Shakhriniso Kholboeva
Founder & Director
Presidential School in Karshi, Uzbekistan
Inaugural Competition · 2026
Central Asia
Economics Prize
A free economics essay competition for high-school students exploring the economic questions shaping Central Asia.
Open worldwide · Central Asian focus required · Ages 14–19 · Maximum 1,200 words · English · Free entry
2026 submissions are now closed.Review underway
Economics.Evidence.Central Asia.
2026 Competition Update
From submissions
to review.
The inaugural Central Asia Economics Prize received 183 submissions from students across 34 countries and territories.
Preliminary review is currently underway.01 — About
Economics rooted
in the region.
The Central Asia Economics Prize is a free economics essay competition for high-school students aged 14–19.
Students from any country may participate, but all essays must directly engage with the economic context of Central Asia. Participants choose one of four economics questions and submit an individual essay of no more than 1,200 words in English.
The competition encourages students to develop evidence-based arguments, engage with competing perspectives, and apply economic reasoning to real problems.
Organizing Team
The people
behind CAEP.
The organizing team founded and runs the Central Asia Economics Prize. It is separate from the preliminary reviewers and final judging panel.
Bunyod Kabiljanov
Co-Founder & Academic Lead
Presidential School in Karshi, Uzbekistan
Komilkhon Norkhujaev
Co-Founder & Operations Lead
Presidential School in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
02 — Competition
Who can
take part?
The competition is open to high-school students aged 14–19 at the submission deadline. Students from any country may participate, but every essay must directly engage with Central Asia.
Central Asian focus
One country, several countries, or the region as a whole.
Central Asia primarily includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Students are not required to discuss all five countries.
- Free entry
- Individual submissions only
- One essay per participant
- English language only
03 — Questions
Four questions.
Your argument.
Choose one of the four official categories and answer its question. Each invites careful economic reasoning, credible evidence, and an independent response grounded in Central Asia.
04 — Full rules
Clear standards.
Fair participation.
05 — Judging
A careful and
independent process.
Essays are anonymized for review. Preliminary review is currently underway; selected essays will then move to finalist review by the final judging panel.
Assessment principles
What strong essays
demonstrate.
Strong essays will not simply describe an economic issue. They should develop a clear argument, use relevant evidence, engage seriously with competing explanations or counterarguments, and reach a well-supported conclusion.
2026 Review Panels
Independent review,
clearly defined.
Current stage
2026 Preliminary Review Panel
Members are listed as Preliminary Reviewers.
Final stage
Final Judging Panel
Final judges evaluate essays that advance to finalist review.
06 — Awards
Recognition for
outstanding work.
Outstanding participants may receive opportunities for publication, academic recognition, and further engagement with economists and researchers.
WinningEssays
2026Central Asia Economics Prize
07 — Publication
Beyond the
competition.
CAEP intends to publish selected outstanding essays through an official digital collection of winning work.
Selected essays may also be recommended to external publications for independent editorial consideration where opportunities are confirmed.
08 — Academic connections
From essay to
further inquiry.
One objective of CAEP is to help promising students interact with the wider economics community.
Where possible, outstanding participants may be introduced to academics or policy professionals whose work relates to their interests. This may lead to discussion, feedback, reading recommendations, guidance on future writing, or potential future collaboration.
09 — 2026 Timeline
Competition
progress.
Current stagePreliminary Review
September 26 – October 1, 2026
10 — Results
2026 Results
The results of the inaugural Central Asia Economics Prize will be announced in early October 2026.
Finalists
To be announced
Category Winners
To be announced
Overall Winner
To be announced
Winning Essays
Publication links to be added
11 — Submission
Submissions
are now closed.
Submissions for the inaugural Central Asia Economics Prize 2026 closed on 24 September 2026 at 23:59 Uzbekistan Time (UTC+5). The four 2026 essay questions remain available above as part of the competition record.
12 — FAQ
Questions,
answered clearly.
13 — Contact
Questions?
Questions about eligibility, submissions, judging, or competition rules are welcome.