Target Two Point Zero

Target Two Point Zero is an interest rate challenge for students in the UK set by the Bank of England and The Times. Students aged 16 to 18 are asked to analyse the economic outlook and recommend what interest rate should be set. The students make a 15-minute presentation and are judged by Bank of England staff, through three rounds with an ultimate winner being selected in a national final.

The challenge

Target Two Point Zero invites students aged 16 to 18 to take on the role of the Monetary Policy Committee to analyse current economic conditions in the UK and the outlook for inflation. Teams of four students must create a formal presentation that is delivered to a panel of judges from the Bank of England. The presentation must conclude with a recommendation on exactly what interest rate the team would set in order to achieve the UK government's inflation target of 2.0% CPI.

Following the initial presentation, which lasts a maximum of 15 minutes, the judges have the opportunity to ask questions about what has been said. They might ask the students to justify or clarify certain aspects of their interpretation of the economic conditions.

Structure of the competition

The challenge has three identical rounds: regional heats, area finals and the national final. There is a sufficient time lapse between rounds to compel teams to change and update their presentation to take into account of new economic statistics, or the MPC’s own interest rate decisions.

Winners of the competition


Year Winning school Runner(s) Up
2012 St Paul’s School, Barnes [1] The Grammar School at Leeds [2]
2013 The Grammar School at Leeds [3] St Paul’s School, Barnes and Tonbridge School [4]
2014 Oundle School, Oundle [5] Bishop Wordsworth's School, Salisbury[6]
2015 The Perse School, Cambridge [7] Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet and Wolverhampton Girls School [8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "News Release - Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". Bank of England. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "News Release - Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". Bank of England. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "News Release - Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". Bank of England. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "News Release - Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". Bank of England. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "News Release - Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". Bank of England. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "News Release - Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". Bank of England. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Last year's challenge". Bank of England. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "News Release - Interest Rate Challenge winner announced today". Bank of England. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2015.

External links


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