Three events. Every cycle. Open to all chapters.
Now running — EPR registration September 12, 2026 – October 3, 2026, $600 in prizes. GEC and GRP dates: TBD
Global Economics Challenge (GEC)
The GEC is IES's flagship individual assessment. Every question is scenario-based, with no definitions or memorization. Students apply economic reasoning to situations drawn from international markets, public policy, and global trade.
Format
| Questions | 50 multiple-choice |
| Duration | 75 minutes |
| Style | Real-world scenario application |
| Administration | Proctored exam conditions |
| Scoring | 1 point per question, out of 50 |
| Tiebreaker | Time of completion |
Awards
| 1st Place | Gold Trophy + Certificate |
| 2nd Place | Silver Trophy + Certificate |
| 3rd Place | Bronze Trophy + Certificate |
| 4th–10th | Medal + Certificate |
Perfect Score Award: any participant achieving 50/50
Chapter Champion: highest scorer from each chapter
Economic Policy Recommendation (EPR)
The EPR is IES's flagship policy event. Entrants answer an announced theme with a policy of their own design, then record a video presentation delivering it over a Google Slides deck. Enter alone or as a team of up to four — the same rubric applies either way.
Format
| Participants | Individual, or a team of 2–4 |
| Deliverable | Recorded video presentation |
| Slides | Google Slides deck, visible throughout |
| Length | 6–8 minutes |
| Speaking | Every team member must present |
| Submission | Unlisted video link + slide link |
| Theme | Announced in advance, same for all entrants |
| Registration opens | September 12 at 9:00 AM CT |
| Entries close | October 3 at 11:59 PM CT |
| Judging ends | October 17, 2026 |
Judging Criteria
Prizes
| 1st Place | $300 |
| 2nd Place | $200 |
| 3rd Place | $100 |
| 4th Place | Certificate of Distinction |
| 5th Place | Certificate of Distinction |
$600in cash awarded per cycle. Team prizes are paid to the team and split at the team's discretion.
Best Argument Award: strongest policy argument
Best Delivery Award: most compelling presentation on camera
Chapter Champion: highest-scoring entry per chapter
How to Submit
Build the deck
A Google Slides presentation carrying your policy: the problem, your recommendation, the evidence, and the trade-offs you accept.
Record the video
Screen-record the deck with your audio over it. Faces on camera are welcome but not required — the deck must be readable the whole way through.
Keep it to 6–8 minutes
Under 6:00 is under length and scored down; anything past 8:00 is not watched. Every member of a team must speak for a meaningful portion.
Submit two links
An unlisted YouTube or Drive video link and a view-access Slides link, both set so anyone with the link can open them.
Submission instructions and the upload form are emailed to every registrant when the theme is released. Entries are judged on the recording alone — there is no live session to attend, so entrants in any timezone compete on equal terms.
Practise on a sample case
A full case written to the same shape as a live theme — a US Treasury brief on the mortgage lock-in problem, with constraints and five directions you could argue.
Registration
Registration opens September 12 at 9:00 AM CT and closes October 3 at 11:59 PM CT.
$600 in cash prizes — $300 / $200 / $100 for the top three.
IES Global Research Paper (GRP)
The GRP is IES's research and writing event. Each cycle features a specific country, and participants write a paper on any economic topic connected to that nation. The GRP rewards depth of research, quality of argument, and strength of academic writing.
Format
| Participants | Individual or team of 2 |
| Word count | 2,000 words max |
| Theme | Featured country per cycle |
| Topic | Open (any economic subject) |
| Sources | Min 5, MLA/APA/Chicago |
Paper Structure
Judging Criteria
Awards
| 1st Place | Gold Trophy + Certificate |
| 2nd Place | Silver Trophy + Certificate |
| 3rd Place | Bronze Trophy + Certificate |
| 4th–5th | Medal + Certificate |
Published in the IES Journal: top 5 papers are featured in the official IES Journal
Niche Research Award: most unique or underrepresented topic
Outstanding Writing Award: highest quality academic writing
Chapter Champion: highest-scoring submission per chapter
Dates, themes, and platform details are announced to chapters ahead of each cycle.