Indiana Economics Challenge

Sponsored by:
The Council for Economic Education
The Center for Economic Education in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI


2009 winners


Downloads:

What Is the Indiana Economics Challenge?   

The Indiana Economics Challenge is an opportunity for teams of four high school students (four teams per school limit in one or both divisions) to demonstrate their knowledge on a broad array of economics topics in an atmosphere where economics knowledge is tested and recognized and where competing is FUN.  Any Indiana student enrolled in a high school course taught for credit sometime during the 2009-10 academic year is eligible to compete.  Students compete simultaneously at three Indiana sites and participate in one of two divisions: Adam Smith or David Ricardo.

The Divisions

The Adam Smith Division is open to any Indiana high school student. However, students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP Micro, AP Macro, or AP Micro and Macro), International Baccalaureate (pre-IB and IB), honors, two-semester, or any other advanced courses in economics (including courses taught by a secondary teacher where students earn college credit) must compete in this division.  Students who have taken more than one semester of economics must compete in the Adam Smith Division. This is also the division for home schooled students.

The David Ricardo Division is for students enrolled in a high school course NOT labeled as AP, IB, or honors. Students who have taken a one semester or less economics course may compete in this division. Students are tested in the same areas as the Adam Smith Division; however, the questions for the David Ricardo Division may have a greater emphasis on economic application and less emphasis on economic theory than the questions for the Adam Smith Division. 

In both divisions, teams of four students are tested in areas of microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics and current events using a multiple-choice, pencil and paper test for three rounds.  In Rounds 1 and 2, each team member completes the tests with the lowest score being dropped.  In Round 3, the multiple-choice test is taken by team members together.

Important 2010 UPDATE

Due to national rule changes, only teams from the Adam Smith Division will be eligible to advance to the National Economics Challenge Semi-Finals and Finals. Indiana's Adam Smith championship team will represent the state in the national semi-finals and finals (should they advance.) If you are a team hoping to advance to the National Economics Challenge Semi-Finals and Finals, please register for the Adam Smith Division. A team which qualifies for the National Economics Challenge Semi-Finals and Finals can be reconstituted before those competitions to include participants from both divisions.

How are winners determined?  
Following the first three rounds, the top two teams in each division at each site meet in an oral Quiz Bowl to answer questions on a wide variety of economics topics.  The winning teams of the oral Quiz Bowl from each division at each site have their written test scores compared to determine the state champions. 

2010 Indiana Economics Challenge Dates

Indiana Competition
Date/Time         Tuesday, April 13, 2010
                             9:00a.m. - 2:00p.m
Locations           Indianapolis, Mishawaka, Sellersburg

National Semi-FinalsCompetition
Date/Time         April 26, 2010
Locations          Adam Smith State Champions School

National Competition
Date                     May 22-24, 2010
Location               New York City

What Are the Costs?

The registration fee is $50 per team.   Transportation to the state competition is the responsibility of the participants. Transportation and accommodations for the National finals is paid for by the sponsors.

 
2010 Prizes and Awards

First Place – each divisional site

  • $200 to the winning teams
  • 1st Place Certificate

Second Place – each divisional site

  • $20 Barnes & Noble gift certificates for team members
  • 2nd Place Certificate

All Participants and Teacher Coaches

  • Breakfast, lunch, a chance to play in the lunchtime mock quiz bowl for prizes

State winners compete from their school simultaneously in the Semi-Final round. The six top scoring teams from the Semi-Final round advance and receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to compete for the National Championship title. National Champions each receive $1,500 cash, medals and a trophy.

Todd DeVries and his Econ Challenge Team from
Westville High School