Undergraduate

The College Fed Challenge at Dartmouth

General Description of the Program

Dartmouth participates in an academic competition called the College Fed Challenge. The College Fed Challenge is "intended to help students become more knowledgeable about the Fed and the decision-making process of the Federal Open Market Committee, the Federal Reserve's monetary policy-setting group." Dartmouth has sent teams to the Boston Fed Challenge Regional Competition since 2008, under the advisement of Senior Lecturer Elisabeth Curtis and Visiting Assistant Professor Frank Zarnowski.

The Economics Department will no longer be offering course credit for the foreseeable future for participation in the Fed Challenge research and competition.  However, for any student interested in participating in this competition, Fed Challenge is open to all students (ideally with some background in macroeconomics) who have the time and the drive to commit to a team and do the work!  Please contact Professor Elisabeth Curtis (Elisabeth.curtis@dartmouth.edu) with your interest.  Duties include conducting research on current economic conditions and trends, assembling and analyzing data to support policy recommendations, attending and participating in regular meetings and working on the final "script" that will be presented at the virtual Boston Fed Challenge Competition (usually in mid-October).  There is potential advancement in the competition if the team places in the top 3 of the Boston competition—the Boston winner will be invited to compete at the virtual National Fed Challenge competition.

Fed Challenge Team members must have the following qualifications: strong communication/public speaking skills, good analytical thinking, ability to do independent research AND work well with others in a team setting, ability to stick to deadlines and make the time commitment to prepare for competition. Course prerequisite: Econ 22.

Additional information Boston Regional Fed Challenge website