Swiss National Bank

Don’t delay – your next chance is just around the corner!

The winners of this year’s iconomix awards accepted their prizes at the iconomix event on 8 May 2010 in Berne. Well done to everyone!

And next year’s awards are already beckoning!

To participate in the Swiss National Bank’s next nationwide competition, simply submit an independent project on an economics-related topic to your school – a Swiss upper secondary school – between March 2010 and February 2011. Your submission can be either a written or non-written piece of work (non-written work includes films, podcasts, games, websites). Or you could answer a challenge questionhttp://www.iconomix-award.ch/en/category-1/challenge-questions/.

Participate and be in with a chance of getting invited to the iconomix event in May 2011, where you can win an iconomix award in bronze, silver or gold … not to mention some prize money.

 Closing date: 1 March 2011 

What is the Swiss National Bank?

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is Switzerland’s central bank. In other words, it is the only institution in the country authorised to issue banknotes. It is also responsible for ensuring that prices in Switzerland remain stable. As the central bank, the SNB has no commercial objectives. Its functions are laid down in the Federal Constitution and the National Bank Act.

What is iconomix?

iconomix is an educational tool created and produced by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and intended for use by teachers and students at Swiss upper secondary schools. The objective of the programme is to help improve the basic economic literacy of the population at large.

What is meant by economic literacy?

Whether we like it or not, we all need to have some basic economic knowledge in order to be able to deal with the forces that affect our daily lives – as private individuals, professionals and citizens. Being economically literate means, for instance, having a basic understanding of the economic role of governments and of the functioning of markets.

What are economics-related topics?

Within the context of the iconomix award, a project on an economics-related topic may deal with a variety of issues. Topics can range from the simple decisions a person takes in everyday life to the intricacies of a country’s economic policy. Projects on purely business-related topics, such as accounting or marketing, are not considered suitable.

What is an iconomix module?

iconomix modules are teaching units which contain material for one or several lessons. They take you on a journey into the fascinating world of economics, where you learn about basic economic principles. For instance, you buy and sell commodities just like a stock trader or steer the monetary policy of your country in the role of central banker.

What is a challenge question?

Every iconomix module includes a challenge question. Each of these questions provides the ideal starting point for a short essay that can be entered in category 1 of the iconomix award.

What is a factsheet?

Any approved submission to the iconomix award will be published in the form of a factsheet. A factsheet contains details on the author, a brief description of the content and an extract from a short report (feedback report) written by an economist.

Where can flyers and posters be ordered?

The contact form on the iconomix award website can be used to order flyers, small posters and postcards advertising the iconomix award.