Slide 1 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Euro Challenge: Competition Overview Presentation by Nigel Nagarajan Student Orientation – 2009 Euro Challenge Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence January 22 nd, 2009

Slide 2 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist Delegation of the European Commission to the United States In a nutshell

Slide 3 The Euro Challenge in a nutshell Promotes transatlantic (EU-US) relations Exposes students to global economics (“economics light”) Website with forum, educational videos, learning resources Judges recruited from Federal Reserve banks, EU Embassies, IMF, investment banks, financial journalists Chance to compete against teams from different parts of the US; Semi-finalists travel to NYC; Top teams to DC Partner organizations: Moody’s Foundation, Federal Reserve Banks (NY, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta-Miami), EU Centers of Excellence at US universities, financial companies Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States

Slide 4 The competition in a nutshell One team per school Up to 5 students per team (not including alternates) Students must be in 9-10th grade Students generally do not have prior exposure to economics (Mainly global or European studies, world history, etc.) 15-minute presentation + 10-minute Q&A Format: your choice (PowerPoint) 2009 competition will feature 70 to 80 schools nationally: –{NY, NJ, CT}, {NC} –{FL}, {MA}, {PA}, {IL, IN}, {MI} Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States

Slide 5 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Three-part Challenge Question

Slide 6 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Describe the current economic situation in the “euro area” (the economic region consisting of the 16 EU Member States that have adopted the euro). Euro Challenge 2009 Part I Focus on: GDP growth Inflation Unemployment

Slide 7 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Select one economic- related challenge confronting the euro area as a whole (from list), and pick one of the 16 euro area Member States to illustrate that challenge. Euro Challenge 2009 Part II

Slide 8 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Ten Challenges: Choose One Slow growth High unemployment Inflation Adapting to technological change (raising productivity) Globalization (including immigration) Aging (including health care) Living with a single monetary policy Sustaining the social system (welfare state) Coping with a housing market slowdown High government deficits and debt

Slide 9 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Recommend a policy or policies for addressing the challenge you identified in the country you selected. (Be sure to include in your recommendation a discussion of how having a single currency may or may not affect the policy choices for addressing the challenge.) Euro Challenge 2009 Part III

Slide 10 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Scoring, Prizes, Timeline

Slide 11 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Knowledge about the EU, euro, and related economic concepts Responses to judges’ questions Quality of presentation Depth of research and analysis Teamwork and cooperationScoring

Slide 12 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Prizes/ Awards Cash prizes for top 5 winning teams (from $250 to $1,250* per student) Trip to DC for top 2 winning teams Recognition and awards reception in NYC for all semi-final teams Certificates for all participating students *Actual prize amounts may vary

Slide 13 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Tentative Time Line for Florida Teams Student Orientation – January 22, 2009  EU Center, Florida International University Regional Preliminary Round – March-April, 2009  EU Center, Florida International University Semi-finals AM / Finals PM – April 29, 2009 (followed by reception at Moody’s for all semi-finalists)  Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Slide 14 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Resources

Slide 15 Amy Medearis, Senior Economist, Economic and Financial Affairs Section Delegation of the European Commission to the United States Primary Resources for You Our website: Open FORUM for teachers and students to engage in dialogue, ask questions, share research Teachers have access to separate teachers-only forum Website contains educational videos & presentations, and links to useful articles & other learning resources Please register today at: