Participation

Economics Olympiad > Participation

Why Participate?

Aspiring economists and curious minds, the Economics Olympiad invites you to embark on an unparalleled journey into the realms of economic and financial literacy. This is not just a competition; it’s an opportunity to challenge yourself, to explore complex ideas, and to connect with a global community of like-minded students.

Why Participate?

  • Unlock the Power of Knowledge: Economic and financial literacy opens doors to understanding the world around you, enabling informed decisions that can shape your future and the future of society.
  • Experience Excellence: The Olympiad prides itself on its high-quality challenges, meticulously designed by experts to inspire and test your skills, creativity, and understanding of economic principles.
  • Transform Your Life: Participating in the Olympiad is a life-changing experience. It’s a chance to gain recognition, to access unique educational opportunities, and to pave your way to a successful career in economics or finance.

Join us in this exciting adventure. Explore your potential, and discover how economics shapes the world. Let the Economics Olympiad be the first step in your journey towards becoming a future leader in economics. Welcome to a world of possibilities, challenges, and achievements.

Are you ready to take the challenge?

Eligibility

Eligibility for the Economics Olympiad is broad and inclusive, welcoming students aged 14 to 20 from any secondary school background. Whether you have previously engaged in formal economic studies or are newly curious about the subject, the competition is designed to be accessible and enriching for all participants. Prior experience in economics is not a prerequisite, making it an ideal platform for every student interested in exploring the dynamic world of economics and finance. To take the first step on this exciting journey, we encourage you to speak with your teachers about how you can get involved and reach out to the National Organizer in your country for more information on registration and participation details. This is your opportunity to dive into economics, regardless of your starting point.

Study Resources

TEXTBOOKS

Principles of Economics, 7th edition – by N. Gregory Mankiw

With its clear and engaging writing style it continues to be the most popular and widely-used economics textbook among today’s students and the officially recommended textbook of the Economics Olympiad. In this textbook, professor Mankiw included real-life scenarios, useful facts, and many examples of economic concepts that play a role in the decisions you make every day.

“I have tried to put myself in the position of someone seeing economics for the first time. My goal is to emphasize the material that students should and do find interesting about the study of the economy.” – N. Gregory Mankiw.

Economics – by Paul Samuelson & William Nordhaus

Samuelson’s text was first published in 1948, and it immediately became the authority for the principles of economics courses. The book continues to be the standard-bearer for principles courses, and this revision continues to be a clear, accurate, and interesting introduction to modern economics principles. Bill Nordhaus is now the primary author of this text, and he has revised the book to be as current and relevant as ever.

Principles of Economics – by Robert Frank, Ben Bernanke

With engaging questions, explanations and exercises, the authors help students relate economic principles to a host of everyday experiences such as going to the ATM or purchasing airline tickets. Throughout this process, the authors encourage students to become “economic naturalists”: people who employ basic economic principles to understand and explain what they observe in the world around them.

Modern Principles of Economics – by Tyler Cowen, Alex Tabarrok

From the authors of the popular blog, The Marginal Revolution, Modern Principles of Economics engages you in a way that makes it easier to understanding the broader economy. Working toward developing your economic way of thinking, the authors focus on modern content and modern delivery, teaching economics in a way that makes it more memorable for you.

Common Sense Economics: What Everyone Should Know About Wealth and Prosperity – by James D. Gwartney, Richard L. Stroup, Dwight R. Lee, and Tawni H. Ferrarini

This a comprehensive and accessible guide to understanding the key principles of economics and their application to real-world scenarios. This book distills complex economic concepts into understandable and practical insights that are relevant to everyday life. Thanks to the work of our partners at the Economic Fundamentals Initiative, this book is accessible at zero price in multiple languages. Designed to be engaging and straightforward, the book uses clear examples and avoids technical jargon, making it accessible to readers without a background in economics. It serves as an invaluable resource for high school students, educators, and anyone interested in gaining a solid foundation in economic principles and their practical applications towards achieving financial success and understanding the broader economic world.

