entry fee
June 29, 2025 at 23:59 BST
Submission deadline
October 7, 2025
Winners Announcement
Competition Details
1. Eligibility
Students in Years 10 to 13 in England or Wales, Years 11 to 14 in Northern Ireland, or S3 to S6 in Scotland (or equivalent), and are currently studying in the UK.
2. Teammates
Students can work individually on their entry or in a group of 2-5 students.
3. Shortlists
A panel will evaluate submissions and create a shortlist of five entries, which will be announced in September. The finalists will present their work in person at KPMG offices in October, delivering a 10-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with an expert panel. The winning entry will be published in the Financial Times.
Submission Details
1. Overview
To enter the competition, participants must choose one of five economic questions to answer in a blog post (up to 1,000 words) or a media format (video, podcast, or presentation slides, no longer than 5 minutes). Entries can be individual or in groups of 2-5 students and must not contain personally identifiable information. Using AI tools is prohibited, and sources must be acknowledged without detailed in-text referencing.
2. Questions
Student’s entry must answer only 1 of these 5 questions:
- What are the economic consequences of a falling birth rate, and what approaches can be taken to mitigate these?
- What are the drivers of wealth inequality in the UK and how can they be addressed?
- What are the economic effects of tariffs for consumers, businesses and global economies?
- Will aviation expansion allow the UK to achieve economic growth and meet climate commitments simultaneously?
How can economics explain the high price of a supercar?
