Arkansas Economics Challenge
Grades 9-12
2026 Competition Dates
Online Qualification Round 1: January 1, 2026 - February 20, 2026
Arkansas Economics Challenge Finals: March 13, 2026
Time: Approximately 9:30 am -2:30 pm
Location: University of Central Arkansas
Economics Arkansas is pleased to host the 2026 Arkansas Economics Challenge. Arkansas teachers can register teams of 3-4 students who will compete against other teams from around the state. Winning teams will receive cash prizes and the 1st place team will have a chance to move on to the later stages of the National Economics Challenge.
Round 1 will consist of an online test:
- Teachers may roster teams of 3-4 students to participate in an online test of economic knowledge on or before February 20, 2026.
- Each school may have multiple teams compete in round 1, but only 1 team from each division is eligible to advance.
- The top-scoring teams in each division will be announced on February 24, 2026. These teams will advance to the finals for a chance to compete for cash prizes. Only one team per school/per division can advance to the finals.
The state finals competition will consist of two components:
A testing portion: During the Challenge, students will showcase their knowledge as they complete an economics exam focused on key concepts from micro, macro, and global economics. Students test individually and their scores are averaged for a team total.
Team Presentations: Teams will receive information about the topic for the Team Presentation in advance of the competition. They will prepare a 6 minute presentation on the topic, print copies of their presentation, and be prepared to share and answer questions in front of judges.
Check out resources from the National Economics Challenge HERE.
Questions? Contact Lisa Byrum at lisa@economicsarkansas.org.
| Econ Challenge | Prize Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st Place Overall Team - Adam Smith | $500 (split among team members) |
| 1st Place Overall Team- David Ricardo | $500 (split among team members) |
| 2nd Place Overall Team - Adam Smith | $300 (split among team members) |
| 2nd Place Overall Team - David Ricardo | $300 (split among team members) |
| 3rd Place Overall Team - Adam Smith | $150 (split among team members) |
| 3rd Place Overall Team - David Ricardo | $150 (split among team members) |
| Top 3 students Test - Adam Smith | $25 each |
| Top 3 students Test - David Ricardo | $25 each |
| 1st Place Overall Team's Teacher in EACH Division | $100 each |
| 2nd Place Overall Team's Teacher in EACH Division | $75 each |
| 3rd Place Overall Team's Teacher in EACH Division | $50 each |
2025 Winners
ADE Crosswalk
The Arkansas Economics Challenge aligns with the following Arkansas Department of Education-approved courses, topics and events:
Business & Marketing Course(s):
- 492290 - Financial Planning & Wealth Management
