Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC): A Complete Guide

Are you interested in economic theory and are good with words? The Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC) lets you combine them. You pick a prompt, build a clear argument, and back it with real facts. Your work is read by Harvard-affiliated judges, and the best essays get recognized.

The Harvard International Economics Essay Contest is global, selective, and taken seriously—and high school students around the world can enter. This guide will tell you all the details you need to know. You will see what the rules are, when to submit, how entries are judged, and how to write an essay that rises to the top.

• What Is the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest?
• Harvard International Economics Essay Contest Awards and Prizes 
• How to Qualify for the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest
• How to Enter the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest
• How to Win the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest
• Harvard International Economics Essay Contest Previous Winners
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest?

The Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC) is a global writing competition hosted by the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA). It invites high school students to explore major economic issues through analytical writing. Participants respond to one of several prompts released each year, applying economic theory and real-world reasoning to craft a clear, persuasive essay.

The contest is conducted entirely online, so you can join from anywhere in the world. For the 2024–2025 cycle, essay prompts were released on November 2, with submissions due by January 5, and winners announced in March. All entries are submitted via the official HUEA website in PDF format, and essays are reviewed by Harvard-affiliated students and faculty.

HIEEC stands out because it combines academic rigor with accessibility. It allows motivated high schoolers to think critically about global economic issues while gaining recognition from a Harvard-affiliated organization. 

Whether you’re passionate about policy, business, or global development, the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest offers a meaningful way to showcase your skills and academic potential.

Harvard International Economics Essay Contest Awards and Prizes

At the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC), top-performing students earn recognition for their outstanding writing, research, and economic analysis. While the contest does not offer cash prizes, its emphasis on intellectual excellence and publication opportunities makes it one of the most respected global essay competitions for high school students.

Below is a summary of the award structure and recognition given to HIEEC participants each year:

For each recognition level, the authors’ essays are reviewed by Harvard students and a final judge, typically a Harvard economics professor or industry expert. All published essays appear with the student’s consent and remain accessible on the official HUEA website.

Although no medals, trophies, or monetary awards are granted, publication through a Harvard-affiliated organization and acknowledgment by faculty judges serve as valuable academic credentials. The recognition signals strong analytical and writing skills and is highly regarded by universities and scholarship committees.

All results are officially verified and announced on the HUEA website following the judging period each March.

How to Qualify for the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest

If you’re preparing for the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC), you’ll need to meet eligibility criteria, follow the submission requirements, pay the entry fee (or request a waiver), and submit before the deadline.

Below is the full breakdown of how to qualify:

Eligibility

You must:

• Be a high-school student (grades 9–12 or equivalent) at the time of submission.
• Write the essay yourself. Any outside assistance must be clearly declared at the beginning or end of your essay.
• Submit an essay that has not been published elsewhere or entered into another competition.
• Submit only one essay. Only your first submission will be accepted.

Submission requirements and format

Here’s what you’ll need to prepare:

• Choose one of the four prompts provided for the contest year and write your response.
• Make sure your essay is in PDF format. No other formats will be accepted.
• Keep your essay within 1,500 words (excluding title, headers/footers, references, and footnotes).
• Include proper citations in either APA or Chicago style for all sources that are not your own ideas.
• Submit only your first submission; additional submissions will not be read.

Entry fee and financial aid

The Harvard International Economics Essay Contest requires a small entry fee at the time of submission. U.S.-based participants must pay US$20, while international students must pay US$30. This fee helps cover the administrative costs of organizing and reviewing the essays.

However, if the fee presents a significant financial burden, students can apply for a fee waiver by emailing the organizers at [email protected] before submitting their essays. The request should briefly explain the reason for the waiver and include the applicant’s full name to ensure proper verification.

Deadline for submission

The deadline for the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest depends on the specific competition year, but it’s typically announced each fall on the HUEA website. For the 2024–2025 cycle, essays were due by 11:59 PM EST on January 5, 2025, or until the contest reached its 200-entry limit, whichever came first.

