Year 13 Economist Promit Anwar is the joint winner of The Royal Economic Society’s Young Economist of the Year Competition 2008. Promit (pictured meeting the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor John Marshall) beat off competition from nearly 400 other entries from as far afield as Singapore to claim the title and £1,000 prize.
The task was to write up to 2,000 words on which economic idea or policy has most power to improve our lives. Promit wrote on international finance policy, putting the case for the creation of an international currency to supplant the dollar. He argued that this would help economic development by improving investment efficiency, easing macro imbalances and providing an international policy instrument. The other joint winner was Lizzy Burden from Withington Girls’ School.
A team of 12 experienced Economics teachers drew up a shortlist. The final judging process was performed by Charles Bean (Deputy Governor, Bank of England), Stephanie Flanders (Economics Editor, BBC) and John Vickers (RES President).
Mr Vickers said: “The Young Economist of the Year Competition…has again excited great interest and brought forth impressive talent. Two entries stood out: Promit Anwar’s thoughtful analysis of global reserves policy and Lizzy Burden’s sharp and engaging account of the power of game theory.”
- Promit and fellow Year 13 student Richard Alam have successfully reached the regional round of the English Speaking Union Mace Debating Competition, thanks to an excellent performance against five local independent schools.