Spring 2026 High School Essay Contest:
Prompts:
*Participants are required to respond to only ONE of the following prompts.
- The Economics of Artificial Intelligence:
Artificial intelligence is expected to affect workers differently across the skill distribution. Analyze how AI adoption may reshape labor demand for high-skill, middle-skill, and low-skill workers in the United States, considering both productivity-enhancing and displacement effects. Discuss how these impacts might influence wage inequality. Propose and critically evaluate one specific policy designed to help workers adapt to AI-driven changes. - Education and the Cost of College:Over the past several decades, the rising college wage premium has been identified as a major contributor to income inequality in the United States. Analyze two structural factors that have amplified this premium. Then, propose and defend a specific policy aimed at reducing inequality by addressing these educational disparities. What trade-offs or unintended consequences might the policy create?
Timeline:
| Prompt Release | Released Above! |
| Due Date | March 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST |
| Winner Announced | First week of May |
Formatting Guidelines:
All submissions must follow standard MLA format. Essays should:
- Be no longer than 1,000 words (not including the Works Cited page or any figures you wish to include).
- Use 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Include a Works Cited page at the end of the essay.
- Be submitted as either a PDF or Word (.docx) file.
Essays that do not follow these formatting guidelines may be disqualified.
Submission Details:
All submissions must be completed through our official Google Form:
Submissions sent via email or other platforms will not be reviewed.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy:
The use of artificial intelligence tools (including but not limited to ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) is not permitted at any stage of the essay-writing process. All submissions must entirely be the applicant’s own original work, including idea development, analysis, and writing.Essays found to have used AI assistance will be disqualified. By submitting an essay, applicants affirm that their work complies fully with this policy.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are international students eligible to participate?
Yes! We accept submissions globally.
I’ve already graduated from high school. Am I eligible to participate?
You are only eligible to participate if you haven’t begun your undergraduate university studies yet. So if you’ve graduated high school, but haven’t started your university studies yet, then you are eligible.
Can students work together to submit an essay?
Unfortunately, we are only accepting essays written by a single student.
What are the prizes for this contest?
If selected, your essay will be published in our magazine Equilibrium, and featured on our website and social media.
Will this look good on my college application?
Yes! If your essay is selected, you’ll be able to put this contest down in the “Awards” section, as well as mention that your essay was featured in Berkeley Economic Review’s magazine publication, Equilibrium.
If your question is not here, please feel free to reach out to berkeleyeconreview@gmail.com. We will do our best to answer any and all inquiries. Best of luck!