Undergraduate / 'the positive aspects of living in Paris' - Intellectual vitality essay [4]

"Rampant consumerism (seeking material goods without the ability to afford them) is one of the main causes for the current global economic crisis. Restraining consumerism remains a key task for developed countries like the US and Western Europe." What are your views?

Undergraduate / 'creating a welcoming, diverse community' - Why Columbia? [6]

The idea of a decent standard of living without economic growth runs counter to much of what we've been taught about economics, development and even human nature. Yet as Leonora's review of Professor Tim Jackson's book Prosperity Without Growth showed, there are plenty of convincing arguments for why we should rethink our relationship to GDP for the good of both the natural environment and our collective well-being. Today readers with an interest in zero growth economics will get a chance to pose their own questions to Professor Jackson as The Guardian hosts a Q&A; on whether consumerism is ruining our lives: