The Marshall Society Essay Competition is a free annual economics essay contest for pre-university students, organized by the Marshall Society — the official economics society of the University of Cambridge. The competition is open to students worldwide with no citizenship or country restrictions.
Each year, the competition releases a set of essay prompts covering a range of economics topics. Students choose one prompt and submit an original essay. Winning and selected essays are awarded prizes and published in The Dismal Scientist, the Marshall Society's magazine.
2026 competition prompts:
- Are tariffs ever fair? Consider both historical precedent and recent developments.
- Can central banks stabilize economies against external energy shocks?
- How did Britain recover economically in the 1930s, and what role did leaving the gold standard play?
- Evaluate Andy Burnham's economic policies as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Should they be replicated nationally?
- How reliable are stock markets as indicators of economic health?
- Does economics have a unique methodology that distinguishes it from other social sciences?
Awards:
- Winning essays receive prizes
- Selected entries are published in The Dismal Scientist, the Marshall Society's student economics magazine
2026 timeline:
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Competition opens | 2026 |
| Submission deadline | August 30, 2026 |
| Winners announced | By end of September 2026 |
About the Marshall Society:
The Marshall Society is the official economics society of the University of Cambridge, named after Alfred Marshall, the pioneering Cambridge economist. The society hosts speaker events, networking opportunities, and publishes The Dismal Scientist.