Economics for Leaders (EFL): Overview

Co-authored by:
Iva Bimpli
Research Mentor | Assistant Professor
Published:
May 2, 2024
Last Updated:
May 2, 2024
Person sitting alone in an auditorium reading sheet music among rows of empty beige and brown seats.

Economics for Leaders Summer Program explores vital economic concepts and helps develop leadership competencies. This program provides a distinctive combination of engaging lectures, team activities, and real-world applications. 

Organized by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE), the EFL program explores a unique intersection of economics and public policy that excites Economics lovers. 

This selective EFL Summer Program aims to equip promising students with leadership skills to apply economic analysis to public policy decisions. 

Who Can Apply to EFL?

High school students currently enrolled as sophomores and juniors are eligible for the Summer EFL Program 2024. Since the admissions are competitive, students exhibiting leadership potential, maturity, and a keen vision of the future make it to the program. 

Carefully selected, the EFL participants are an intelligent bunch who can benefit from this distinctive educational experience. Since the spots are limited, students are encouraged to apply early to increase their chances of being accepted to their preferred site. 

Depending on the on-campus restrictions, 25-40 students are accepted at each site. As part of your application, you will be required to submit:

  • Basic Personal Information
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Transcript
  • Personal Statement – Responding to a prompt in about 750 words 

International students can also apply with additional requirements to support their application.

Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) Summer Program

The EFL Economics for Leaders course outlines economic concepts, reasoning, and leadership theory. The EFL program aims to prepare the next generation of leaders to face a world full of complex public policy challenges.

Economics for Leaders (EFL) offers an unmatched learning opportunity, evidenced by a whooping ninety percent recommendation rate among 2023 participants. 

Without a doubt, the program is competitive. The Economics for Leaders’s acceptance rate is low as there are roughly two applicants for each open spot. Students who have attended pre-college programs like EFL catch the eye of admission officers as competitive applicants. 

The program is led by highly skilled economics professors and leaders who have proven worthy with their teaching effectiveness and expertise. 

These experts smoothly wire the participants' brains to the “economic way of thinking” and develop leadership skills in a fun-filled manner.

Program Goals

  • Equip students with the knowledge required to understand the economic concepts that shape the global economy.
  • Stimulate the commitment of students to learn about economics and leadership. 
  • Facilitate students enrolled in FTE economics for leaders by exploring their potential as they develop and implement practical leadership skills.
  • Networking with fun-filled and like-minded people in a conducive environment.
  • Provide a fun-filled, active environment rich with new friendships that can last a lifetime.

Programs at FTE

There is a virtual and an on-site version of the program. The main EFL programs are:

Economics for Leaders Program 

Referred to as in-person or residential programs, the Economics for Leaders program is a one-week program hosted between June and July on different campus sites nationwide. The slots for this highly demanded program fill quickly. 

The FTE residential student program costs $2,300 (room and board), and scholarships are available. The students have to bear the transportation cost.

Economics for Leaders Virtual

The four-day virtual program runs in several sessions in June and July; the applications usually close in May. The EFL Virtual Program costs $800 plus a $35 processing fee. 

Taught over Zoom, the program offers five-hour sessions Monday through Friday where students participate in class and complete their home assignments. Every day, there are four program sessions with a 40-minute break. 

Other than these, there are two more programs offered:

While you are looking at economics programs, you could also enrich your knowledge by doing academic research. Have a look at the economic courses offered by Indigo’s IRIS program.

ProTip: Check out this guide by EFL to seek assistance regarding payments. 

Program Topics 

The program teaches ten topics and uses the context of5 Economic Reasoning Propositions (ERPs)’ to elaborate on the application of these topics: 

  • Money & Inflation
  • Economic Growth and Scarcity
  • Government
  • Opportunity Cost
  • Markets in Action
  • Labor Markets
  • Incentives, Innovation, and the Role of Institutions
  • Property Rights
  • International Markets
  • Open Markets

Additionally, the Leadership Pyramid Matrix is used to teach leadership topics. 

Economics for Leaders is a selective summer program that combines economics, leadership, and real-world decision-making. For students interested in economics, business, or public policy, it’s a great way to deepen their knowledge while developing leadership skills.

At Indigo Research, students work one-on-one with expert mentors to explore economics and related fields through original research. Discover how Indigo Research can help you take your interest in economics beyond the classroom and build meaningful academic experience.

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