In an age when attention-spans are low and instant gratification rules the world, it is difficult to understand why anybody would be interested in the drudgery of economics. All those numbers, statistics and complex theories just keep one’s head spinning, but not for Saint Louis School’s (SLS) Economics Club.
The SLS Economics Club was founded in 2024 by former student Hamin Seo. The club strives to bring awareness to not only economics but how economic theory can be applied to real-world situations. Members of the club discuss various economic issues, connect with like-minded students, and brainstorm career paths in economics.
One of those issues pertained to tariffs, with some arguing in favor of it and others in opposition to it. Jayden Lau, a junior and club member, emphasized about this issue, “Regardless of where you fall on this matter, the tariff discussion was a reflection of the club’s commitment to learning about economics.”
The club’s overarching mission is to stimulate interest in economics and help students who are unfamiliar with the subject gain a basic understanding of it. Perhaps the best demonstration of this is Mr. Daryl Yokota, advisor to the SLS Economics Club, who isn’t particularly familiar with the complexities of economics. Unironically, this idiosyncratic arrangement offers a unique advantage to the club. “I think a benefit of this would be that the students’ thinking is organic. I’m not the one influencing which way you should be thinking or not thinking,” says Yokota.
Out of the many activities that the club participates in, whether it be group presentations or discussions, the most popular one is Speech and Debate. At the end of the last school year, the club held a spirited debate concerning the role of government in the economy. Arguments could be found on both sides of this age-old debate, but it was conducted with good cheer and graciousness. Lau, who had argued in support of a smaller government, reflected, “I honestly believe my team won that debate, but I’m happy to have been a part of it.”
Beyond the economics of the club, there is a greater purpose to it. As Lau explained, “I think it’s that sense of community that attracts me to the club.” A camaraderie of students interested in the same subject evokes the message of brotherhood that Saint Louis embodies.
The SLS Economics Club may only be in its second year, but the club is intent on sticking around a while longer. The club hopes to continue growing and expanding itself to new activities. One of those is developing a networking system to connect club members with professionals in the field. As the economist Dr. Thomas Sowell once said, “The first rule of economics is scarcity.” For the SLS Economics Club, this principle doesn’t seem to apply. There is no scarcity of enthusiasm for this challenging yet stimulating subject.
