Essay Question: Can Individual Liberty and Social Justice be Reconciled?

First Place ($1,000) – Garrett M. Petersen

While studying economics at the University of Victoria and later at Queen’s University, Garrett discovered the ideals of liberty by reading F. A. Hayek, Milton Friedman, Thomas Sowell, and Ludwig von Mises. He strives to continue his studies and to think and write in these luminaries’ tradition. He will also receive a trip to the Altas Liberty Forum in November 2013. Read Garrett’s essay.

Second Place ($500) – Michael Sullivan

Michael Sullivan is a second-year Economics undergraduate at Memorial University of Newfoundland. A native of St. John’s, he is an executive member of MUN’s Debate Society, a columnist for MUN’s student newspaper, the Muse, and a classically liberal activist.  Read Michael’s essay.

Third Place ($300) – Michael Wiebe 

Michael is a Master’s student in economics at the University of Western Ontario and hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in economics and become an academic economist. His primary interests are political economy, development, and institutional economics, and his current research is focused on the economics of the monopoly of violence. Michael completed his undergraduate studies  at the University of Manitoba. Read Michael’s essay.

Fourth Place ($250) – Jonah Bennet

A fourth-year political science student at Simon Fraser University, Jonah’s parents decided to opt for homeschooling when he completed the first grade in a couple months with a private tutor. He was homeschooled for his entire education past the first grade. He blogs at http://jonahbennett.com. Read Jonah’s essay.