ONLINE RESOURCES

In addition to the high quality textbooks listed in the previous section, we strongly encourage students to explore some of the following online resources:

  • Khan Academy: Offers comprehensive lessons on economics and finance topics like microeconomics, macroeconomics, and personal finance. Content is accessible in several languages, suitable for a global audience.
    Visit Khan Academy
  • European Central Bank’s Educational Resources: Features materials to help students understand the economy, finance, and the ECB’s role, available in multiple European languages.
    Visit European Central Bank’s Educational Resource
  • Federal Reserve Education: Offers educational materials on the Federal Reserve, economics, and financial education, primarily in English but can be translated.
    Visit Federal Reserve Education
  • Marginal Revolution University (MRU): Provides free online economics courses covering a wide range of topics, from the basics of supply and demand to the intricacies of international trade. MRU’s engaging video content makes complex concepts accessible to high school students in multiple languages through its subtitles.
    Visit Marginal Revolution University
  • Foundation for Economic Education (FEE): Offers articles, courses, and seminars on economics, entrepreneurship, and related topics, aimed at inspiring young individuals about the principles of a free society. FEE’s resources are designed to be engaging and informative, making economics education both accessible and impactful.
    Visit Foundation for Economic Education
  • Economic Fundamentals Initiative (EFI): An initiative that aims to provide accessible and engaging economic education to a broad audience, including high school students. Through a variety of resources in multiple languages, EFI seeks to demystify economics and encourage critical thinking about economic issues.
    Visit Economic Fundamentals Initiative

Each of these resources offers unique opportunities for students to explore and deepen their understanding of economics and finance, catering to different learning preferences and language needs.

Disclaimer

While the resources recommended here offer valuable insights into economics and finance, it’s important to note that additional materials, tailored specifically to the curriculum and educational standards of various countries, may be available through National Organizers or coordinating teachers of the Economics Olympiad. Participants and educators are encouraged to consult with their respective National Organizers or coordinating teachers to access resources that are available in their native language and are aligned with local educational requirements. Furthermore, the Economics Olympiad guarantees that all the knowledge required to correctly answer all the questions posed during the School Round and the International Final Round is included in the officially recommended textbook (Mankiw). This ensures that learners are well-prepared and have access to all necessary information to succeed in the competition. This approach guarantees that learners receive the most relevant and comprehensive educational experience possible.

Bring the Economics Olympiad to your School

    Testimonials

    EFI is excited to be supporting the Economics Olympiad in 8 post-communist countries this year, and will add more from 2024. It is truly inspiring to see the enthusiasm which these future leaders bring to learning economic principles and developing their analytical thinking skills. We are immensely grateful to the dedicated teachers and the generous support from businesses, universities and public institutions who have invested in the futures of these exceptional young men and women so that the societies in which they live may prosper.
    Randall Filler
    Prof. Randall Filer
    President, Economic Fundamentals Initiative & Professor of Economics, City University of New York
    The Economics Olympiad plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of economists. It provides a unique opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge, compete at a global level, and contribute to shaping the future of economic discourse.
    Stournaras-profileImg
    John Stournaras
    Governor of the Bank of Greece
    Participating in the Economics Olympiad has been a transformative experience for students, fostering their passion for economics and shaping their future careers.
    TomSargent-profile
    Prof. Thomas Sargent
    Nobel Prize Winner in Economics
    It might seem crazy that we would introduce the Economics Olympiad to Ukraine during a full-scale war. But it was the right move, to show schoolchildren and their teachers that education is still a priority and extra effort will get rewarded, despite missiles and drones flying around. If heavy bombings, blackouts, bomb shelters and air raid alerts did not prevent more than 4,300 schoolchildren from all over the country from participating in the School Round, we owe it to them to keep this project going. Especially after all of the participants of the National Round stating their level of economic thinking improved because of the Olympiad.
    NatMelnyk
    Nataliya Melnik
    Communications Director, Bendukidze Free Market Center
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