Marshall Society Essay Competition 2026

Cambridge's Marshall Society, the university's undergraduate economics society, runs an annual worldwide essay competition open to anyone who hasn't yet started university, so any Year 12 or 13 student studying A-level, IB or equivalent economics can enter. This year's three questions cover whether tariffs deserve their reputation as always ‘bad’, how far central banks can stabilise an economy facing an external energy shock, and how much of Britain's 1930s recovery came from leaving the gold standard in 1931. The first two map directly onto standard A-level content on trade and monetary policy and suit most students; the gold standard question asks for economic history beyond most syllabuses, so it's better suited to a confident student willing to research independently. Free to enter, around 1,500 words, deadline 30 August 2026. First prize £100, two runners-up £50 each.  Enter here