Winners of Young Economist competition 2009 announced

The winners of the Young Economist competition 2009 - sharing prize money of R7000 - were announced on Wednesday, 14 October. The winners, Ms EC Brits and Mr J Swart of the team 'Gladiators of Fire', most accurately predicted five economic variables over a two-month period. In total, fifteen predictions were required of the 33 teams that entered the competition. Die Burger sponsors the competition.

From left: Willem Pretorius (Die Burger), prof Rachel Jafta, Jean-Pierre Swart and Elaine Brits. Photo: Leanne Stander (Die Burger)

Prof Rachel Jafta, coordinator of the 144-group, congratulated the prize winners and mentioned that the last two years were especially difficult to accurately predict economic indicators because of the global recession and consequent rapid fluctuations. Team 144++ came in second (with a prize money of R4000), while Double D, Adam's Myth and Forecasters ended in third, fourth and fifth respectively. Adam's Myth also won the prize for the most creative team name.