Well folks, our most recent essay contest has come to a close. As a reminder, the contest was split into two essay prompts, each with its own prize pool. Let's see who won!

The contest's first prompt was focused on learning what it would take to get you to change your mind about your economic beliefs. Sadly, I'm still going to have to sit here and wonder just what would shake some of our stronger prior'd posters, since only wumbotarian and I actually wrote one of these damn essays! Now, our essays happen to be great (go! read them!), but seeing as we're both mods, that makes the matter of awarding either of us a prize somewhat awkward. So, I'm going to settle this by diverting the prize money for this to the other prompt, and awarding wumbo and myself the official r/BadEconomics Moral Superiority Award. What prize could be more worthless yet more valuable?

On to the more popular part of the contest, the prompt focused on why you've changed your mind in the past. This prompt yielded a number of interesting tidbits worth reading through, and resulted in the following awards:

First prize for this contest goes to /u/relevant_econ_meme, for this submission reflecting on his economics driven intellectual journey out from the land of Austrian Economics. Congratulations /u/relevant_econ_meme! In addition to reddit premium for your post, I'll also donate $50 in your name to the charity of your choice.

Next up, we have the bonus prize for this prompt, which is being awarded to /u/noactuallyitspoptart for this post detailing a potpourri of worldview changes induced by exposure to economics on subjects ranging from the scientific status of economics to opinions on various economic policy issues to the overall defensibility (and, to some extent, even existence) of various economic ideologies. Congratulations /u/noactuallyitspoptart, in addition to having received reddit premium for your post, I'll also donate $20 in your name to the charity of your choice!

For the People's Choice award (given to the post with the most upvotes at time of adjudication), we have /u/I_am_Norwegian with this post, discussing the process through which he eventually changed his mind about Austrian Economics. Another well deserved award - congratulations /u/I_am_Norwegian! For this prize, you'll be receiving reddit gold for your post.

Thank you everyone who participated, either by submitting an essay or by reading and posting in the comment section! I hope you found it interesting -- stay tuned for the next contest in a few months.