Generation €uro Students’ Award 2016-2017 launched today

• National economics competition for 4th and 5th years launched
• Knowledge of ECB and euro area economics is tested over 3 separate rounds
• Trip to the ECB in Frankfurt for the national champions

The Central Bank of Ireland has launched its annual search to find Ireland’s brightest young economists as part its national schools’ competition, the Generation €uro Students’ Award.

The competition calls on transition year and fifth year students to simulate the role of the European Central Bank’s Governing Council in determining the appropriate monetary policy decision for the euro area.

Teams can consist of three to five students, with a nominated teacher acting as mentor.

Participants are tested over three different rounds. The first round, consisting of an online quiz on the role of the ECB and the Eurosystem, launched today.

Successful teams will proceed to the second round, where they are asked to analyse economic conditions and determine what they believe to be the appropriate interest rate for the euro area. Three finalists will be chosen to attend the National Finals in March 2017, where they will present their findings to a panel of senior economists at the Central Bank. 

The winning team and teacher will then travel to the ECB in Frankfurt for an award ceremony where they will meet ECB President Mario Draghi and the other winning teams from across Europe.

Central Bank Governor Philip Lane said “The Generation €uro Students’ Award is an opportunity for students to consider in detail the work performed by the European Central Bank, the Eurosystem and each of the national central banks in contributing to monetary policy decisions and price stability. Competing students develop valuable life skills including economic reasoning, critical analysis, teamwork and public speaking.”

To register for the competition, teams should visit www.generationeuro.ie.  The closing date for registration and for completing the first round quiz is the 2 December 2016. 

Notes 

The Generation €uro Students’ Award is a euro area-wide initiative organised by the European Central Bank and participating national central banks across the euro area, including the Central Bank of Ireland.

Additional information and resources for both students and teachers are available on the Central Bank website, the competition’s Facebook page and the ECB website.

Key dates:

Round 1: Online Quiz: 10 October 2016 - 2 December 2016

Round 2: Written analysis: 12 December 2016 - 31 January 2017

Round 3: National Final at the Central Bank of Ireland: 3 March 2017

Round 4: European Award Event at the ECB: 5 April 2017