Young Economist of the Year 2021 competition
in association with the Financial Times

The overall winner of the 2021 competition is Marc Kadir of Manchester Grammar School, for his essay on 'will the legacy of COVID lead to a more economically unequal world?'.

Alongside the overall winner, the Society are pleased to name the remaining three winners:

Bruno Moura of Roundwood Park School, Harpenden (“When, if ever, is it a good idea for central banks to set interest rates below zero?”
Haoyu Wang of Brighton College (“We will fail to address climate change because Covid-19 showed we are unable to muster a concerted global response to common crises? Do you agree?”)
Konrad Kurczynski of Clifton College, Bristol (“Technological change will mean the wage gap between the skilled and unskilled will simply keep growing? Do you agree with this assessment?”)

The following were shortlisted by the judging panel:

Henry Ward of The Downs School, Newbury
Jessica Cheung, Sutton Grammar School
Tilly Mobley, Marlborough College
Manav Sood, Rushcliffe School, West Bridgeford
Oluwajoba Thomas, Bedford School, Hemel Hempstead
Oliver Greenfield, Lingfield College, Surrey
Jasmeen Johal, Guildford High School
Melinda Zhu, Westminster School, London
Yana Imykshenova, St Paul's Girls School, London

The following candidates were commended by the judging panel:

Zhong Tong Zhang, St. Edward's School, Oxford
Matthew Bonin, The Skinner's School, Tunbridge Wells
Nevis Tompkins, Sutton Grammar School
Henry Hall, Southend High School for Boys
John Chang, Eton College, Windsor
Sumayya Manji, North London Collegiate School, London
Arjun Manoj Nair, St. Alban's School
Isaac George Gilroy Baxter, King's School, Bruton
Sameera Anjali Bhalotra Bowers, Colchester County High School for Girls
Rachel Large, Churcher's College, Petersfield
James Bradshaw, Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby
Jin Samson, Christ's Hospital School, Horsham
James Trotman, St Paul's School, London
Keyi Xue, The Abbey School, Reading
Xinyu Fu, St Paul's School, London
Helen Tianying Deng, King Edward's School, Bath
Dylan Sellors, Aylesbury Grammar School
Anya Saund, Westminster School, London
Thomas Wright, Royal Grammar School, Guildford
Dev Patel, Wembley High Technology College, London
Luke Philipson, Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham
Oladipo Olukanni, King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Matthew Stubbs, Kimberley Sixth Form College, Bedford
Francesca Shi, Westminster School, London
Issah Ali Merchant, Harrow School, London
Shampavi Sabesan, The Tiffin Girl's School, Richmond
Samuel Oloniluyi-Abel, Finchley Catholic High School, London
Oluwatope Omole, London Academy of Excellence
Ollie Max McPherson Robinson, Royal Grammar School, Guildford
Dawid Polus, Peter Symonds College, Winchester

A guidance note on essay writing is available here. Students were asked to write an essay of up to 1,000 words excluding references on one of five topics: Students did not need to be studying economics to be able to enter and entrants do not have to be members of RES. The 2021 competition was open to all year 12 and year 13 (S5 and S6 in Scotland, years 13 and 14 in Northern Ireland) students studying for A-Level, International Baccalaureate (IB) or Scottish Highers qualifications who either normally reside or are studying in the UK.

When, if ever, is it a good idea for central banks to set interest rates below zero?
How is Brexit going to change the economic geography of the UK?
Will the legacy of COVID be an economically more unequal world?
Technological change means that the wage gap between the skilled and unskilled will simply keep growing. Do you agree with this assessment?
We will fail to address climate change because Covid-19 showed we are unable to muster a concerted global response to common crises. Do you agree?