Fraser Institute Student Essay Contest
Scholarship Sponsored by Fraser Institute
Fraser Institute 2026 Student Essay Contest — Now accepting submissions! Overview The Fraser Institute’s annual Student Essay Contest for 2026 is open. This competition encourages students to engage in economic debate around current events and public policy. Winners gain the rare opportunity to have their work peer-reviewed and published early in their academic careers, and the top five entries receive cash awards. Theme (2026) “What would the Essential Scholars say about Canadian economic prosperity today?” Background and purpose After recent years marked by inflation and wider economic uncertainty, questions about Canada’s prosperity remain front and centre. Debates range from how Canada stacks up against other OECD nations to potential trade frictions, monetary policy choices, and frequent observations that the economy is “stuck.” These issues highlight the challenges policymakers face in promoting sustained economic wellbeing. Essay assignment Using one scholar from the Fraser Institute’s Essential Scholars series as your foundation, write an essay that explains, supports, or contests a policy related to Canadian economic prosperity. You might: - Apply a particular scholar’s economic framework to evaluate a current policy. - Suggest policies that the chosen scholar would have advocated. - Describe how an existing policy might have been redesigned if informed by that scholar’s ideas. Topics to consider (examples) - Canada’s trade policies - Management and development of Canada’s natural resources - Division of labour and specialization - Government debt and fiscal policy - Interest-rate and monetary policy - Entrepreneurship and business formation in Canada Prizes and benefits - Cash prizes awarded to the top five essays. - Selected winners may have their essays peer-reviewed and published, giving early-career exposure. Why enter Share your perspective on public policy, join a national conversation about economic prosperity, and compete for cash awards and publication opportunities. Note: Be sure to base your essay on the ideas of one Essential Scholar and address Canadian economic prosperity in line with the contest question.
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