In the 2026 season, the NEC China Economics Competition will be held in Changsha, with “Intelligent Economy” as its central theme. The competition features five core competitive components, designed to comprehensively assess participants’ economic theory mastery, teamwork capabilities, and innovative critical thinking.
As key milestones approach, the countdown has officially begun. A high-level contest of insight, strategy, and academic rigor is about to unfold.
Key Timeline for the 2026 NEC China Economics Competition
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Critical Thinking (CT) Submission Deadline: February 4, 2026
A pivotal step in the Case Analysis component. Submitted work will directly affect eligibility for subsequent presentations and final scoring. -
Online CT Defense: February 7–8, 2026
Teams will participate in scheduled online defenses, responding directly to judges’ questions and demonstrating both research depth and real-time analytical skills. -
On-site China National Round: February 27 – March 1, 2026
Participants will gather in Changsha for the pinnacle stages of the competition, including the Economics Qualifying Test, Youth Scholar Oral Defense, and the Economic Innovation Challenge.
2026 CNEC Economics Challenge Program Overview
(China National Economics Challenge – Economics Literacy Program, China Station)
Online Learning Phase
December 2025 – February 2026
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December – February
Independent study and collaborative team preparation based on official materials provided by the organizing committee. -
January 14
Release of the Critical Thinking Case Analysis prompts. -
January 14 – February 3
Teams conduct in-depth research, independent analysis, and collaborative exploration in accordance with evaluation guidelines, forming structured conclusions. -
February 4
Submission of Critical Thinking Case Analysis deliverables. -
February 7 / 8 (All Day)
Critical Thinking Presentation and Oral Defense.
On-site Program Phase
February 27 – March 1, 2026
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Day 1 (Afternoon)
Registration -
Day 1 (Evening)
Opening Ceremony -
Day 2 (Morning)
Economics Qualifying Test
Leader of Tomorrow Forum -
Day 2 (Afternoon)
Youth Scholar Oral Defense
Economic Innovation Challenge (Super Econ!)
Civic Hackathon (Changsha City Partner Program)
Featured Expo -
Day 2 (Evening)
Changsha Evening Adventure -
Day 3 (Morning)
Closing Ceremony
Notes:
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All dates are tentative. Any changes will be announced by the CNEC Organizing Committee at least 20 days in advance.
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The Critical Thinking Defense takes place throughout the entire day in multiple rounds. Each team will only participate during its assigned time slot, as indicated on the admission ticket. The expected duration per team is approximately one hour.
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Components marked with an asterisk (*) are academic assessment sessions.
Five Core Competition Components
Centered on the theme of the Intelligent Economy, the 2026 NEC China Round evaluates participants from theory to application across five major components:
Economics Objective Assessment
Individual, closed-book assessment covering macroeconomics, microeconomics, international economics, and current global economic issues. This section is a key differentiator in final rankings, testing the depth and precision of theoretical knowledge.
Critical Thinking Case Analysis (CT)
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Classic Mode (DR / AS Divisions)
Teams must submit an academic paper, a presentation deck, and a team collaboration report. This mode places greater emphasis on economic theory and academic writing. -
Smart Mode (Pre / DR Divisions)
Teams submit a presentation deck and collaboration report only, with a stronger focus on practical application and analytical presentation.
Youth Economics Scholar Oral Defense
An intensive, adversarial-style defense in which invited teams face university-level expert panels. This flagship session evaluates advanced research capability, critical reasoning, and composure under pressure.
Economic Innovation Challenge
A high-intensity, time-limited team challenge. Success depends not only on economic knowledge, but also on rapid ideation, strategic thinking, and team coordination under pressure.
Civic Hackathon (City Partner Program)
An interdisciplinary challenge integrating economics and business studies. Teams tackle real-world urban issues proposed by local governments and leading enterprises, progressing from problem diagnosis to model construction and implementable policy or business solutions—bridging academic research and real-world impact.