John Locke Global Essay Prize 2025 Economics Prompts Breakdown
The John Locke Institute has just released the prompts for their international essay writing competitions for high school students. They have released three prompts for each of the following categories, philosophy, politics, economics, history, law, psychology, and theology. Each essay must address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed 2000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, endnotes, bibliography or authorship declaration).
To be eligible to compete, one's 19th birthday must fall after June 30th, 2025. Given this easily satisfied requirement for high school students the world over, many compete in this competition, making it incredibly competitive.
The John Locke Competition is one of the most prestigious essay writing competitions for high school students. It ranks alongside the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards as a humanities extracurricular activity that would impress admissions officers. Placing competitively in this competition could be what convinces an admissions officer at an elite university to admit an applicant.
One major difference between the John Locke competition and the Scholastic Writing and Arts Awards is that it has a right-wing, instead of a left-wing focus. Past winning essays have argued for fringe ideas like anarcho-capitalism. The John Locke Institute is committed to upholding the principles of classical liberalism espoused by John Locke, the founder of liberalism. Being liberal in Europe has a different connotation than it does in the U.S. While liberalism in the U.S. is associated with center-left politics like the Democratic Party, in Europe, it denotes what Americans would call conservatives, who believe in laissez-faire economic policies and upholding individual freedom to the point that it might enable individuals to infringe on the liberties of others, such as individuals having the right to deny service to people at their place of business due to their sexual orientation.
Despite the competition's right-wing focus, and the well-known left-wing bias of academics and admissions officers, high school students can place competitively without arguing for positions that would decrease their likability with a left-wing audience when applying to college.
We have extensive experience guiding applicants through this competition and are proud to have students who received at least a commendation from the judges. In this article, we will outline the three economics questions they ask and provide resources, along with cliff notes for these resources, to help start one's journey towards drafting compelling answers to these questions.
Economics Q1:
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 enterprises were owned by charities or governments?
Historical Sources
John Locke, "Second Treatise of Government" (1689)
Discusses how property rights arise through labor and how the pursuit of property (profit) leads to industry and productivity
Argues that private property creates incentives for development and efficient use of resources
Presents the idea that governments exist primarily to protect property rights
John Locke, "Some Considerations of the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest" (1691)
Examines how profit motives in financial markets affect economic behavior
Analyzes the relationship between interest rates, investment, and economic activity
Provides insights into Locke's understanding of commercial incentives
Adam Smith, "The Wealth of Nations" (1776)
Introduces the concept of the "invisible hand" where self-interest (profit seeking) leads to social benefits
Examines how profit motives drive specialization and efficiency
Offers a foundational perspective on market economies and their behavioral implications
Max Weber, "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" (1905)
Connects profit-seeking behavior to religious and cultural values
Examines how profit motives became morally sanctioned in Western societies
Offers a sociological perspective on the cultural foundations of capitalist behavior
Contemporary Sources
Joseph Stiglitz, "The Price of Inequality" (2012)
Analyzes how profit-maximizing behavior in modern economies can exacerbate inequality
Examines market failures and the limitations of profit-driven systems
Presents evidence on how profit motives can distort economic outcomes
Elinor Ostrom, "Governing the Commons" (1990)
Studies how communities manage shared resources without pure profit motives
Presents alternative models to both government control and profit-driven private enterprise
Provides empirical evidence of successful non-profit-driven resource management
Daniel Kahneman, "Thinking, Fast and Slow" (2011)
Explores the psychological biases that affect economic decision-making
Challenges purely rational models of profit-seeking behavior
Offers insights into how profit incentives interact with human psychology
Mariana Mazzucato, "The Entrepreneurial State" (2013)
Examines the role of government investment in driving innovation
Challenges the narrative that profit-seeking private enterprise is solely responsible for progress
Provides case studies of successful government-led initiatives
Thomas Piketty, "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" (2013)
Analyzes the long-term distribution of wealth under capitalism
Examines how profit-seeking behavior affects wealth concentration
Offers historical data on the outcomes of profit-driven systems
Raghuram Rajan, "The Third Pillar" (2019)
Explores the balance between markets, government, and communities
Examines the limitations of both profit-driven and state-controlled systems
Proposes a more nuanced view of economic organization
Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson, "Why Nations Fail" (2012)
Analyzes the institutional foundations of economic success
Compares extractive and inclusive economic institutions
Provides historical evidence on different economic systems and their outcomes
Deirdre McCloskey, "Bourgeois Dignity" (2010)
Argues that cultural attitudes toward profit-seeking and commerce drove the Industrial Revolution
Challenges materialist explanations for economic development
Presents a defense of the ethical dimensions of profit-seeking behavior
Amartya Sen, "Development as Freedom" (1999)
Broadens the definition of development beyond profit metrics
Examines how different economic systems affect human capabilities
Provides a framework for evaluating economic systems beyond efficiency
Branko Milanovic, "Global Inequality" (2016)
Studies inequality trends under different economic systems
Compares outcomes in market economies and state-controlled systems
Offers empirical data to evaluate profit-driven versus state-driven approaches
Key Issues and Questions to Address
To write a comprehensive essay on this topic, you'll need to contend with several fundamental issues:
The Nature of Profit Motivation
How does the hope of profit affect human decision-making and behavior?