Because there is a strict submission cap, it’s highly recommended that you submit your essay early. Late submissions or those received after the entry cap is reached are not accepted, so completing your essay and submitting well before the deadline guarantees your spot in the competition.

How to Enter the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest

Joining the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC) is a straightforward process, but it requires close attention to official rules and deadlines. This section will walk you through every administrative and technical step to make sure your entry is valid and submitted on time.

1. Review the contest structure.

Timeline: November–January

Before you start writing, take time to understand the contest format. The HIEEC is organized by the HUEA and invites high school students worldwide to write on one of four economic prompts released each November.

Each essay must be written in English, submitted as a PDF file, and kept within 1,500 words (excluding footnotes and references). Essays are evaluated by Harvard-affiliated judges for clarity, reasoning, and use of economic theory.

2. Check your eligibility.

Timeline: November

You must be a high school student (grades 9–12 or equivalent) at the time of submission. Essays must be original, unpublished, and written entirely by you. Only one submission per student is accepted.

If your essay has been submitted elsewhere or includes uncredited assistance, it will be disqualified. Make sure all citations follow APA or Chicago style.

3. Choose your essay prompt.

Timeline: Early November

Each year, the HUEA releases four essay prompts focused on timely global economic issues. For the 2024–2025 Harvard International Economics Essay Contest, the topics cover key themes shaping today’s world: environmental policy, income inequality, automation and education, and digital currencies.

Here’s a closer look at each prompt:

Environment

This question asks you to analyze carbon taxes as a policy tool for regulating greenhouse gas emissions. You’ll need to weigh the benefits and criticisms of carbon taxation compared to alternatives such as renewable energy subsidies. A strong essay might explore real-world data from countries that have implemented carbon taxes (like Sweden or Canada) and evaluate how these policies affect both competitiveness and climate goals.

Inequality

This prompt focuses on tax policy and income redistribution. You’re asked to imagine a government replacing income taxes with a consumption-based tax and to evaluate its economic and social consequences. This topic offers room to discuss behavioral economics, fiscal equity, and international trade implications. High-quality essays will also consider how different income groups perceive such a policy shift and the broader effects on inequality.

Workforce & Education

This essay centers on the challenges of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping the workforce. The prompt invites you to examine how education systems can adapt to a rapidly evolving labor market. A strong essay will balance economic reasoning with social insight—exploring policy shifts toward STEM education, lifelong learning, or soft-skill development, and how these changes could sustain long-term economic resilience.

Crypto/Finance

This topic focuses on the rise of cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). You’ll assess how the adoption of digital currencies could influence monetary policy, financial stability, and global trade. A strong approach is to compare nations experimenting with digital currencies (like China or Sweden) and analyze whether central banks should embrace or regulate this technology.

4. Prepare and format your essay.

Timeline: November–December

Write your essay early so you have enough time to edit and polish it. Pay close attention to the official format:

• Use clear academic structure (introduction, argument, conclusion).
• Stay within the word limit.
• Include a title and proper references.
• Save your file as a PDF before submission.

Before submitting, double-check that your name and school details are entered correctly in the online form.

5. Submit your entry and pay the fee.

Timeline: December–January

Once your essay is ready, submit it through the official HUEA online form. You’ll need to pay a US$20 submission fee if you’re based in the U.S. or US$30 if you’re an international student.

If this cost presents a financial burden, you can apply for a fee waiver by emailing the organizers at [email protected] with a short explanation before submission.

6. Watch the submission cap and deadline.

Timeline: Early January

The HIEEC accepts a limited number of entries, which is 200 essays total for the 2024–2025 cycle. Submissions close at 11:59 PM EST on January 5, or once the cap is reached, whichever comes first.

Submit early to ensure your spot. Late entries or submissions received after the cap closes will not be considered.

7. Wait for the announcement of results.

Timeline: March

The judging process takes several weeks. Winners and finalists are announced on the HUEA website in March. The top three essays are published on the HUEA and HCER websites, while other top entries are listed as finalists or “highly commended.”

