With the aim of the new generation obtaining better information about economic developments and the new analysis tools used by economics and, at the same time, to strengthen the interest of students, and thus prospective students, in economic studies, the Athens University of Economics and Business (OPA) is organizing this year for the 6th year student competition “Mercury”in collaboration with the Association of Economists of Secondary Education and the Economic Chamber of Greece.

The competition, which was organized for the first time in 2020, on the occasion of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the OPA, is, according to the organizers, “an annual institution of competitive financial knowledge aimed at 3rd Lyceum students of all schools of the country, as well as Greek schools abroad”.

“The real reason (s.s. of the organization) is to contribute to the economic literacy of our country, something in which we are significantly behind compared to other EU countries,” Apostolos Filippopoulos, professor emeritus of the Department of Economics, told APE-MPE Science of the OPA and President/Coordinator of the competition.

As he explained, this contribution is made “mainly through (a) the contact of our students, and later our students, with concepts, problems and tools of today’s economic science and (b) the cooperation of the Economics professors of Secondary Education with the academic community and the OPA especially”.

During the last two years of the organization of the competition, approximately 1,000 students of the 3rd high school participated. “It is a satisfactory number, if we take into account that the competition is addressed to students of the 3rd Lyceum only who aim for Economic Sciences and it necessarily takes place in the same year as their participation in the Panhellenic Examinations since the relevant course is taught in the 3rd Lyceum only”, pointed out Mr. Philippopoulos.

It is remarkable, the fact that the winners of the competition succeed in the Panhellenic Examinations in high-ranking schools. “Statistically, we have found that those who stand out in the Competition also succeed in very good schools, which shows that the competition is a test comparable to the entrance exams”, pointed out to APE-MPE the Nikos Christodoulakisemeritus professor of OPA, deputy President/Coordinator, and founder of the competition.

“Good high school students are constantly looking for new knowledge that will be useful to them in their studies tomorrow. The impeccable manner in which the competition is conducted means that the award is purely merit-based and this motivates them to read more to succeed,” he added.

In addition, a new day is looming on the future horizon, with the changes promoted by the Ministry of Education, and they concern the introduction of the Economics course in the second high school, but also the introduction of IB in public model schools. “Our goal is for the students of the 2nd high school to participate in a similar competition, adapted for their level and to gradually excel in all the classes of the high school”, said Mr. Christodoulakis and added that the introduction of the IB will make the competition more popular because “the topics that are entered are similar and comparable to the International Diploma”.

“We have a long way to go but it seems worth it!” he concluded.

The process

The 6th competition will be held in two phases: The first phase will be conducted electronically by the remote method on Saturday, March 15, 2025 (16:00-18:00). All students who have registered for the competition will take part in this process.

The second and final phase will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025 (11:00-13:00), where only the winners of the first phase of the Competition will take part. The number of winners of the A’ phase is determined by the organizing committee each year. The second phase is planned to take place with the physical presence of the students at the premises of the Athens University of Economics and Business

The papers will be graded in a special area of ​​the OPA by expert graders, Economists and PhD students. Each paper will be evaluated by two (2) raters.

It is noted that the competition takes place outside the school schedule and that the students’ participation does not have a financial burden for the students and the schools, with the exception of the travel costs of those students who will take part in the final phase of the competition which is scheduled to take place in the central OPA building.

The subject matter

Participants are examined in writing in the subject of Economics, as determined by the relevant high school curriculum and the broader knowledge and issues contained in other similar books. Indicatively, the material concerns microeconomics (institutions and production possibilities, demand and supply, elasticities, income limitation and decision-making by households, production functions, costs and revenues, etc.) and macroeconomics (national product and national accounting relationships, growth, long-term unemployment and inequality, economic fluctuations and the short-term period, public finances, etc.).

Submission of applications

From January 1, 2025 until January 31, 2025, interested students of the 3rd high school can submit an application of interest to participate on the competition website, https://diagonismos.ermis.aueb.gr/.

Discrimination

All those who will participate in the 2nd and final Phase will receive honorable mentions, while the first 6 will also receive special monetary awards from the Athens University of Economics and Business. The award ceremony will take place at OPA with the participation of the Rector at the end of September 2025.

Interested parties can find more information on the website:

www.diagonismos.ermis.aueb.gr and on the phone 2108203369.