Young Economist of the Year 2026
A UK economics competition where students analyse a contemporary economic issue through a written, video, podcast or presentation entry. Open to Year 10–13 students, or equivalent, studying in the UK, entering individually or in teams of up to five. Rated Advanced Level, with difficulty mainly coming from economic analysis, evidence-based argument and competitive national judging.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Advanced Level
6 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
14–18
School level
Y10-Y13 and UK-equivalent year groups
Registration method
Individual Allowed
Competition stages
Submission of written or media entry, judging
Fee
Free
Online / in-person
Hybrid
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
Not yet announced by the organiser
Registration closes
29 Jun 2026
Competition starts
1 Sept 2026
Competition ends
31 Oct 2026
Editorial perspective
Our Take
The Royal Economic Society Young Economist of the Year competition sits within Discover Economics, a campaign designed to broaden the appeal of economics and challenge the narrow idea that the subject is only about graphs, numbers or financial markets. The competition is sponsored by KPMG UK and supported by FT Schools, connecting student work with both professional economics and the Financial Times’ approach to explaining real-world issues. That background gives the competition a clear educational purpose: to help students see economics as a way of asking better questions about society. Students in Years 10–13 can enter individually or in groups of up to five, and they do not need to be studying economics. The 2026 format allows a written blog, presentation, podcast or video in response to one of five contemporary questions, including inequality, free trade, dynamic pricing, billionaires and the long-run effects of AI on growth. This flexibility is important because the competition rewards economic reasoning and communication rather than a particular school subject or essay style. The progression after submission also makes it more substantial than a simple writing award. A panel selects five finalists, who present their work and answer questions from an expert panel at an in-person final hosted at KPMG. The competition has also developed regional recognition through a Welsh Award and a new Scottish Award, while past finalists have had opportunities to meet economists and visit institutions connected with economic policy. Students should therefore prepare for explanation and questioning, not just polish a written entry. We rate the Young Economist of the Year at Advanced Level. The open format and no requirement to have studied economics make it approachable, but the need to apply economic ideas to contested public questions and defend them in presentation creates a meaningful challenge. It is a strong fit for students considering economics, PPE, business, politics, geography, public policy or data-informed social science.
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