Is profit-seeking primarily self-interested, or can it align with broader social goals?
How do profit incentives influence innovation, risk-taking, and resource allocation?
Efficiency and Resource Allocation
Do profit-driven enterprises allocate resources more efficiently than charities or governments?
What are the empirical outcomes of profit-driven versus non-profit-driven systems?
How do market mechanisms compare to central planning or charitable decision-making?
Ethical Dimensions
Is profit-seeking behavior inherently more or less ethical than altruistic or public-service motivations?
How do different cultural and philosophical traditions evaluate profit-seeking?
Can profit motives be reconciled with broader ethical concerns?
Alternative Models and Hybrid Systems
What examples exist of successful non-profit or government enterprises?
How do mixed economies balance profit-driven and non-profit sectors?
What institutional arrangements might capture the benefits of profit motivation while mitigating drawbacks?
Social Outcomes and Externalities
How do profit-driven systems address (or fail to address) externalities and public goods?
What are the distributive consequences of profit-driven versus non-profit systems?
How do different economic arrangements affect social cohesion and community welfare?
Human Nature and Institutions
Do humans naturally respond better to profit incentives than to other motivations?
How do different institutional arrangements channel human behavior?
Can institutions be designed to harness beneficial aspects of profit-seeking while limiting harmful ones?
Historical Context and Evidence
What historical evidence exists about the performance of different economic systems?
How have profit-driven and non-profit sectors evolved over time?
What can we learn from comparative studies of different economic arrangements?
Locke's Perspective
How would Locke's philosophy of property rights and government inform this debate?
How does Locke's view of human nature relate to profit-seeking behavior?
Can Locke's ideas be applied to modern economic questions?
For your essay, I recommend approaching this question by first establishing a balanced framework for evaluation that acknowledges both the strengths and weaknesses of profit-driven behavior. Then, systematically examine the evidence and arguments from different perspectives, drawing on both historical and contemporary sources. Finally, develop a nuanced conclusion that recognizes the complexity of the issue while offering a clear perspective on the balance of benefits and drawbacks.
Economics Q2:
What will be the effect on socio-economic mobility of the UK government's plan to impose value added tax on school fees?
