Turkish student Cemil Turk becomes first from Türkiye to win prestigious Harvard Essay Competition

Cemil Turk, a student at Kabatas Boys High School in Istanbul, has become the first-ever participant from Türkiye to win the prestigious High School International Economics Essay Competition (HIEEC), which is organized by the Harvard Economics Society in collaboration with Harvard Business School.

Turk’s winning essay focused on the transition from income tax to consumption tax in middle-income countries and will be published by the Harvard Faculty of Economics—a major milestone for a student from Türkiye in the global academic landscape.

Global academic milestone for Türkiye

Established in 2018, the HIEEC is widely regarded as one of the most significant academic competitions for high school students worldwide. Each year, students submit essays on key economic issues, and only three winners are selected from hundreds of entries. Until now, the competition had only been won by students from the United States and Asia.

Turk’s selection not only marks a historic first for Türkiye but also introduces a new voice from a country often underrepresented in such elite academic circles.

Exploring inequality through economic policy

Turk chose the theme of “inequality” from among four essay topics, which also included environment, finance, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce. His 1,500-word essay examined the potential benefits and drawbacks of replacing income tax with a consumption tax in a middle-income country.

“I wanted to show that economics is not just about numbers — it’s about people and society,” said Turk in an interview with Hurriyet.

Drawing on case studies from New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and Brazil, Turk illustrated how policy design can either mitigate or exacerbate economic disparities. New Zealand served as a model for success, having implemented a consumption-based tax system in the 1980s while reinforcing social safety nets. Zimbabwe, in contrast, suffered negative consequences because of insufficient government planning, while Brazil represented a more complex middle ground.

From Istanbul to Ivy League

The path to victory began in September, when Turk discovered the competition through social media. After months of preparation and writing, his efforts culminated in the announcement of his victory in early April.

“Students from Türkiye had participated in the past, but none made it into the top three,” he said. “Winning came as a surprise.”

Now setting his sights on studying international politics, economics, or philosophy at Harvard or Yale, Turk is one step closer to realizing his academic dreams.