2026
This year’s International Economics Regional Round welcomed 450 sign ups from 31 different countries around the world from every continent. Below are the finalists from each region.
Sign ups
Countries
450
31
USA
Vietnam
Italy
UAE
United Kingdom
India
Switzerland
Australia
Peru
Hong Kong
Singapore
South Korea
Malaysia
Brazil
Bahrain
Czechia
Bangladesh
Botswana
Kenya
Latvia
Saudi Arabia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Pakistan
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Taiwan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
South Africa
2026 Olympiad Finalists and Prompt
Anastasia Nesterenko
Europe, Russia, and Central Asia
First Place
1
Jude Wallis
North America
Second Place
2
Haonan Zhao
East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania
Third Place
3
Globalization is over; protectionism is the future of growth.
In an increasingly fragmented global economy, countries and regions are adopting different trade and supply-chain strategies in response to geopolitical risk, technological change, and domestic political pressures.
Each participant will represent one economic bloc:
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​United States
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​China
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​European Union
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​African Union
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​​ASEAN
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Participants must argue through which economic mechanisms their bloc’s trade and supply-chain strategy delivers economic growth in a post-globalization world, and evaluate the associated trade-offs and vulnerabilities.
International Round Finalists
Prompt 1
Prompt 2
Prompt 3
Prompts
The following are the prompts for the 2026 International Economics Olympiad Regional Essay Round.
Prompt 1
"Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important across many sectors. Using economic reasoning, discuss how AI might influence economic activity, particularly through its effects on work, productivity, and the organization of firms."
In your response:
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You may choose to focus on a few themes such as labour markets, productivity, firm behaviour, or broader economic outcomes.​ You do not need to cover everything.
We are most interested in your grasp of core economic theories, models and mechanisms, and how well you apply them to real or emerging developments.
You may draw on examples or evidence where helpful. Ensure that your claims are based on evidence instead of speculation.
Conclude by identifying one potential economic benefit and one potential economic trade‑off associated with the growing use of AI, explaining each using economic concepts.
Prompt 2
"Choose a country or civilization, past or present, that has achieved sustained economic success. Describe the economic systems, institutions, and mechanisms that shaped its development, for example, its approach to incentives, property rights, trade, innovation, labour organization, or resource allocation.
Identify the economic theories or analytical frameworks that best help us understand its performance. These may include growth models, institutional economics, trade theory, development economics, or other relevant approaches. Apply these theories to explain the key factors behind the society’s economic success."
If your example is contemporary, discuss potential economic challenges or constraints that could affect its future growth.
If your example is historical, analyze the economic factors that contributed to its stagnation or decline.
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Your essay should focus on economic mechanisms and reasoning rather than political narrative or descriptive history, and it should be supported by reputable sources.
Prompt 3
"Analyze the role of international trade in shaping the economic development of countries. Using historical or contemporary examples, explain the economic mechanisms through which trade influences productivity, specialization, advantages/disadvantages, competition, and resource allocation.
Discuss how integration into global markets has contributed to the growth and transformation of economies, and identify factors that enhance or limit the benefits of trade. Explore elements such as geography, institutions and other factors that shape how much trade matters such as amplifiers or constraints."
Your essay should focus on economic reasoning and established theory, citing reputable sources where appropriate. Avoid policy advocacy, and emphasize observable economic effects rather than normative judgments."