Historical Sources
John Locke, "Some Thoughts Concerning Education" (1693)
Outlines Locke's views on education as fundamental to developing rational individuals
Emphasizes the importance of education in creating moral and productive citizens
Provides historical context for debates about access to education and social mobility
Adam Smith, "The Wealth of Nations" (1776)
Discusses education as a public good and its relationship to economic development
Examines the role of human capital in economic productivity
Presents early economic arguments for public investment in education
Pierre Bourdieu, "Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture" (1970)
Introduces concepts of cultural, social, and economic capital in education
Examines how educational systems reproduce social inequalities
Offers theoretical framework for understanding how private education affects social mobility
Anthony Giddens, "The Third Way" (1998)
Discusses the balance between state provision and market mechanisms in social policy
Examines how educational policy fits into broader social democratic frameworks
Provides political context for education taxation policies
Contemporary Academic Research
Francis Green et al., "Private Schooling and Labour Market Outcomes" (2017)
Analyzes the wage premium associated with private education in the UK
Examines career progression differences between privately and state-educated individuals
Provides empirical data on the economic advantages conferred by private education
The Sutton Trust, "Social Mobility and Education" (2019)
Documents educational inequality in the UK and its impact on social mobility
Examines access barriers to high-quality education for disadvantaged groups
Provides data on the relationship between school type and university access
Institute for Fiscal Studies, "The Effect of Taxes and Benefits on UK Inequality" (2021)
Analyzes how tax policies affect income distribution
Examines the redistributive effects of different taxation approaches
Provides economic modeling of tax incidence and behavior change
Sam Friedman and Daniel Laurison, "The Class Ceiling" (2019)
Examines how class background affects career progression in the UK
Documents the advantages conferred by private education in elite professions
Provides qualitative and quantitative data on mobility barriers
Diane Reay, "Miseducation: Inequality, Education and the Working Classes" (2017)
Analyzes how educational inequalities are experienced by working-class students
Examines the psychological and social impacts of educational stratification
Provides context for understanding potential effects of educational policy changes
Policy Documents and Economic Analyses
UK Treasury, "Impact Assessment of VAT on School Fees" (use most recent)
Outlines government projections for revenue and behavioral responses
Presents official rationale and expected outcomes
Provides baseline assumptions for policy implementation
Institute for Public Policy Research, "The State of the State" (2022)
Examines public service provision in the UK, including education
Analyzes policy alternatives for education funding
Provides progressive perspective on educational taxation
Independent Schools Council, "Economic Impact of Independent Schools" (latest report)
Presents data on the economic contribution of private schools
Outlines scholarship and bursary provisions
Provides industry perspective on taxation impacts
Resolution Foundation, "Intergenerational Fairness" (latest report)
Examines wealth and opportunity gaps between generations
Analyzes how educational advantages perpetuate across generations
Provides context for understanding long-term mobility impacts
OECD, "Education at a Glance" (latest edition)
Compares educational outcomes and financing across developed nations
Provides international context for UK educational policy
Examines relationship between educational systems and social mobility
Social Market Foundation, "Private School Policy Reform" (most recent)
Analyzes different approaches to private school policy
Examines middle-ground policy options
Provides balanced perspective on reform consequences
Media and Contemporary Commentary
Financial Times, "The Economic Impact of VAT on School Fees" (recent article)
Presents financial analysis of the policy's impact
Examines potential behavioral responses from parents and schools
Provides business perspective on policy implications
The Economist, "Education and Inequality in Britain" (recent article)
Offers economic analysis of educational stratification
Examines international comparisons of educational policy
Provides context on broader inequality trends
Key Issues and Questions to Address
To write a comprehensive essay on this topic, you'll need to contend with several fundamental issues:
Direct Economic Effects
How will adding 20% VAT affect demand for private education?
Which socioeconomic groups will be most affected by the price increase?
Will there be differential impacts across regions, school types, and fee levels?
State School Capacity and Funding
How will state schools accommodate potential transfers from private schools?
Will additional tax revenue effectively translate to improved state education?
What are the regional variations in state school capacity and quality?
Behavioral Responses
How will private schools adapt (fee adjustments, cost-cutting, mergers)?
How will different family types respond (stay, leave, relocate, economize elsewhere)?
What substitution effects might occur (international schools, homeschooling, tutoring)?
Social Mixing and Segregation
Will increased movement between sectors lead to greater social integration?
How might changing school demographics affect educational outcomes?
Will the policy reduce or potentially reinforce educational stratification?
Long-term Mobility Impacts
How do educational pathways influence career outcomes and earnings?
What is the relationship between private education and elite university access?
How might changes in educational provision affect intergenerational mobility?
International Competitiveness
How might changes affect the UK's position in global education?
Will there be implications for international student attraction?
Could there be broader economic impacts through human capital effects?