How to Win the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest

To win the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC), you need to go beyond simply meeting the guidelines. Success comes from presenting an essay that combines strong economic analysis, original ideas, and clear, compelling writing.

Below are key strategies that will help you write a standout essay that captures the attention of Harvard’s judges.

1. Master the contest requirements.

Before you start writing, make sure you fully understand what the judges expect. The HIEEC assesses essays based on clarity, logical structure, argument strength, originality, and use of economic theory.

Read the prompt carefully and note the specific questions it asks. Each topic involves multiple layers (for example, economic trade-offs, policy implications, and social effects), so make sure you address all parts of the prompt.

Avoid generic or descriptive essays. Your goal is to argue, not summarize.

2. Build a strong foundation in economic reasoning.

To write effectively, you need to connect theory with real-world applications. Judges look for essays that demonstrate an understanding of how economics explains behavior, policy, and outcomes.

Here’s how to strengthen your essay’s foundation:

• Use basic economic frameworks like supply and demand, externalities, incentives, or market failures to organize your argument.
• Integrate empirical evidence or examples from credible sources such as the IMF, World Bank, or academic journals.
• Discuss trade-offs and opportunity costs to show critical thinking.
• Acknowledge opposing arguments briefly, then explain why your conclusion holds stronger.

Essays that show this analytical balance tend to score highest.

3. Write with structure and clarity.

The HIEEC values logical flow and readable prose. A clear, well-organized essay can make even complex ideas easy to follow.

Use this structure as a guide:

• Introduction. Briefly introduce the topic and your main argument (your thesis).
• Body paragraphs. Each paragraph should develop one point supported by data or theory.
• Conclusion. Summarize your findings and suggest implications or policy recommendations.

Avoid long, dense paragraphs. Instead, use short transitions and topic sentences to make your essay accessible and professional.

4. Support your arguments with evidence.

The best essays go beyond opinion. They use data and credible sources to strengthen their analysis. For example:

• Cite international case studies—like carbon tax outcomes in Canada or Sweden for the Environment prompt.
• Reference historical data or economic reports to validate claims.
• Include statistics where relevant, but explain what they mean rather than just presenting numbers.

Proper citation also matters. Follow APA or Chicago style consistently throughout your essay.

5. Develop an original perspective.

Since hundreds of essays will address the same prompts, originality is key. You can stand out by:

• Applying lesser-known theories or models to the topic.
• Drawing comparisons between different countries or regions.
• Exploring under-discussed consequences of a policy.
• Framing your argument with a unique frame of reference (e.g., behavioral economics, development economics, or political economy).

Originality doesn’t mean inventing new theories. It means showing fresh insight within existing frameworks.

6. Revise and refine your work.

Strong essays go through several drafts. After your first version, step away from it for a few days, then review it with a critical eye. Check for:

• Logical gaps in your reasoning.
• Overly complex sentences that could be simplified.
• Grammar and citation accuracy.

Reading your essay aloud or having a teacher review it can help catch errors and unclear phrasing.

7. Manage your time wisely.

Don’t wait until the last week to write. Spread your work over several stages:

• Week 1. Choose your prompt and research sources.
• Week 2–3. Draft and revise your essay.
• Week 4. Proofread, finalize formatting, and submit early to avoid the 200-entry cap.

Starting early gives you enough time to refine your argument and ensure technical accuracy.

8. Learn from past winners.

HUEA publishes top essays from previous years on its website. Study them to understand what makes them effective—how they build arguments, cite evidence, and write with precision.

Note how past winners balance academic rigor with readability. You don’t need to sound overly formal. Instead, aim for professional yet approachable writing.

Combine sound reasoning with a confident, polished writing style, and you’ll put yourself among the top contenders.

Harvard International Economics Essay Contest Previous Winners

Each year, the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC) honors exceptional students from around the world who demonstrate critical thinking, strong writing, and a deep understanding of global economic issues. The 2024–2025 competition featured hundreds of submissions analyzing timely topics such as carbon taxation, income inequality, and digital currencies.

