Philosophy, History, Theology, Politics, Economics, Psychology, Law
HIEEC provides students the opportunity to demonstrate an accomplished level of writing and understanding of economic theory. Through the contest, students hone their academic and professional skills and exhibit their knowledge. The Harvard International Economics Essay Contest is sponsored by the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA) in conjunction with the Harvard College Economics Review (HCER). This essay competition is open to high school students of any year and is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate an accomplished level of writing and understanding of economic theory. Through the contest, student competitors hone their academic and professional skills and exhibit their knowledge to future employers and academic programs.
Entrants must choose one of the four prompts and write a response. Competitors must construct a convincing argument using economic theory and real-world examples. Winning essays will be published in the Harvard Economics Review and will be available for the greater Harvard community to read. Essays should focus on argumentation supported with facts and references, although data-based support is also welcome. The essays will be judged by the boards of the HUEA and HCER, with the top 10 submissions being adjudicated by the esteemed Harvard professor and 2016 Economics Nobel Prize winner Oliver Hart.
1、The current national debt of the United States stands at roughly $29 trillion, a value greater than the GDP. Some argue that this mountain of debt constitutes an economic threat. Others reassure the public that debt is no cause for concern. Is the national debt a matter for concern, and why or why not?
2、As governments around the world struggled to control the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, international trade took a massive blow as it experienced unprecedented production chain disruptions. How did such disruptions affect varying economic agents – from individuals to entire nations? What can be done to temper current shocks and prevent future ones?
3、The Sherman Act of 1890 outlaws "every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade," and any "monopolization, attempted monopolization, or conspiracy or combination to monopolize." Over a century after it was adopted, the Sherman Act still actively informs United States antitrust policy. However, many lawmakers are now considering redefining these policies. Is antitrust regulation outdated and in need of modernization? What new policies, if any, should legislators propose? How will these changes affect markets?
4、The rise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), in addition to existing forms of decentralized cryptocurrencies, could eventually shape the way global finance is conducted through technology. This spells significant economic and political repercussions, especially as non-US countries such as China implement CBDCs to varying extents. In light of these developments, how should the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, or other institutions and governments proceed with the development of CBDCs in their respective economies?
The word limit of 1500 must be strictly adhered to. Any words past the limit will be truncated. This limit excludes references, footnotes, titles, headers and footers.
Essays must be written only by the entrant. Any outside assistance must be declared in the beginning or end of the essay.
Only your first submission will be accepted. Any further submissions will not be read.
References must be included, and any plagiarism will lead to disqualification.
References must be in Chicago or APA format.
The only accepted document formatting is PDF. Any other format will not be accepted, nor will refunds be given to those who do follow this rule.
The essay must not be entered in any other competition nor be published elsewhere.
October 17th, 2024- Essay titles released
December 15th, 2024 - Submission deadline
February - Highly Commended and Finalists notified
March - Winners notified, results published on the website
Winner - essay published on the Harvard Economics Review online Publications
Second Prize - essay published on the Harvard Economics Review online Publications
Third Prize - essay published on the Harvard Economics Review online Publications
Finalists - top 10 entrants & essay published online
Highly Commended - 20 entrants & names published online