The Atlas Economic Research Foundation’s Middle East Program is pleased to announce its third annual Ibn-Khaldun essay contest. Atlas began the contest three years ago to help enhance social, economic, cultural and religious understanding among Islamic societies and the West.

The deadline for this essay contest is November 15, 2008. For more information about the 2008 Ibn Khaldun Essay Contest please check our website. If you or someone you know is interested in competing in the essay contest please send entries here.

First, a little about the man the contest is named in honor of: Abu Zayd Abdurahman bin Muhammad bin Ibn-Khaldun, lived from 1332 AD/732 AH through 1406AD/808 AH. He is one of the most well known Islamic thinkers in history. Ibn Khaldun studied philosophy, history, sociology, economy and theology (he memorized the Holy Quran by Heart).

Ibn Khaldun’s best known work is the Mugaddimah also known in Latin, as Prolegomena. In Mugaddimah he discussed, among other subjects, history of cultures, demography and economy. He introduced the concept popularly known as the Laffer Curve. Stating that, “increases in tax rates initially increase tax revenue, but eventually increases in tax rates cause a decrease in tax revenues. This occurs as too high a tax rate discourages producers in the economy”. (Source: Wikipedia)

The Ibn Khaldun essay contest encourages participants to research, understand and explain the works of Ibn Khaldun as well as other Islamic economist and thinkers and to find common principles shared with those of  Western economic authors and thinkers.