Shaurya (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Shaurya entered this essay into the John Locke Global Essay Prize 2025 in the Economics category. He addresses the questions: What kinds of behaviour are engendered by the hope of profit? Is such behaviour better or worse, on balance, than the behaviour we should expect if all … Continue reading What kinds of behaviour are engendered by the hope of profit?
Paarshva (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Paarshva wrote this essay for entry into the annual John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize. Paarshva explores the debate between the political wisdom of the 'lettered'—those with formal education and theoretical knowledge—and the 'unlettered'—those with experiential, practical knowledge. It examines whether the collective judgment of the unlettered … Continue reading David Hume celebrated the wisdom of “unlettered men”. In a democracy, do the votes of unlettered men tend to protect a country against the bad ideas of the lettered or do the votes of the lettered tend to protect a country against the bad ideas of unlettered men?
GSAL Economics Society Editor's note: This collection of insightful essays represents considerable time and effort from passionate, engaging members of GSAL's student-led Economics Society. The student authors wrote these essays during their time in Year 12; they are all now in Year 13. The essays include: Some claim that modern communication platforms, such as Zoom, … Continue reading GSAL Economics Society: A Collection of Essays
Philippa (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 13 student Philippa wrote this insightful essay during their time in Year 12. The essay discusses whether the financial investment in space travel and exploration is justifiable given pressing global issues such as hunger, inadequate housing, and climate change. It questions the morality and priorities of allocating vast sums … Continue reading Is the amount of money spent on space travel and exploration justifiable?
Rehan (Year 12) Editor's note: Rehan, now in Year 13, wrote this essay in year 12. Developing economies face a critical choice between prioritizing environmental sustainability and pursuing economic growth, with climate change posing an urgent global threat that demands economic transformation. CPD Currently, the greatest threat to developing economies is climate change, and it … Continue reading Should developing economies prioritise environmental sustainability over economic growth?
Nayonika (Year 12) Editor's note: Nayonika, now in Year 13, wrote this thought-provoking essay and submitted it to the annual Northeastern University London Essay Competition. CPD The “gig economy” refers to the idea of firms hiring freelancers and temporary workers rather than permanent employees. The gig economy currently is expanding at an exponential rate revolutionising … Continue reading Does expanding the gig economy contribute positively to sustainable economic growth?
Tehan (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Tehan, now in Year 13, wrote this essay for submission to the FCDO Next Generation Economics 2025 competition. They chose to answer the question: While free trade has been the dominant view in the last decades, protectionist policies are on the rise. What are the drivers of … Continue reading What are the drivers of the global moves away from free trade and how should the UK respond?
Rahul (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Rahul, now in Year 13, wrote this essay on free trade - little did he know how relevant it would be at the time of publication in May 2025, with Trump's tariffs and global trade arguably at a crossroads! CPD The impact of free trade on developing … Continue reading Does free trade actually benefit economies of developing nations?
Naomi (Year 9 Student) Editor’s note: This excellent essay was submitted to the annual Perse Aristotelian Award Essay Competition. CPD “It has been said that arguing against globalisation is like arguing against the laws of gravity” Kofi Anann Introduction What type of challenge are we confronting? The combined wealth of the eight richest individuals is equivalent to the … Continue reading What is globalisation and is it widening the gap between rich and poor countries?
Diva (Year 11) Editor's note: Year 11 student Diva entered this essay into the Minds Underground Essay Competition for Economics. The Minds Underground Economics Essay Competition is aimed at students in Year 12 (though younger applicants are welcome). The competition provides students with an opportunity to engage in university-level research, hone their writing skills and … Continue reading Is universal basic income (UBI) a viable solution to inequality in the 21st century?
The GSAL Journal 