Distributional Justice
Is taxing private education a matter of fairness or potentially counterproductive?
How should we weigh parental choice against educational equality?
What philosophical frameworks help evaluate the justice of such policies?
Evidence-Based Assessment
What does empirical evidence suggest about similar policies elsewhere?
How reliable are predictive models of behavioral responses?
What methodological challenges exist in assessing socio-economic mobility impacts?
Alternatives and Modifications
What alternative policies might achieve similar goals with different tradeoffs?
Could more targeted approaches (progressive fee structures, partnership requirements) be more effective?
What complementary policies might enhance positive outcomes or mitigate negative ones?
Transition and Implementation
How might phasing and grandfathering provisions affect outcomes?
What support mechanisms might be needed during implementation?
How should success or failure of the policy be measured?
For your essay, I recommend approaching this question by first establishing a clear analytical framework that distinguishes short-term effects from long-term mobility impacts. Then, systematically examine the evidence and competing perspectives, acknowledging uncertainty where it exists. Consider both intended and unintended consequences, and develop a balanced assessment that recognizes the complexity of educational systems and their relationship to social mobility.
Your essay should aim to move beyond ideological positions to engage with empirical evidence while acknowledging the normative questions at stake. Since this is a John Locke competition, you might particularly consider how Locke's views on education and property rights might inform contemporary debates about educational access and taxation.
Economics Q3:
Should Oxford lower its admissions standards for the sons and daughters of generous benefactors?
Historical Sources
John Locke, "Some Thoughts Concerning Education" (1693)
Examines the purpose and principles of education
Argues for education based on character development and rational thinking
Provides philosophical grounding for merit-based approaches to educational opportunity
John Stuart Mill, "On Liberty" (1859)
Explores principles of individual liberty and social utility
Discusses education as a means of developing autonomous individuals
Offers philosophical framework for balancing individual rights with social goods
Michael Sandel, "What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets" (2012)
Examines the ethical boundaries of market principles in non-market domains
Analyzes the corrupting influence of money in areas traditionally governed by non-market norms
Provides philosophical framework for evaluating the ethical dimensions of "donor advantage"
John Rawls, "A Theory of Justice" (1971)
Presents the "veil of ignorance" thought experiment for designing just institutions
Argues for fair equality of opportunity as a principle of justice
Offers theoretical basis for evaluating admissions policies from a justice perspective
Academic Research on University Admissions
Anthony Lising Antonio and Neal Perea Way, "College Student Access: How Stratification Creates Inequality" (2022)
Examines patterns of social reproduction in elite university admissions
Analyzes various forms of advantage in college access
Provides empirical data on socioeconomic factors in university admissions
Daniel Golden, "The Price of Admission" (2006)
Investigates preferential treatment for wealthy donors' children at elite universities
Documents specific cases of admissions advantages
Provides investigative journalism on "development admits" practices
Natasha Kumar Warikoo, "The Diversity Bargain" (2016)
Compares admissions practices and meritocracy concepts at elite universities
Examines student attitudes toward various forms of admissions advantage
Provides cross-cultural perspective on merit and access in higher education
Paul Tough, "The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us" (2019)
Examines the role of higher education in social mobility
Analyzes various barriers to equitable access in university admissions
Provides contemporary context for debates about merit and advantage
Oxford-Specific Resources
Oxford University, "Annual Admissions Statistical Report" (most recent)
Provides data on Oxford's current admissions demographics
Examines access initiatives and their outcomes
Offers baseline data for understanding current admission patterns
History of the University of Oxford (multiple volumes)
Documents historical patterns of access and exclusion at Oxford
Examines the evolution of Oxford's relationship with wealth and privilege
Provides historical context for current debates about admissions
Office for Students, "Access and Participation Plans - University of Oxford" (most recent)
Outlines regulatory requirements for equitable access
Documents Oxford's commitments to widening participation
Provides policy context for admissions debates
Oxford University Development Office, "Philanthropic Impact Report" (most recent)
Documents the role of philanthropy in Oxford's operations
Examines how donations are used and their institutional impact
Provides context for understanding the importance of benefactors
Comparative and International Perspectives
Jerome Karabel, "The Chosen: The Hidden History of Admission and Exclusion at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton" (2005)
