NSW Women in Economics Network (WEN) is proud to launch the fifth year of the Credible Economist Blog Writing Competition, with cash prizes and publication opportunities for outstanding entries.

The competition aims to amplify female voices in economics and raise awareness of WEN’s Credible Economist blog series, which showcases public contributions by female economists and writing on gender economics.

We invite high school students, university students, early career economists to submit an original article (up to 800 words) on an economics topic of their choice. The competition is also open to WEN members who have not previously published the submitted article in major media (e.g. newspaper, magazine, radio or TV). The WEN membership requirement is waived for university and high school students.

Winning and selected entries will be published on WEN’s website and social media platforms.

Prizes
🥇 First place: $250
🥈 Second place: $150
🥉 Third place: $100
Plus complimentary WEN membership for one year for the top three winners and three honourable mentions.

Participants are encouraged to visit the Credible Economist page for examples of the types of articles that have been published previously, as well as previous winner articles, Available here: https://esawen.org.au/content/1140/credible-economist-blog-series. We have also provided six broad themes to spark ideas further below. Use them as prompts, adapt the questions, or write on any economic issue you believe matters for Australia’s future.

Submission Declaration
By submitting an entry, you confirm that the article is your original work and, to the best of your knowledge, has not been previously published in any media outlet (including newspapers, magazines, journals, reports, blogs, or social media) or written by another person. You also grant the Women in Economics Network (WEN) permission to publish your submission, if selected, as part of the Credible Economist blog series and in related WEN publications and media.

For any questions, email admin@esansw.org.au

with the subject: Credible Economist Writing Competition.

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Due date is 1st June

Themes/topics for consideration

Australia’s economic landscape is being reshaped by a range of important issues; while we have identified six priority themes and example questions for your consideration, this list is not exhaustive, and you are welcome to address any topic you believe is significant to Australia’s economy, policymaking, and national competitiveness.

We are not looking for literature reviews. We are looking for insight. We encourage you to explore the second-order effects, the hidden costs, and the uncomfortable truths.

1. Climate Challenges and the Green Transition

The Context: Net Zero 2035 is a legislative target, but the economic path is uncharted. We face a ‘Schumpeterian’ shock of creative destruction.

The Provocations:

• Is Green Hydrogen an export saviour or a subsidy trap?
• Who pays for the transmission upgrades? Taxpayers or electricity users?
• Can we have a ‘Just Transition’ for coal communities, or is regional decline inevitable?

2. AI and the Productivity Conundrum

The Context: Aggregate productivity growth remains sluggish despite significant capital deepening in digital technologies. This disconnect, where investment in AI is high but output gains are invisible in national statistics, dominates current industry policy debates. For AI to drive genuine productivity gains, organisations must fundamentally restructure their operational processes and reskill their workforce.

The Provocations:

• Who will benefit from this restructuring? And who will potentially be replaced by AI?
• Can we trust AI?
• Does the government have enough guardrails to ensure businesses and consumers can rely on these systems?

3. Australia in Asia: The Predicament of Proximity

The Context: We are economically embedded in Asian supply chains but strategically aligned with the Western security bloc. In an era of supply chain fragmentation, the old rules of comparative advantage are breaking. Australia is facing ‘friend-shoring’ pressures with its Western allies.

The Provocations:

• Can Australia afford the cost of ‘de-risking’ its supply chains?
• Is the decline in ‘Asia Literacy’ an economic risk?

4. The Housing Crisis

The Context: Housing remains the single most acute pain point in the domestic economy, acting as a primary driver of both inflation and inequality. The ‘Exit Generation’ is voting with their feet, leaving the cities, and even the country seeking more affordable housing options.

The Provocations:

• The persistent undersupply of houses guarantees that the home price-to-income ratio will continue to rise. Is it time to redesign tax settings like negative gearing and capital gains concessions to rebalance opportunity?
• Is this housing crisis feeding back into the productivity crisis by reducing labor mobility?
• What is the economic cost of young workers leaving Australia?

5. Gender Equality

The Context: The care economy is the engine of our society, yet it is often invisible in our National Accounts.

The Provocations:

• Is the ‘motherhood penalty’ a market failure or the result of policy choices?
• How does the economics of women’s health (e.g., menopause) impact labor supply?
• Is gender equality primarily a moral imperative, an economic necessity, or both?

6. The Digital Welfare State

The Context: In late 2025, Australia implemented one of the most significant digital policy interventions in global history: a legislative ban on social media access for children under the age of 16.

The Provocations:

• Can these measures really solve the rising youth mental health crisis, characterised by self-harm, anxiety, and depression?
• What are the economic implications of this ban?
• What are the compliance costs for the platforms?

All WEN members and students (regardless of membership status) are able to enter! Please note that transgender and non-binary individuals are warmly encouraged to apply.

Participants are encouraged to visit the Credible Economist page for examples of the types of articles that have been published previously, as well as previous winner articles, covering gender equality, behavioural economics, the circular economy, the microeconomic impacts of COVID-19, among others.

Articles will be judged by:

• Leonora Risse, Associate Professor in Economics at QUT and co-founder of WEN;
• Clare Sibly, Program Lead at Australian Institute of Family Studies and former Assistant Commissioner at the Productivity Commission;
• David Kim, Associate Professor at the School of Economics at the University of Sydney; and
• Xunpeng (Roc) Shi, Professor of Energy and Environmental Economics and Sustainability and Research Principal at the University of Technology.

Eligibility criteria

• Articles should be no longer than 800 words on an economics topic of the author’s choosing.
• Applicants must not have previously published any part of their article previously (e.g., newspaper, magazine) or been featured in a media interview (e.g., on radio or TV).
• Participants may use AI tools for brainstorming, outlining, and writing support only. AI must not be used to generate or compose any part of the final submission. All submitted work must be the participant’s own original writing. Blogs will be assessed on their AI use; with failure to comply resulting in disqualification.
• The aim of this competition is to promote female voices in economics and is open to people of any gender, age and professional experience. As such, the competition is intended for everyone!

Evaluation criteria

1. Accessibility and reader engagement (4 points): Articles should be drafted with a general audience in mind. They should avoid jargon, unnecessarily complex language and clearly explain economic concepts. Articles should be engaging to read.
2. Compelling argument (4 points): Arguments should be persuasive and bold. They should take a clear stance on the chosen issue and demonstrate a strong rationale for their argument.
3. Understanding (2 points): Blogs should demonstrate an understanding of the underlying issue they are describing and economic concepts where relevant. 

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