Cooperation and camaraderie define the atmosphere among students.
Many students form study groups to work on problem sets and to prepare for examinations.
Students also tend to spend large amounts of time with each other outside of class in informal discussions of economic theories and policy issues. The department schedules several events each year in order to promote esprit de corps. Most popular is the annual skit party in March, which features faculty and student skits. In November, the economics departments of Stanford and UC Berkeley compete againts each other at the Little Big Game in football, soccer, and other sports activities. Numerous less formal TGIFs and gatherings take place throughout the year.