The Harvard International Economics Essay Contest (HIEEC) is a free annual essay competition for high school students worldwide, organized by the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA). Students write a focused essay of approximately 1,500 words responding to one of the annual prompts on major economics questions. All entries are reviewed by the HUEA board, with top submissions judged by a Harvard economics professor.
How it works:
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Prompts released | October–November |
| Submission deadline | January |
| Results announced | Spring |
| Essay length | ~1,500 words |
| Format | Written essay responding to one prompt |
Awards:
- Winning essays are published (with permission)
- Finalists and highly commended entries are recognized by name
- Top submissions are reviewed by a Harvard economics professor
About HUEA:
The Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA) is a student-led organization that serves as a bridge between Harvard undergraduates and the Department of Economics, as well as aspiring economists worldwide. In addition to HIEEC, HUEA also runs HPEC, an in-person quiz bowl competition held annually at Harvard.