School Winners of the 8th Way to Think Like a 21st Century Economist!

Back in January, Rethinking Economics and Doughnut Economics got together and launched a competition based on the ‘seven ways to think like a 21st century economist’ set out in Kate Raworth’s book Doughnut Economics. The challenge that we threw down was this: 

We’ve been amazed and delighted to receive over 250 entries across three categories – schools, universities, and everyone else – covering a very wide range of themes. And we have been sent a brilliant array of ideas, perspectives, formats and presentations – from text, drawings, audio, and video, to animations, cartoons, prezis, and more.

In other words, we’ve been bowled over by the response. So here’s a very big thank you to everyone who has entered and shared their ideas so generously and creatively – we can’t wait to share them all back with you (keep an eye out for that, coming on Friday 7th June!).

Having assembled a crack team of new-economics judges, we asked them to select the entries that they felt conveyed the most brilliant and most important ideas, most compellingly told. They got to work – and today we are delighted to announce the winners of the Schools category.

First, we want to thank and congratulate every single school student who entered the competition – we were really impressed and inspired by the conviction inherent in the ideas you submitted, and the brilliant ways you shared them. We hope that every one of you will keep on rethinking economics to help make it fit for the century ahead.

As for our winners – here’s goes, with a big drum roll……!

SCHOOLS – FIRST PLACE:

‘From Division of Labour to Cohesive Partnership’ by Presence Tse

Presence Tse

Our judges say:

Congratulations, Presence for this powerful, personal and punchy way of conveying such important ideas in a way that everyone can understand. Yes we must recognise humanity’s limits alongside planetary limits – you make your case convincingly and memorably – Kate Raworth

A powerful call for an economics that puts people at its centre. You said in your video that ‘you’re not an economist’ – well I think this entry disproves that theory! – Ross Cathcart

Three runners up (in alphabetical order)

RUNNER UP: ‘Valuing Sustainability in the Price Mechanism’ by Karanvir Singh Kumar

Karanvir Singh Kumar

Our judges say:

The different parts of the argument fitted together well. I liked: the focus on the household as a way of thinking about consumers; the need for innovation to make sustainable living easy; and ‘mindfulness in demand and sustainability in supply’. Congratulations! – Naila Kabeer

Good substance with a clear presentation! – Nancy Folbre

RUNNER UP: ‘Moderate the Fixation on Profits: from profit-obsessed to principle-driven’ by Yun Soo Park and Rhea Kale

Yun Soo Park and Rhea Kale

Our judges say:

A clever animation with a challenge to Adam Smith and the optimality of invisible hand solutions. Along with the focus on managers, you may want to focus more on the role of shareholders too – Naila Kabeer

Well done – I like both the argument and the presentation – Nancy Folbre

RUNNER UP: ‘Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity‘ text (in the link) and drawing (below) by Micol Zubrickante

Our judges say:

Good emphasis on changing culture and mind sets by reversing the geography of power and interdisciplinary education – Naila Kabeer

Kudos for placing economics in the warm light of reality – you are absolutely right that context matters and shapes the possibilities that we consider real, and the realities that we consider possible. An imaginative illustration too! – Kate Raworth

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So congratulations to all our Schools winners – now let’s get to work turning these ideas into reality.

Tomorrow (Wednesday 5th June) we’ll be announcing the winners of the Universities category, and on Thursday 6th June we’ll announce the winners among Everyone Else.

On Friday 7th June we’ll be turning this competition into a unique collaboration, so keep a look out for a brilliant celebration of all of the ideas submitted…

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