The Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC) allows high school students (grades 9-12) to debate pressing economic issues. Although the HIEEC is economics-based, it is not solely for economics masters—anyone can compete. The HIEEC does ask its contestants to apply in-depth research, analysis, and real-life examples to their work, crafting an argument the way they might form an argumentative essay. A chance to dive into economic theory or discuss a current financial crisis, the HIEEC is the ideal place to add depth to your writing arsenal. 

Every year, the HIEEC comes up with four unique essay topics that contestants can choose from. As all essays have a 1,500-word limit, challenging students to provide clear examples and insightful analyses in a relatively short amount of space. Judged by Nobel Prize Winner Oliver Hart, the HIEEC encourages original thought and practicality, encouraging students to add to existing economics theories. Participating in the HIEEC is more than simply submitting an essay—it is an opportunity to broaden your knowledge of the economic concepts that impact us socially, globally, and financially. By learning more about economic behavior, you are expanding your understanding of human behavior. 

The J&B consulting team works with students to ensure that they have all of the facts, resources, and support they need to write a strong economics essay. Whether the team is guiding an economics beginner through useful theories or helping an economics sleuth take their essay up a notch, the process is always a learning one.   

https://www.thehuea.org/hieec

1. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to affect growth, inequality, productivity, innovation, and employment. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, in particular, has greatly increased public awareness about the significance of AI and its implications for the future. What impact will the development of AI have on economic inequality, the composition of the workforce, and economic output as a whole? How can nations prepare for the micro and macroeconomic changes brought about by AI? 

2. Measuring national and global economic activity allows us to understand how economies change in size and structure—how they grow and contract. In addition to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), government budgets, and the money supply, alternatives like the Human Development Index (HDI) and Gross National Income (GNI) are used to assess economic progress. What are the advantages of our current economic indices, including GDP, HDI, GNI, government budgets, and the money supply, and in what areas are they lacking? Which of these indices do you find most helpful, and how can we enhance or combine them to improve our understanding of economic measurement? 

3. Proponents of income redistribution support the idea that redistribution policies will increase economic stability and give more opportunities to the less wealthy. Others, however, are more skeptical and believe it could have negative consequences for economic growth. Current methods of redistribution include taxation, welfare, public services, and other monetary policies. What strategies for income redistribution should the U.S. adopt from other countries? What economic impacts could a wealth tax or super millionaire tax have? What type of redistribution is most effective and feasible? What would be the impacts of the U.S. enacting universal basic income? Discuss the implications of any of these issues and feel free to expand on other areas of economic redistribution. 

4. As the United States weighs the impacts of China’s rise to global prominence, economics and national security have become increasingly intertwined. As a result, the United States government has imposed both tariffs and investment restrictions on China to limit the nation’s access to both US markets and intellectual property (specifically in sensitive industries such as semiconductors). What are the economic implications of these policies for United States firms, consumers, and workers? Discuss the most important perspectives of the US-China trade war and provide suggestions on how both countries can manage the prospect of a changing economic order.