Examines historical practices of preferential admissions at elite American universities
Documents how definitions of "merit" have shifted over time
Provides comparative perspective on donor influence in admissions
Thomas Piketty, "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" (2013)
Analyzes mechanisms of intergenerational wealth and privilege transfer
Examines education's role in either challenging or reinforcing inequality
Provides economic framework for understanding elite reproduction
OECD, "Equity in Education" (most recent)
Compares educational access across developed nations
Examines policy approaches to educational equity
Provides international benchmarks for evaluating access policies
Contemporary Commentary and Case Studies
The Sutton Trust, "Access to Advantage" (most recent report)
Documents socioeconomic gaps in UK university admissions
Analyzes various forms of advantage in the admissions process
Provides data on contextual admissions outcomes
"Operation Varsity Blues" Case Documentation and Analysis
Examines recent high-profile admissions scandal in the US
Documents illegal means of securing preferential admissions
Provides cautionary perspective on corrupting influence of wealth in admissions
Key Issues and Questions to Address
To write a comprehensive essay on this topic, you'll need to contend with several fundamental issues:
The Nature of Merit in Admissions
How should "merit" be defined in university admissions?
Is academic achievement the only relevant form of merit?
How do different conceptions of merit advance or hinder educational goals?
Institutional Mission and Integrity
How would donor-preference admissions affect Oxford's academic standards and reputation?
What is the proper relationship between philanthropy and core academic functions?
How might such practices affect institutional culture and values?
Fairness and Equal Opportunity
How do we balance fairness to individual applicants against institutional needs?
What constitutes unfair advantage in admissions processes?
How can equal opportunity be meaningfully preserved while acknowledging different circumstances?
Financial Sustainability vs. Academic Independence
How should universities balance financial needs against academic principles?
What alternatives exist for incentivizing philanthropy without compromising admissions?
What are the long-term consequences of different approaches to this tension?
Transparency and Public Trust
How would donor-preference policies affect public trust in elite institutions?
What level of transparency should exist around admissions advantages?
How might different stakeholders respond to explicit or implicit preference systems?
Social Mobility and Privilege Reproduction
How would donor-preference admissions affect social mobility?
What role should elite universities play in challenging or reinforcing existing privilege?
How do admissions policies interact with broader social inequality?
Practical Implementation Questions
If implemented, how would such a system be structured and governed?
What safeguards might prevent corruption or abuse?
How would "generous benefactor" be defined and measured?
Legal and Regulatory Considerations
What legal constraints might apply to donor-preference admissions?
How do anti-discrimination laws intersect with donor relationships?
What regulatory oversight would be appropriate for such practices?
Precedent and Comparative Practices
What can be learned from institutions that have implemented similar policies?
How have other universities managed the relationship between donations and admissions?
What unintended consequences have emerged in other contexts?
Ethical Foundations and Principles
What ethical frameworks best address this question?
How do different philosophical traditions evaluate the monetization of opportunity?
What principles should guide the distribution of educational resources?
For your essay, I recommend approaching this question by first establishing a clear ethical framework for evaluation. Then systematically examine both the philosophical principles and practical consequences at stake. Consider multiple perspectives, including those of meritocratic purists, institutional pragmatists, equity advocates, and philosophical pluralists.
Given the John Locke competition context, you might particularly engage with how Locke's views on education, property, and social responsibility might inform this debate. His emphasis on rational development and character formation in education could provide an interesting lens through which to evaluate the question.
Your essay should aim to move beyond simplistic moral judgments to engage with the complex tradeoffs involved, while still developing a clear normative position. You might consider creative alternatives that could potentially satisfy multiple competing values in this debate.
If you are overwhelmed by the number of sources and complexity of answering these questions, we understand. English teachers don't prepare high school students to tackle such formidable challenges in the humanities. But we do. Schedule a free consultation with a John Locke Essay Writing Competition expert today and learn how to unpack all of these sources to write a coherent and logically sound 2000 word essay which will earn you a competitive placing in this competition and impress admission officers.
