The judging panel will be guided by the following criteria:

1. Quality of analysis and logic of argument

• Is worthy of publication in a peer-reviewed journal
• Provides exceptional analyses, perspectives, judgments, and/or ideas
• Supports assertions with empirical research

2. Implications for private sector development

• Provides insight into current PSD research
• Develops and supports the implementation of leading-edge PSD initiatives
• Strikes a balance between conceptual and practical considerations for private-sector involvement in developing countries, and the effect of that involvement on development
• Presents balanced arguments acknowledging and exploring the potential downsides of private sector development (PSD) in emerging markets

Please note: We are not looking for overviews of development theory or business strategy.

3. Innovation & originality

• Papers must be materially different from previous formally published work, though they may draw on existing work. This includes:
• Work rewritten or presented for a different audience
• Application of previous work in a different context or new analysis
• New interpretation adding significantly to earlier work
• New data to inform new conclusions

Exception: Direct translation of work previously published exclusively in a non-English language (and meeting all other conditions) is permitted.

4. Relevance to international audiences

• Economic and/or financial policymakers
• The international financial community
• International/domestic investors
• International aid donors

5. Writing style and structure:

• Style: Accessible to a wide readership and not just to economists or financial specialists (i.e., not overly technical)
• Language:
  • All papers must be submitted in English.
  • Some stylistic allowance is made for papers by authors whose first language is not English.
  • Professional translation is allowed, at the author’s expense. IFC and the FT are not responsible for translation errors.
• Legibility: All abstracts and essays must be typed and double-spaced; hand-written or single-spaced entries will not be considered. Authors are requested to include title and page numbers on the abstract and essay.
• Length: Maximum of 4,000 words per essay and 300 words per abstract.
• Data: A limited number of charts or tables may be used. Equations should be avoided as much as possible and, if used, must be confined to an appendix or footnote.
• References: Essays should be in a form readily publishable without extensive footnotes.
• Author anonymity: The author’s name (or authors’ names) must only appear on the cover page. References to the author must not appear anywhere in the abstract, essay text or footnotes.

Evaluation Criteria: Interested in reading last year's winners? Please see 2008 Winning Essays.