Who can enter
You can enter if you are 13 to 18 years old on February 22, 2027, or if you are in high school (grades 9–12, homeschool included). You also have to live in the United States, D.C., or a U.S. territory. Age counts on February 22, 2027, the day of Regionals, not the day you register. A registration that does not meet these rules is not valid, and we remove it. We may ask for proof of age, school, or where you live. Students outside the U.S. cannot compete this season, but anyone can use the practice material.
- You can enter through an ERI chapter at your school or on your own. Scoring and advancement are the same either way.
- You enter one event for the season. You compete with one chapter or independently for the whole season, and you cannot switch after registration closes.
- If you have seen the live competition questions, or you write, review, or judge them, you cannot compete in that event.
Registration
Registration is open now and closes at 11:59 PM Eastern on January 31, 2027. You register on the registration page in two steps: fill in the registration form, then pay $25 per student by card through Stripe. You are registered only when both are done. The fee is nonrefundable.
The form asks for the student’s first and last name, date of birth, age, grade, school, home ZIP code, email, and phone number; a parent or guardian’s name, phone number, and email; and the event. A parent or guardian must consent for any student under 18. Each student gets a registration ID. Event choice can be changed until registration closes.
Dates
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Registration | Open now through January 31, 2027, 11:59 PM Eastern |
| Regionals | Monday, February 22, 2027 (online) |
| Finalists announced | By March 5, 2027 |
| ERI Nationals | Saturday, March 27, 2027 |
There are no make-up dates. Testing at a later time may be permitted upon special request. Dates could still change. If they do, we will email everyone who registered.
Regionals
Regionals is online on February 22, 2027. It is timed. Each question gives you a case with data, and you answer from that. You take it once. If you cannot test that day, email viyan@econstax.net as early as you can. We will post the time limit, calculator rules, and tech requirements in the handbook.
Who advances
Each event is ranked on its own. The top 12 scores advance if they are at least 65 out of 100. If there is a tie at 12th place, everyone tied advances. If fewer than 12 people reach 65, only those people advance. We announce finalists by March 5, 2027. Your Regionals score does not carry over to Nationals.
Nationals
Nationals is online on March 27, 2027. Every ERI round is online, so there is no travel.
The first part is the Case Room. You get a new case with data and a set amount of time to prepare a decision. The second part is the Boardroom. You present your decision to the judges and answer their questions. Judging will be by professionals.
Prizes
The top three finishers in each event win cash prizes from a prize pool of at least $2,000. We announce the exact amounts in December 2026. Each event also names a champion and finalists.
Fees
The entry fee is $25 per student for one event. Fees are nonrefundable. You do not get a refund if you withdraw, miss the round, have a schedule conflict, or are disqualified. After registration opens we will not raise the fee or make it harder to qualify this season.
Integrity
You work alone during timed rounds. You cannot use AI tools, search, or notes unless the rules for your event say you can. You cannot share the questions. The full policy is the Competition Integrity Policy.
Technical problems and accommodations
We will post device and browser requirements in the handbook. If something breaks during a round, email us right away. We do not add time for late starts. If you need an accommodation, ask for it on the registration form or email viyan@econstax.net before the deadline in the handbook.
Appeals
You can appeal a scoring error or a verified technical failure. You cannot appeal a judge’s opinion of your answer. The handbook explains how. If this site and the handbook disagree, the handbook wins.
The rubric
Judges score every answer in these five categories, at Regionals and at Nationals. We have not published the weight of each category yet.
| Category | Strong | Middle | Weak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interpretation Did you read the case and the data correctly? | Reads the data correctly and answers the question that was asked. | Gets the main question but misses a limit, or reads too much into a chart. | Answers a different question, or says the data shows something it does not. |
| Evidence Did you use the data you were given? | Backs each claim with a specific number or exhibit and says what information is missing. | Uses some of the data. Some claims have nothing behind them. | Argues from assumptions and ignores the data. |
| Reasoning Can someone follow how you got from the data to your answer? | Each step follows from the one before. A reader can follow it without guessing. | Heads in the right direction but skips steps. | States a conclusion and justifies it afterward. |
| Judgment Did you weigh the trade-offs and make a decision? | Weighs the costs and benefits, makes a decision, and says what would change it. | Lists trade-offs without weighing them, or avoids deciding. | Makes no decision, or ignores the cost of the one it makes. |
| Defense & adaptability Can you defend your answer, and change it when you should? | Answers the question asked, admits a fair point, and updates when the evidence calls for it. | Repeats the argument without answering the challenge. | Drops the answer at the first push, or refuses to consider a fair objection. |
Common questions
What is ERI?
Is ERI a business competition or an economics competition?
Is it online?
I’m in middle school. Can I enter?
Can I enter without a chapter?
Can I compete in two events?
My school already has a chapter. Do I have to join it?
Do I need to have taken an economics class?
Is it individual or team?
Can I do ERI if I already compete in DECA or FBLA?
What can I win?
Can I use AI, notes, or search during Regionals?
What calculator is allowed?
What if my internet fails during Regionals?
Are fees refundable?
What if I can’t test on the Regionals date?
Who do I ask about a rule?
Results
Results for 2026–27 will be posted here after Nationals. We list each competitor’s name, school, event, and placement. You or a parent can ask us to leave your name off by emailing viyan@econstax.net. After Regionals you get your scores in each rubric category.
Not yet published
- Regionals length, number and type of questions, calculator rules, and device requirements.
- Nationals session lengths.
- The accommodation deadline and the appeal window.
- Rubric weights.
- The exact prize amounts, announced in December 2026.
Changes
- October 25, 2026 Cash prizes go to the top three finishers in each of the five events, from a prize pool of at least $2,000.
- October 25, 2026 Registration is open. Students can enter if they are 13 to 18 years old on February 22, 2027, or in high school, and live in the U.S. Registration now uses a form with parent or guardian contact and consent. Nationals is online, like every ERI round. Registration closes at 11:59 PM Eastern on January 31, 2027.
- October 18, 2026 Regionals on February 22, 2027 and Nationals on March 27, 2027 are fixed dates.
- October 7, 2026 Moved the rules, rubric, FAQ, and Nationals details onto this one page.
- October 1, 2026 The entry fee is $25 for every competitor and is nonrefundable. Cash prizes now go to the top three finishers, from a prize pool of at least $2,000. Judging will be by professionals.
- September 30, 2026 Removed the make-up dates. Testing at a later time may be permitted upon special request.
- September 7, 2026 Posted the handbook draft and the practice cases.
- September 1, 2026 Set the $25 fee, the one-event limit, the season dates, and the top-12 advancement rule.
Competitive Events Handbook
The full rules. This is a draft until the final edition is posted.
Handbook PDF
The same handbook, printable.
Competition Integrity Policy
What counts as cheating and what happens.
Practice cases
One worked case for each of the five events.