Econometric Game 2011

On the 12th, 13th and 14th of April 2011, Amsterdam was the décor for the most prestigious competition in econometrics amongst students; the Econometric Game 2011. Sponsored by ING and Nationale Nederlanden and supported by the University of Amsterdam, the student association for actuarial sciences, econometrics and operational research (VSAE) of the University of Amsterdam organized the 12th Econometric Game. Because of the growing popularity of the Econometric Game among students, professors and business people all over the world a strong field was composed with prestigious universities as the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, five Dutch universities and new participants like the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Professor Windmeijer (University of Bristol) was prepared to make an interesting case: the effects of alcohol usage during pregnancy on the performance of children in school. Genetic predisposition was an important instrument in the investigation.

The Econometric Game started off on a beautiful Tuesday in the Duif, a former church in the city centre of Amsterdam. Over 200 students in econometrics gathered to attend the official opening of the Econometic Game 2011. Presentations of Gisella van Vollenhoven (ING) and Dymph van den Boom (rector magnifica UvA) introduced the subject after which the Professor Windmeijer announced the case.
After the introduction, 125 talented students in 25 teams from all over the world settled down to start solving the case. The Duif, transformed into blue and white, was the workplace during the first two days. Wearing their Econometric-Game-sweaters the players were spread over the tables with their books, notes, laptops, cables, calculators, energy-drinks and more so they could achieve the best result. During the first day, the players got the opportunity to orientate on the case with articles which were provided by the committee and material they found on their own. At the end of the day the teams could relax with some drinks and a diner and were able to socialize with each other and with employees of ING and NN.

After a day of introduction and orientation on the subject the competition really started on the second day. The teams received the datasets to start their real analyses. They had to find a solution and come up with a report before the end of the day. Despite the enormous time pressure, the jury kept to the record: at exactly 4.00PM the reports had to be handed in. After that it was waiting for the results. At 23:00 the expert jury, containing renowned professors, had checked all the rapports and decided which ten teams were good enough to continue to day 3 of the Econometric Game. Frank Windmeijer announced the finalists and the room was a mix of cheering and disappointment. The upside for the eliminated teams was that they could enjoy another drink in the bar of the Hotel Arena.

On the final day the finalists were working on a second case in the Academical Medical Centre (AMC). The other participants could enjoy themselves on a canal cruise through Amsterdam. After some sightseeing, the Econometric Game Congress 2011 took place. More than 200 attendees, including the eliminated teams and interested students from the University of Amsterdam and the Free University of Amsterdam, watched different professors speak about their specialism. Meanwhile, the finalists finished the case in the AMC, after which they presented their findings for the second case at the congress.
Around midnight the moment of truth for the finalist had come: the announcement of the winning team. The jury had decided which team was best in solving the case and presenting it over some drinks in a local bar. Top executive Ricardo Sookdeo (ING) and chairman of the jury Frank Windmeijer had the honor to present the winner: Maastricht University. The room applauded while they opened the champagne bottle and received the Cup. The partying started and went on till the early hours. It was a successful ending of a successful event.

To download the cases that have been resolved in the edition of 2011:

Econometric-Game-2011-Case-A
Econometric-Game-2011-Case-B

Participating universities in the Econometric Game 2011:

1. Aarhus University
2. Universitá Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
3. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
4. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
5. Leibniz Universität Hannover
6. University of Rome Tor Vergata
7. London School of Economics
8. Maastricht University (Winner 2011)
9. Monash University (Winner 2010)
10. Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration
11. Tilburg University
12. Trinity College Dublin
13. Carlos III University of Madrid (Winner 2009)
14. Université Catholique de Louvain
15. University of Amsterdam
16. University of Antwerp
17. University of Bristol
18. University of Cambridge (Winner 2008)
19. University of Groningen
20. University of Copenhagen
21. University of Economics, Prague
22. University of Orléans
23. University of Oxford
24. University of Warsaw
25. Uppsala University