Teachers are invited to engage their students in this outstanding academic competition. The competition is open to all high school students who have taken an economics or economics-related course in school. There is no fee to participate.
Teams of 3 or 4 students will apply economic principles to a real-world issue given to them at the state final. Each team will have 30 minutes to prepare for their 15-minute oral presentation in front of a judge. This fast-paced challenge tests the students’ economic ingenuity and quickness of mind.
The 2026 Economics Critical Thinking Challenge has concluded. Information about the 2027 Economics Critical Thinking Challenge coming soon!
Rules for the 2026 Critical Thinking competition.
Winning Team in each division receives $500!
Review a sample rubric and case study from last year’s Economics Critical Thinking Competition.
This is a qualifying event for the National Economics Challenge. The teams from the David Ricardo division and the Adam Smith division with the highest combined Economics Critical Thinking presentation score and Economics Challenge online test score will advance to the National Economics Challenge for their division
Prize for Economics Critical Thinking Winning Team: 1st place: $500
2026 Winners
First Place
Team: Royal Penguins
School: University High School
Teacher: Megan Cassidy
Second Place
Team: Four Musketeers
School: Hamilton High School
Teacher: Diane Weaver
Third Place
Team: Fuscia
School: BASIS Chandler
Teacher: Richard Aitken