THE MERC'S INTERNS IN 2015. In an effort to boost the visibility of its economic education efforts, the Illinois Council on Economic Education obtained some support from Edward Jones Investments and Castle Bank to run a DeKalb County Stock Market Game challenge. The local press took an interest in the effort, complete with league tables. Although the past spring has been a relatively easy time to make money going long in stocks, one still has to exercise a bit of judgement in order to earn more money than other teams, all of whom are also exercising their judgement.

Thursday evening, the winning teams were guests of the University at a short awards reception. Yes, there were a few remarks by adults and a few adults recognized. Most of the time was allotted to student presentations.

Yes, they're learning how to make Power Point presentations at a young age.


In microcosm, this team looks like Illinois looks like America. Good logic picking their stocks too.

The Stock Market simulation does not run long enough for a strategy of holding a diversified portfolio to beat a portfolio heavy in a few overachieving stocks. On the other hand, the virtual accounts the students manage include virtual commissions for each trade, making the cost of managing a less balanced portfolio lower. Teams generally identify four or five stocks.


Novamerican Steel appears to be what I understand as a steel service center. With just-in-time custom production becoming commercially mandatory, just-in-time delivery of small lots of steel looks like a good idea.

It doesn't hurt to do research on local companies. Although this stock didn't perform all that well, the logic in buying it is impeccable.


Sometimes, you can see a lot just by watching, such as the crowds at Buffalo Wild Wings.


Despite Exelon pleading poverty, investors appear not to be pessimistic about its immediate future.