Win $5,000 from the Fiscal Fallout Contest

CRFB Fiscal Fallout Contest Logo

We are now accepting submissions for our Fiscal Fallout Contest, where students are given the opportunity to put a human face on the consequences of high and rising federal debt. The winner will receive $5,000.

The national debt is huge and growing – in fact, as a share of the economy, it is the largest it has been at any time in the history of this country other than just after World War II. The annual deficit is about to be over one trillion dollars per year. Our interest payments on the debt are the fastest growing part of the budget. Yet, there is no plan in sight to make this situation any better.

Part of the problem is that it is hard to personalize the debt, visualize the damage it is doing, and understand, in human terms, the real cost to families, the country, and the future. That's where you come in!

 

The Contest

We are asking students from across the country to submit a compelling multimedia presentation (video, podcast, short story, song, storyboard, etc.) that portrays the social and human impact of unsustainable government debt. Submissions could focus on any possible fiscal fallout scenario, whether it be slow income growth, a potential spike in interest rates, Social Security insolvency, shrinking federal investments, or a possible fiscal crisis. The goal is to humanize the risks and costs associated with high and rising national debt.

#FiscalFallout

Who Can Enter:      

This contest is open to high school, college, and graduate students.

Teams:                        

Submissions can be done individually or in teams of up to five people.

Deadline:                   

March 1, 2020

Prizes:                         

First Place:          $5,000 (what the U.S. spends every half-second on interest on the debt)

Second Place:    $1,000

Third Place:         $500            

For more information please contact: Ben Tomchik at tomchik@crfb.org 

Enter Contest

Contest Flyer

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

After the 2020 Election, Fiscal Challenges Await

Why Should We Worry About the National Debt

Why Should We Worry About the National Debt: Questions and Answers