Cincinnati, Ohio. 20 universities from across the country. A 24-hour deadline.
These elements set the scene for a team of eight BYU-Idaho students at the Econ Games this April.
Hosted by Northern Kentucky University, the competition was created to challenge students to solve real-world problems with academic knowledge, and to “connect ... employers with skilled, creative students who are ready to add value from day one.”
Based on a given data prompt, participants have 24 hours to draw insights, develop solutions, and present their findings.
The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) sponsored this year’s edition and provided the data—public space use, parking habits, and property performance—that each team analyzed.
“In using that data to analyze foot traffic and consumers’ willingness to pay, we were able to see how the organization is transforming Cincinnati,” said Allison Barlow, a member of the BYU-Idaho team.
The next day, students presented their conclusions to a judging panel made up of industry professionals and members of 3CDC, putting months of preparation to the test.
Matthew Allen, Allison Barlow, Brian Whitney, Henrik Harman, Luke Jackson, Dallin Gariety, and Boston Klingler have been preparing since January.
“We had practice rounds, with four-hour stints, and had a lot of good feedback from our teachers,” Allen mentioned.
Looking back on the experience, he has come to appreciate the university’s culture more—especially its hands-on teaching and opportunities to work together as a team.
In addition, participating in the competition showed Allen that BYU-Idaho students are more capable than most people realize.
“We are going to be well off when we go into the business world,” he added. “Our school has a program that values clean, clear data analysis, and accurate presentation.”
The team returned to Rexburg not only with renewed optimism but also equipped with lessons they’ll put to work next time—and they’d love to do it again next year.
“We uncovered some strong insights, but we didn’t communicate their significance clearly enough, so they didn’t have the impact they could’ve had,” said Barlow. “That pushed me to improve how I persuade—realizing that insight alone isn’t enough if others can’t see its value too.”
Read the recap post from BYU-Idaho Economics Department on LinkedIn.