Writing on what is wrong with the housing market and how it can be fixed, focusing on the issue here in the UK, Lydia looked at a broad range of factors, such as insufficient supply leading to a high cost of living, the increasing number of buyers, and high prices leading to poor overcrowding in single homes. She also looked at what could be done to help remedy what she calls the ‘housing conundrum’ pointing towards a “true solution” which “lies in better navigating the politics of the real world”, making it “necessary to address the powerful developer lobbies so as to best introduce welfare improving schemes.”

The John Locke Institute’s annual, global essay competition invites young scholars to show their depth of knowledge and persuasiveness of writing across seven different subjects: philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology and law, and gives a chance for work to be read and assessed by experts from the University of Oxford.

Reflecting on her commendation, Lydia said: “Writing the essay gave me the opportunity to do extensive research on a topic that I’m unfamiliar with, and it strengthened my critical thinking skills, as I had to make original arguments and pose solutions to the problem.

“It also provided me with another perspective in analysing different topics, which were very helpful.”