The Buckeye Game

The Buckeye Game is a financial and political simulation designed for American high school students. Its goal is to inspire students to engage more deeply with their studies and take greater ownership of their education-ultimately improving the quality of graduates schools produce.

The game transforms the student body into a miniature, self-governed economy, which the players themselves manage and regulate. Students are given the freedom to earn money within this system, applying real-world economic and political principles.

At graduation, each player's accumulated bank balance is converted into real money-a gift from the state to each new graduate. This ensures that every student, regardless of background, starts adult life with a portion of capital. Even students from disadvantaged families leave school with a financial foundation.

The Buckeye Game teaches students what an estate is and how to grow one-one of the most critical life lessons. Everyone benefits: no one loses, though some achieve more than others.

There are four distinct versions of the Buckeye Game, each offering a unique approach:

• Capitalist Version

• Marxist Version

• Laissez-Faire Version

• Deist Version

With the world watching, these four models compete to see which produces the greatest improvement in standardized test scores.