In this group game, students use economic data and projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to try out ideas for reducing U.S. government debt. In the process, you learn the impact of changes you make, such as raising taxes and cutting or reducing programs and benefits. Some of the options available to reduce debt include increasing taxes, doing away with certain tax deductions, raising the age of Social Security recipients, and reducing the defense budget, among many other choices. The objective of this nation-wide game is to make the US budget less abstract, as students learn the consequences of raising income and reducing expenditures.
Schools across the country from grades 6 to college are participating in this election year version of the game that includes the policies advocated by the presidential candidates.