Bristol BSc Economics student, Belle Miller, recently won ‘Economist of the Year’ – a competition open to undergraduate and postgraduate students around the world, organised by Symbiosis School of Economics.
Belle writes about her amazing achievement, and what she gained from the experience…
This February, I achieved first place in the ‘Economist of the Year’ competition, hosted by Symbiosis School of Economics in Pune, India. As a second-year economics student at the University of Bristol, I was excited to take part in this global competition, which provided a fantastic opportunity to apply my academic knowledge to real-world economic challenges.
I first learned about the competition through an email sent to economics students at my university. The theme for this year – ‘AI: Economics and the Economy’ – immediately caught my attention. With the rapid integration of AI across businesses and governments globally, I was eager to research the implications of AI in greater depth.
The competition was structured in three rounds, each testing different aspects of economic understanding and application. The first round was a fast-paced quiz assessing competitors’ understanding of AI, economic theory, and general knowledge. With participants from 397 universities worldwide, only 50 participants advanced to the next stage.
The second round was a game theory challenge, where we were paired up and assumed the roles of heads of state navigating an AI-induced political crisis. This round was particularly engaging as it allowed me to apply the knowledge of game theory I have gained within my degree and my interest in political economics. My teammate and I carefully balanced ethics, military, and resource ‘tokens’ to propose political solutions and a diplomatic speech, which secured our place in the final round.
The final stage required each of the six finalists to deliver a presentation on one of four topics relating to AI. Given my keen interest in economic development and political economics, I chose to address the question ‘Should a globally unified AI system be introduced to reduce political tensions and ensure equitable development?’. Due to the difference in time zones between the UK and India, I woke up at 5AM to present virtually to 250 audience members. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my research and conclusions, as well as responding to questions posed by the panel of esteemed judges. I also appreciated listening to the presentations of my fellow competitors. When the results were announced, I was overjoyed to hear I had secured first place!
Taking part in this competition was a truly enriching experience that pushed me to think critically and apply economic theory in innovative ways. It was also an excellent opportunity to present to industry experts and esteemed academics on topics I am passionate about. For anyone considering entering next year, I would highly recommend it! The competition offers an incredible opportunity to engage in stimulating discussions and apply your economics knowledge on a global stage.