Top winners (2024–2025)

The winning essays stood out for their originality, depth of analysis, and ability to connect theory with real-world impact. Below are the top winners and honorees for this cycle:

Allen Xu’s essay Minutes to Midnight explored the intersection of environmental policy and economics, analyzing carbon taxes and government regulation with nuance and originality. A student at Naperville North High School, Xu’s work drew from his background in congressional debate and research experiences at the University of Michigan and Purdue University Fort Wayne. 

Cemil Türk, a student at Kabataş High School in Istanbul, wrote From Wages to Baskets: Breaking the Social Contract, a thought-provoking piece that examined behavioral economics and social equity through the lens of labor markets. His extensive research background, including work under professors at Koç University and the University of Cambridge, shaped the essay’s analytical strength.

Haokai Gui received third place for Carbon Tax – Fighting for the Environment. While his essay is not currently published on the official Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association website, his recognition highlights the contest’s continued emphasis on policy-driven economic research and global environmental awareness.

Finalists and Highly Commended participants (2024–2025)

Beyond the top three winners, the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest also celebrates an exceptional group of finalists and highly commended participants. These students stood out among hundreds of global entries for their ability to apply economic principles to real-world challenges and present their ideas with depth and originality.

Together, these finalists and highly commended participants represent the intellectual diversity and global reach of the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many students participate in the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest?

The official organizers do not release an exact number of participants for the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest. However, since the HIEEC caps submissions at 200 entries and extended the 2024–2025 deadline from January 5 to January 24, it’s reasonable to infer that the total number of submissions likely fell below the 200-entry limit. This suggests a selective but modest pool of participants.

2. What makes the HIEEC different from other essay competitions?

Unlike most writing contests, the HIEEC focuses specifically on economic reasoning, policy analysis, and real-world application. Organized by the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association, the contest values analytical depth, data-supported arguments, and clear communication over creative or narrative writing.

3. How do I enter the Harvard International Economics Essay Contest?

Students can enter the HIEEC by submitting their essays directly through the official Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association website. There are no nominations or qualifying rounds required. However, submissions must adhere to all official rules, including formatting, length limits, and prompt selection.

4. When is the submission deadline for the HIEEC?

For the 2024–2025 competition cycle, the original submission deadline was set for 11:59 PM EST on January 5, or until 200 submissions were received—whichever came first. However, the organizers later extended the deadline to January 24, which suggests that the total number of submissions had not yet reached the 200-entry cap. Students are still advised to submit early in future cycles, as the contest maintains a strict entry limit each year.

5. What topics or themes does the HIEEC cover?

Each year, the contest features four essay prompts centered on current global economic issues. For the 2024–2025 cycle, these included the role of carbon taxes in environmental policy, taxation as a tool for reducing inequality, the impact of automation on education and workforce development, and the rise of digital currencies in modern finance.

Takeaways

The Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC) provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to think critically about global economic issues, craft data-driven arguments, and apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges. Here are the key takeaways from the contest:

• Competing in the HIEEC highlights your ability to analyze complex topics, structure coherent arguments, and communicate insights effectively—skills that are essential for future success in economics, policy, and related disciplines.
• The 2024–2025 contest featured four essay prompts centered on pressing global concerns, including carbon taxation, income inequality, workforce automation, and digital currencies. These topics reflect the contest’s emphasis on timely and impactful economic debates.
• Top-performing participants, including winners, finalists, and highly commended writers, are recognized on the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association’s official website, a distinction that strengthens their academic and professional credentials.
• Successful essays typically balance rigorous economic reasoning with originality and clarity, using evidence and theory to support fresh perspectives on contemporary issues.
• Working with a college application editor can help you make the most of your winning HIEEC experience. AdmissionSight’s expert team assists students in refining their essays and integrating their contest achievements into college applications, turning their analytical and writing strengths into standout assets for competitive admissions.