Hi Everyone,
Welcome to the Economics Challenge Series for 2025. For July and August, I am running an economics challenge series. The series consists of six challenges. All the challenges will commence in July and early August. I will publish and announce the results in August.
Five of the seven challenges from last year's Challenge Series return. The Auction Challenge is replacing the Complement vs. Substitute and Tax Game challenges. This year because of time constraints, I have reduced the number of challenges from seven to six. Below is the list of challenges and respective links for ones that have already commenced.
- Challenge 1: Game Theory Game
- Challenge 2: The Buying and Selling Game
- Challenge 3: Pick-a-Door
- Challenge 4: Ice Cream Game
- Challenge 5: Auction
- Challenge 6: Even-to-Win
Each challenge could reward winners with as much as 60 Hive Power. The value of the prize will depend on the level of participation. For each new participant, the prize will increase by 4 Hive Power. This increase will continue until 60 Hive Power is reached (15 participants). The first 15 participants will also receive a 50% upvote from this account.
In addition to the prize money, the top few participants will be given points. These points will be used to determine the overall challenge series winner. This winner may receive as much as 80 Hive Power. The value of the prize will equal the sum of the number of participants across all challenges. This will continue until 80 Hive Power is reached.
Welcome to the Even to Win Game
How to Play?
The Even to Win Game requires participants to select a certain number of boxes (e.g., 7 out of 13 boxes). Each box has been assigned a value. The participant obtains that value if an even number of participants have selected that box. If only one participant selects the box, it does not award that value. If two participants select the box, it offers the value stated in the question. If three participants select the box, it does not award that value.
Some boxes have limits to the number of participants that can select them. For example, a box might have a limit of three participants. Once the third participant has selected the box, new participants can no longer select that box. They are limited to the boxes that have not yet reached their limit.
All the information you need to know to play the game is provided in the question; i.e., no external research is required.
All entries must be made in the comments section of this post.
Each account is only permitted one entry.
Strictly no collusive behaviour between participants (e.g., reducing boxes to zero to enable another participant to turn them positive).
Objectives of the Game
The objective of the game is to obtain the highest total value from the boxes selected. If two participants obtain the same total value, the participant who entered first wins.
Game Assumptions
- Each box is assigned a value. This value only contributes to a participant's overall score if an even number of participants select that box.
- Some boxes have participant limits; once the limits have been reached, no other participant can select that box.
- The participant's order of selection of boxes does not make a difference to the value allocated to the box or the value awarded to the participants selecting that box.
How are the Results of the Game Determined?
The results are determined based on the combined values of the boxes each participant has selected. No results or values need to be generated by any model.
Challenge Prizes
The total prize for this challenge could reach as high as 60 Hive Power. The number of participants determines the value of the prize. For every entry, the prize is increased by 4 Hive Power until a value of 60 Hive Power is reached. The winner will receive 2/3 of the prize, and second place will receive 1/3. The first 15 entries will be given upvotes. The winner of this challenge will be given 40 points, second place 20 points, and third place 5 points. These points will be tallied at the end of the challenge series to determine the overall winner.
Let the Challenge Begin!
For this challenge, participants are required to select 7 out of 13 boxes (no more, no less). Each box contains a value. Some boxes have a limit on the number of participants who can select them. These values and limits for each box are as follows:
| Box | Value | Limit (participant selections) |
|---|---|---|
| Box 1 | 65 | Unlimited |
| Box 2 | 48 | Unlimited |
| Box 3 | 22 | Unlimited |
| Box 4 | 88 | 5 |
| Box 5 | 112 | 3 |
| Box 6 | 74 | Unlimited |
| Box 7 | 50 | Unlimited |
| Box 8 | 68 | Unlimited |
| Box 9 | 39 | Unlimited |
| Box 10 | 92 | 4 |
| Box 11 | 42 | Unlimited |
| Box 12 | 58 | Unlimited |
| Box 13 | 102 | 5 |
Entry Format
For this challenge, I expect to see entries made in the following format:
Box:
Box:
Box:
Box:
Box:
Box:
Box:
Example of Entry
Box: 1
Box: 2
Box: 6
Box: 8
Box: 9
Box: 11
Box: 12
The closing date and time for this challenge is 6PM coordinated universal time (UTC) 06/08/2025. Responses after this time will not be accepted. The results of the challenge will be announced in a separate post.
I hope everyone has fun and enjoys this final challenge. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section. The results for Challenge 1 will be posted soon.
The Sapien Loop Series
I am writing a trilogy of books titled Sapien Loop. The first in the series is Sapien Loop: End of an Era and the second is Sapien Loop: Frozen in Time. I published both of these books as ebooks on Amazon, and I have posted completed chapters to my @captainhive account. I anticipate publishing the third book in early 2027. I expect to title this book Sapien Loop: Worlds Collide. In 2025, I plan to write short stories about some of the characters and their adventures. I will post these to my @captainhive over the course of the year.
Brief Summary of Sapien Loop: End of an Era
This story is based on the fictional planet Sapia and its sole country, Sapey. Sapey is portrayed as a form of utopia for all its citizens. No poverty. No war. Almost no crime. Opportunities for all.
This was enough for most citizens, but not all. In one of the small regions, some of the citizens had become discontent. They felt something important was missing in their lives. Their discontent did not go unnoticed. Some of the Sapey elite wanted to weaponise this discontent to gain more power. This created more chaos than they anticipated. This led to further widespread social unrest.
On top of the chaos, ambition and greed provoked another enemy. This enemy was on a mission to settle both new and old scores.
Brief Summary of Sapien Loop: Frozen in Time
This story is based six years after the original story. The Downs Region is still suffering from a serious health crisis caused by the contaminated water. The main characters are desperately trying to find a cure for the illness that has been caused by the water.
One of the main characters has discovered frozen humanoids in hidden chambers. It appears they have been frozen for a long time. These chambers connect to a vast network of tunnels. While exploring the tunnels, one of the frozen humanoids disappears. It appears he has been stolen.
The story takes a step back in time to tell the story of the frozen humanoids. How and why were they frozen? This part of the story also explains the fall of ancient Sapey and the birth of the Sapiens. Can those from the past be able to coexist with those from the present?
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