Oxford Economics Society Sixth Form Essay Competition 2026

The Oxford Economics Society has just launched a new sixth-form essay competition run jointly with the university's Department for Economics, its first edition. Students in Year 12 or 13 (or the international equivalent) choose one of three questions: why the UK economy is particularly exposed to oil shocks, whether the Competition and Markets Authority should be more lenient when clearing mergers, and what lessons should have been learnt from the 2008 financial crisis. All three sit close to core A-level content, on macroeconomic shocks and inflation, market structure and competition policy, and financial markets and regulation respectively, so this is accessible to most students without needing to go beyond the spec. Free to enter, one submission per candidate, maximum 2,000 words including references. Deadline is tight: 23:59 on Friday 14 August 2026. First prize £100, two finalist prizes of £50.  Enter here