Essay Contest Topics
2011-2012
What is the value of higher education?
2010-2011
What role, if any, should government play in job creation?
2009-2010
What economic factors may be contributing to the problem of obesity, and how can economics be applied to address the problem?
2008-2009
What role, if any, should the government play in energy markets?
2007-2008
Hamilton vs. Jefferson: Whose economic vision was better?
2006-2007
Is immigration good or bad for the U.S. economy?
2005-2006
What economic lessons can be drawn from an illegal drug deal?
2004-2005
Why are some countries rich and some countries poor?
2003-2004
What role, if any, should the government
play in addressing income inequality?
2002-2003
Select a major problem concerning
the ecological environment. Using economic analysis, show how this problem
should be addressed.
2001-2002
Is there a housing shortage?
What role should government play in the housing market?
2000-2001
The Great Depression: Could it happen again?
1999-2000
What does this 1973 picture of a gas station without
gas to sell imply about how markets work? How can the lessons portrayed
in the picture guide policymakers today?
1998-1999
What economic lessons can be drawn from this painting
of a bustling sixteenth century Dutch market?
1997-98 Essay Contest
Why do some countries grow faster than others?
What, if anything, can a central bank do to enhance economic growth?
1996-97 Essay Contest
Should states be permitted to use targeted incentives
to recruit businesses?
1995-96 Essay Contest
What exchange rate system
should central banks adopt?
1994-95 Essay Contest
What role should the Federal
Reserve play in the payments system?
1993-1994
Is the Community Reinvestment
Act a necessary and effective tool for eliminating discrimination in lending?
1992-1993
Central Banks in Emerging Economies
1991-1992
Is reform of the banking system
necessary and, if so, what types of reform would be most effective?
1990-1991
How successful has the floating
exchange rate system been compared to the fixed exchange rate system?
And, what modifications would you recommend, if any?
1989
Is the Federal Reserve Too Independent?