HIEEC 2024-2025 Results

Winners

  • Allen Xu

    “Minutes to Midnight”

    Allen Xu is a junior at Naperville North High School, passionate about economics, policy, and social innovation. His interest in environmental economics began through congressional debate, where he competed in tournaments nationwide—including at Harvard—on topics like subsidies and carbon taxes. These conversations sparked a curiosity that led him to conduct research at the University of Michigan and Purdue University Fort Wayne, publishing a paper linking government-induced economic failures and democratic backsliding to carbon emissions. Eventually, these experiences inspired his essay for this year’s contest! Believing advocacy and policy alone cannot fully address challenges like climate change, Allen spends much of his time bridging economics with entrepreneurship.

    He runs businesses focused on accessibility for visually impaired athletes and educational technology, and leads a nonprofit organization equipping young entrepreneurs with business education through free camps and “Fish Tank” competitions.

  • Elvyn Lim

    “From Wages to Baskets: Breaking the Social Contract”

    Cemil Türk is a junior at Kabataş High School in Istanbul, one of Türkiye’s most selective high schools, where he studies in the IB program. He has conducted research under professors from Koç University and the University of Cambridge, having authored independent research papers on behavioral economics and international politics under the mentorship of Cambridge Faculty. He has chaired international European Youth Parliament (EYP) committees on foreign affairs, legal affairs, and human rights in sessions across Europe. After placing first nationwide in the 29th Turkish Philosophy Olympiad, he was selected to represent Türkiye at the 33rd International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO). He is currently researching AI and large language model (LLM) ethics at Non-Trivial. His academic interests center on the intersection of economics, politics, and philosophy.

  • Haokai Gui

    “Carbon Tax - Fighting for the Environment”

  • Finalists

    Amy Jia
    Joshua Hong
    Ho Ka Chun
    Xiyuan Chen
    Sharanya Yashasvi
    Sin Eike
    Yichen Wang
    Melody Zou
    Zhirou Fang
    Aditya Swamy
    Alexei Varah
    Samuel Cao
    Sonal Setty
    Aryaveer Towar
    Ran Gu

  • Highly Commended

    Iris Cao
    Jimin Yeo
    Siddharth Sofin
    Samara Patel
    Kaavya Jain
    Adhor Ahluwalia
    Su April Aung
    Shivansh Gupta
    Zihang Ding
    Ping-Yi Chang
    Li Chen
    Yangfei Chen
    Ziyu Chen
    Dev Goyal
    Meng-Yu Chang

2024-2025 Prompts

Prompt 1: Environment

Carbon taxes have been implemented in many countries, including in Europe and the United States, and are considered to play a significant role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are criticisms regarding this approach, such as the argument that it is not effective because enterprises may keep polluting as long as they pay the cost. Additionally, the competitive advantage of imported products from countries without carbon taxes raises questions about its effectiveness. What unique effects can be anticipated from carbon taxes compared to subsidies for renewable energy? To address the concerns currently raised about carbon taxation, what potential alternatives could be considered?

​Prompt 2: Inequality

Consider a country where income taxes are used to address socioeconomic inequality by taxing a portion of citizens' earnings, typically in a way that is proportional to income. Now, imagine that this government is debating a policy shift that would eliminate income taxes for all employed persons, replacing them with a new consumption tax on goods and services, proportional to the value of each item purchased. Analyze the potential short-term and long-term economic and social effects of this policy shift within this country, as well as possible impacts on its relationships with other nations. Would you recommend this approach as a viable alternative to income taxes? Additionally, consider how at least two different groups (e.g., high-income earners, retirees, unemployed persons) might view this policy change. Would they likely support or oppose it, and why?

Prompt 3: Workforce & Education

As automation and technological advancements continue to reshape industries, the skill sets required in the workforce are rapidly changing. How should education systems adapt to prepare students for a future dominated by automation and artificial intelligence? Evaluate the potential economic impact of reorienting education around STEM fields versus soft skills and critical thinking. What changes can be made at both the policy and institutional levels to ensure a workforce that is resilient and capable of thriving in an automated world?

Prompt 4: Crypto/Finance

With the rise of cryptocurrencies and the potential introduction of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), the role of traditional central banks may undergo significant shifts. How might the widespread adoption of digital currencies affect monetary policy, financial stability, and global capital flows? Should central banks regulate or embrace these innovations? Discuss the potential benefits and risks of digital currencies for consumers, businesses, and governments, and analyze how monetary systems could evolve in response.