eligibility
Current LSE Undergraduate Students only
format
Participants can choose to either answer a question from Section A, OR produce their own question following one of the open topics given in Section B.
*Guiding questions for essay structure (but not necessarily have to be followed).
All essays will be judged impartially, regardless of whether students use their own question or a suggested question.
questions
Section A
1. The global pandemic has not only shed light on the various inequalities present within economic, political, and social frameworks in developing countries but also deepened them. How has COVID-19 exacerbated inequality within education? What are some solutions crucial stakeholders can take to address this issue?
2. In 2009, Hillary Clinton called India “not just a regional power, but a global power”. Discuss whether this opinion still holds today for India’s economy.
Section B
[Open Category Topics]
Pick a developing economy
1. Discuss a major economic event that affected it within the last 50 years *[Explain the short and long-term implications this had on the global economy and future policy decisions of stakeholders.]
2. Comment on its polarization and political divisions. *[What are the major factors that have led to this development and what are its impacts?]
3. Comment on how it can reduce emissions and bring about sustainability without compromising economic growth and expansion in the post-pandemic world.
SUBMISSION FORMAT
– Your entry must be in English and at 1,500 words maximum, not including titles, titles of charts, footnotes, citations or bibliography.
– Accepted citation styles: APA, Harvard, Chicago, MLA.
– Your entry must be submitted as a PDF only, in size 12, font Times New Roman, double-spaced.
– Please name your file exactly as follows: Full name_Section_Question Answered (e.g. AdamSmith_SectionA_ Question 1).
AWARDS
1ST PLACE
– 60 pounds,
– Signed Copy of What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract Book by Minouche Shafik, Baroness Shafik,
– Published Article on social media platforms of LSESU Developing Markets Society
2ND PLACE
– 40 pounds,
– Signed Copy of What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract Book by Minouche Shafik, Baroness Shafik,
– Published Article on social media platforms of LSESU Developing Markets Society
3RD PLACE
– Signed Copy of What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract Book by Minouche Shafik, Baroness Shafik,
– Published Article on social media platforms of LSESU Developing Markets Society
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please also observe that by entering you agree to the terms and conditions listed below:
Your submitted essay must be an original piece of work written solely for this competition.
Each person is only allowed to submit one entry. No co-authorship is allowed.
You cannot make any revisions to your essay once it has been submitted.
Any personal data relating to entrants will be used solely for the purpose of this competition and will not be disclosed to any third parties for any purpose without prior consent.
The winner, runners up and the shortlisted will be contacted via the email used to submit the essay. Unfortunately, any other feedback on the essay will not be possible.
The LSESU Developing Markets Society reserves the final right, where necessary, to make amendments to the above terms and conditions and to select the winners of the competition.
Enquiries on the Policy Research Essay Competition should be sent to developing.markets@lsesu.org.
LSESU Developing Markets Society 