Exonian grabs gold in Economics Olympiad

When Eli Orbach ’27 returns to campus for the fall term, he’ll do so with the recognition as one of the best young economists in the world — and with a little gold.

This summer, the Tuscon, Arizona, native spent nearly two weeks in Shenzhen, China, competing against other high schoolers and ultimately claiming fourth overall in the individual competition and earning an honorable mention as “Best in Economics” at the International Economics Olympiad.

Orbach also took part in the team competition alongside other Americans from around the United States. As one of 55 countries represented, Team USA finished sixth after presenting a case study on the strategy of the Chinese government to spur economic development in the city of Suzhou. In total, 262 participants took part in the individual and team competitions, whittled down from over 600,000 around the globe who attempted to qualify. Orbach was one of only 23 competitors to claim a gold medal.

“The other Team USA members were really nice and highly impressive in their own right, and it was great getting to spend the week and a half with them,” Orbach says. “It was also great meeting team members from other countries. I spent a lot of time with one student from Vietnam and others from Azerbaijan, Japan, South Korea and Luxembourg.”

Orbach says Exeter, mainly the economics club, has been “instrumental” in his cultivating his passion for the subject. He also praises the club’s faculty advisor, Aykut Kilinc, an instructor in history.

“Mr. Kilinc has been a mentor to me and a consistent source of encouragement during competitions.”

Orbach says he hopes to one day earn a Ph.D. in economics.

“No other subject has as profoundly changed how I view the world.”