Welcome to the Monetary Policy Challenge

Attention all senior secondary school economics students, competition in the 2008 Monetary Policy Challenge has begun!

The forecasting period is from Monday 5 May to Tuesday 3 June 2008. Written submissions are due to the Reserve Bank by 5pm on Wednesday 4 June 2008.

The Monetary Policy Challenge gives you an exciting opportunity to put yourself in the shoes of Reserve Bank economists and recommend what the Official Cash Rate could be.

Using the same information as the Reserve Bank, your team assesses the economic conditions facing New Zealand and the outlook for inflation. Based upon your assessment of the economy, your team decides on an appropriate setting for the Official Cash Rate.

Regional finals will be held in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin from Monday 4 August to Monday 11 August 2008 and the national final will be held in Wellington on Thursday 21 August 2008.

The winning team will travel to Wellington to hear Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard deliver the Monetary Policy Statement on 11 September 2008.

The Monetary Policy Challenge links to NCEA achievement standard: Economics 3.4 (AS 906320).
For further information please contact us by email or phone (04) 471 3733.