Harvard International Economics Essay Contest
HIEEC invites high-school students worldwide to make an argument in economics, giving them an opportunity to showcase their analytical writing skills and understanding of economic concepts. This is our largest program, drawing hundreds of essays from dozens of countries each year.
Join the list to be notified when the 2026-2027 contest opens ↓
How HIEEC works
Each year we release a set of prompts on the big questions in economics. Choose one and write a focused essay (around 1,500 words). The contest is open to high-school students in grades 9–12, anywhere in the world. Every entry is read by the HUEA board, and the strongest are judged by a Harvard economics professor (past judges have included Oliver Hart, 2016 Nobel Laureate). Winning essays are published here with the author's permission; Finalists and Highly Commended are recognized by name.
The full 2026–27 rules and prompts will be posted when the contest opens this fall.
Key dates (tentative, subject to change)
Exact dates will confirmed when the contest opens. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates.
Prompts released: October–November
Submission deadline: January
Results: Spring