News & Guides
Season guides, division explainers and the latest on the National Economics Challenge and the China National Round (CNEC).
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The 7 NEC Rounds, Decoded: How Quiz Bowl, Critical Thinking, Econ Lab and the Rest Actually Work (2026-27)
A round-by-round breakdown of the seven NEC events — Qualifying Test, Super Econ, Quiz Bowl, Critical Thinking, Econ Lab, Econ Immersion and U20 Youth Voice — and how a China team trains for each.
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The Critical Thinking Method: A Framework for NEC’s Open-Ended Problems
A reusable four-step thinking framework for NEC open-ended economics problems: define the real question, choose one model, evaluate the trade-offs, and conclude on balance.
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NEC Critical Thinking Round: How to Win the Open-Ended CT Defense
A single-round deep dive on the NEC Critical Thinking event: how to structure an economic argument under time, frame trade-offs, defend assumptions and present a clean defense.