Competition Winners Are Announced!
For official rules, deadlines, and updates, please refer to the competition organizer. Aralia provides competition information for student reference and is not affiliated with the competition organizer.
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.
Aralia does not currently offer a preparation class for this competition.
Competition Overview
Eligibility
Students in Years 10–13 in England and Wales, Years 11–14 in Northern Ireland, or S3–S6 in Scotland (or equivalent).
Participants must be studying in the UK.
Entry Fee
Free
Submission Deadine
June 29, 2026
In-person Final
October 2026 at KPMG’s offices
Competition Details
1. Essay Topics
Students have to answer 1 of these 5 questions:
- Is a country truly wealthy if it has high GDP, but its citizens are unhappy?
- Free trade creates winners and losers — is it desirable?
- Should dynamic pricing be allowed for mega events like concerts, festivals, or sports finals?
- Should billionaires exist in a well-functioning economy?
How will AI affect long-run economic growth in developed countries?
2. Teammates
Individual entries or teams of 2–5 students are accepted.
3. Awards and Final Round
Five shortlisted entries advance to the final, where participants deliver a 10-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A with an expert panel. One overall winner is selected.
Additional regional awards include:
- Welsh Award: Recognizes an outstanding entry from a student in Wales.
- Scottish Award: Recognizes the top three entries from Scottish students, with the overall winner selected following presentations to a panel of economists.
Submission Details
Students can submit their work in one of the following formats:
- Written blog: Maximum 1,000 words.
- Video or podcast: Maximum 5 minutes.
- Presentation: Maximum 8 slides and 1,000 words if unrecorded; maximum 5 minutes if recorded with narration.
Entries must be original, include a list of relevant sources, and contain no personally identifiable information. The use of ChatGPT or other AI tools is prohibited.
Class Recommendation
Prepare to compete at the highest level