Nebraska Econ Challenge is today

The annual Nebraska Economics Challenge State Championship pitting 10 high school teams from across the state in a competition to determine who has the greater knowledge of economics is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Nebraska Union, 14th and R streets.

Following a qualifying online round of testing, teams from Bellevue East, Cedar Rapids, Elkhorn, Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer, Lincoln Northeast, Millard North, Norris Omaha Central, Southwest in Bartley, Twin River in Genoa and Waverly will compete for state titles in the David Ricardo and Adam Smith divisions.

Today's competition will be in four rounds. The first three focus on the broad range of economic issues from an international and national view to individual decision making behavior. The top two teams in each division will advance to a fast-paced quiz bowl to determine the 2011 state champion teams.

The David Ricardo Division champion will advance to an online national competition April 28 with $1,500 in prize money at stake. The Adam Smith Division champion advances to the national semifinal competition. The top six teams from the national semifinals move on to the National Economics Challenge in New York City in May.

The Nebraska Economics Challenge is hosted by the Nebraska Council on Economic Education, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the economic literacy of Nebraska's students, Additional sponsors include the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City-Omaha Branch and Great Western Bank. The goal of the Nebraska Council on Economic Education is achieved through economic education programs, courses and workshops for educators across the state. Additional information on the Nebraska Council on Economic Education can be found at www.nebraskacouncil.org.

WRITER: Jennifer Davidson