Despite there being over 180 clubs at Jefferson, it is hard to find ones that are not STEM based. However, Economics Club is one of the few clubs dedicated solely to the business branch of social sciences.
The Economics Club is competition based and prepares students for competitions throughout the year.
“We’re preparing for competitions at Harvard and Northwestern this spring, so that’s really exciting,” junior co-captain Tristan Raffo said.
However, in order to be successful at these competitions, the club must go through preparations.
“Closer to competition season, we have competition preparation events like practice tests and selection exams that are really good for actual competition preparation, all with the aim of expanding knowledge about economics to as many people as possible,” Raffo said.
Not only do the members do practice tests and selection exams to prepare, but the officers also lecture about various topics during the club meetings and engage the members by playing games such as jeopardy.
“[There’s either] a broad lecture with one of the officers teaching, or we do specific competition prep,” junior secretary Sam Lam said. “That’s going to look like jeopardies and [such], where we actively involve the people in the club.”
Economics Club has attended various competitions at other schools in the past years, but the club is trying to host their own competition this year.
“We’re planning for it to be online, but that’s still in the works right now,” Lam said. “We’re planning to include [a] cash prize to incentivize more people [to come].”
Beyond the competitive aspect, members emphasized that the club is driven by a shared interest in the subject itself. Many students join not just to compete, but to better understand how economics explains everyday decisions and global issues.
“I think a lot of the students who participate in the club are genuinely interested in the topic as well,” Lam said.
This passion is shown in the way meetings are run, especially during lecture-based sessions. Officers lead lessons that range from AP Economics concepts to more advanced theory, often paired with interactive activities to keep members engaged.
“Depending on the time of year, it’ll either be me or one of the other officers giving this lecture and interactive activity for people to learn both AP Econ and more advanced economic theory and ideas,” Raffo said.
As the club looks ahead to hosting its own competition, members hope to attract more students and share their enthusiasm for the field. For Raffo, the value of economics extends beyond test scores or trophies.
“Economic theory can really change the way you see the world,” Raffo said. “It introduces you to a different mindset and different ideas about what is important, what’s valuable, and the constraints that people face in the world.”