Ask a teenager. That advertisement, which ran in The New York Times earlier this year, previewed Fed Challenge, a mock competition that provides a forum for high school students to do research and analyze economic conditions before recommending a specific course for monetary policy.
Plans are already under way for next year's competition.
Teams entered in Fed Challenge will compete in each of the four zones of the Eighth District next March for the right to square off for the District title April 5 at the St. Louis Fed. In years past, Fed Challenge has proven to be a very rewarding experience for students and their teachers. Fed Challenge teams are looking for bankers, as well as academic and business professionals, to serve as coaches and assist teachers in helping students to analyze and interpret current economic data. In addition, coaches are needed to help teachers explain certain aspects of monetary policy, suggest sources and methods of gathering research, and shape, but not structure or write, the team's presentation. Coaches may assist one team each.