2023 CMC Fed Challenge Team

 The Lowe Institute of Political Economy is looking to recruit two students (one rising sophomore and one rising junior) to be part of the Claremont McKenna College Federal Reserve Challenge team, which will participate in the prestigious National College Fed Challenge competition held by the Federal Reserve. 

The Federal Reserve Challenge team will research current economic trends and financial conditions, and ultimately provide a recommendation on monetary policy. The team will summarize findings into a presentation modeled after the workings of the Federal Open Market Committee. 

Involvement in the CMC Fed Challenge team will:

  • Expose students to advanced macroeconomic theory
  • Illuminate the functions of the Federal Reserve
  • Provide insights into macroeconomic conditions of the United States

Students will benefit from improving their analytic and speaking skills, through analyzing and presenting findings, and by working with peers and economic advisors. 

Submit your application through Handshake: #7463267

Important Dates:

  • Deadline for applications: March 1, 2023
  • Initial interviews with select applicants:  March 2023
  • Team meetings: Spring and Fall 2023
  • Fed Challenge Competition: early October 2023 to late November 2023

 

Eligibility Requirements

Per Fed Challenge rules, each member of the CMC Fed Challenge team must be enrolled as a student at Claremont McKenna College.

Duration: The team will meet once or twice in Spring 2023 to share information about the Challenge and set up the schedule for preliminary work. The hourly commitment to team meetings and the Challenge will be 5 to 10 hours per week once the Fall 2023 semester begins.

The virtual competition starts in early October 2023 and completes in November 2023.

Useful Skills: Proficiency in Excel, Tableau (helpful), forecasting, research and analysis, verbal communication skills

Pre-Requisite Classes: Completion of Econ 50 is required for all Fed Challenge team members. Rising junior and senior candidates should be currently enrolled in or have completed intermediate macro and/or advanced macro. Money and banking studies are valued.

There is no compensation for Fed Challenge team members, per the Challenge rules.

 

Research from the 2022 CMC Fed Challenge Team

A team of five CMC students collaborated to enter the 19th Annual National College Fed Challenge in 2022. Watch the research video that the CMC Fed Challenge team submitted, which included their analysis of current economic conditions and monetary policy recommendations.

Watch the video of 2022 CMC Fed Challenge team presenting their research.

CMC was represented by the following Lowe Institute research assistants:

  • Kara Hagler ’24
  • Viola Hernandez-Derbez ’23
  • Nicolas DeMello ’23
  • Aryan Totowat ’24
  • and Gabriel Yang ’25

The CMC team placed second in the West Coast region in the 2022 Challenge, after UCLA. 
 

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