<p>The MAS-ESS Essay Competition is an annual pre-university essay contest co-organised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Economic Society of Singapore (ESS). The 2026 theme focuses on Singapore's AI-driven economic future, asking students to analyse how artificial intelligence can reshape industries, the workforce, and Singapore's competitive advantage while addressing inclusive growth and disruption.</p><ul><li>Eligibility: pre-university students in Singapore regardless of nationality, and Singaporean pre-university students studying abroad (JCs, Centralised Institutes, International Schools, Polytechnics, and pre-university NSFs)</li><li>Launch: 9 March 2026; submission deadline: 1 May 2026</li><li>Prizes: First S$3,000, Second S$2,000, Third S$1,000</li><li>Format: individual essay submission via the Economic Society of Singapore's online entry</li><li>Scope: entries should engage with AI's productivity gains, new industries, labour-market effects, and ethical governance</li></ul><p>Terms and conditions and entry forms are published on the Economic Society of Singapore website at ess.org.sg.</p>