<p>The MAS-ESS Essay Competition is an annual essay competition jointly run by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Economic Society of Singapore, open to pre-university students. The 2026 theme is "Singapore's AI-Driven Economic Future" — how artificial intelligence can reshape industries, workforce, and competitive advantage while ensuring inclusive growth and managing disruption.</p> <ul> <li>Open to all pre-university students studying in Singapore regardless of nationality, and to Singaporean pre-university students studying abroad.</li> <li>Includes JC, polytechnic, centralised institute, and international school students, as well as pre-university full-time national servicemen.</li> <li>Prizes: First S$3,000, Second S$2,000, Third S$1,000.</li> <li>Submissions should examine AI's role in productivity, new industries, and Singapore's competitiveness alongside labour-market and ethical-governance challenges.</li> <li>Closing date: 1 May 2026.</li> </ul> <p>Terms and entry forms are available on the Economic Society of Singapore website (ess.org.sg).</p>