Polski
Simply visit www.sgh.waw.pl/mistrz-wiedzy and complete a test consisting of 20 single-choice questions. Qualification for the final will depend on the number of points scored and, in the event of a tie, the time taken to complete the test. Exactly 120 people with the best results will advance to the next stage. Results will be sent by email on 1 October 2026.
Nationwide “Master of Economic Knowledge” Test
15 September 2026
Can Poles manage their own wallets? SGH and the ERSTE Foundation will examine the level of economic knowledge among Poles.
How much money do we have left in our wallets at the end of the month? How well do Poles understand the economy and economic mechanisms? Are we able to assess the consequences of changes in prices and interest rates and make rational financial decisions? As early as September, every adult Pole will be able to check their economic knowledge free of charge. SGH Warsaw School of Economics, in cooperation with the ERSTE Foundation, is launching the first nationwide “Master of Economic Knowledge” test. This is not another closed academic exam for students. It is a large-scale social study aimed at checking how we really deal with everyday finances. A report presenting the results will be submitted to the Senate of the Republic of Poland.
For many people, economics is associated with difficult terminology and complicated theories. The test organizers want to prove that this is not the whole story. Finance is part of our everyday life: shopping, planning a household budget, saving for a holiday, or deciding whether to take out a loan. The competition is intended to show that knowledge useful in daily life is within reach, while lacking it can be costly. But that is not all. The anonymized results will be used by researchers to prepare a report to be presented in the Senate of the Republic of Poland — all with the aim of genuinely changing and adapting educational programmes in Poland to the real needs of society.
Anyone aged 18 or over may take part in the competition. Participants do not need a degree in economics or a job in banking — practical life wisdom, knowledge, and logical thinking skills are what matter.
A university is more than its walls
SGH’s involvement in this project stems from a deep conviction that the role of a modern university is to actively support society in building financial stability and security.
As the oldest and one of the leading universities of economics and business in Poland, we cannot and do not want to confine ourselves to lecture halls. Our mission includes education, and the level of economic knowledge among Poles is an issue that directly concerns all of us. This test is not an exam designed to catch someone out for not knowing something or to fail them. Quite the opposite — for us, it is a vast and invaluable source of information that will allow us to find out how much Poles know about economics. Based on fully anonymized results, we will prepare a report that we will present in the Senate of the Republic of Poland. We want to show those responsible for education in our country what specific tools and knowledge Poles need to manage their money wisely and safely. Only in this way can we genuinely adapt the economic education system to the challenges of the modern world.
Financial education is a basic life skill
The competition partner and sponsor of the prizes is the Ignacy Jan Paderewski ERSTE Bank Polska S.A. Foundation. The driving force behind the entire initiative is Marzena Atkielska, President of the Management Board of the ERSTE Foundation, who has for years consistently worked to make financial knowledge accessible to everyone.
Managing your own money does not have to be complicated or reserved for people with specialist knowledge. It is one of the important skills of everyday life that everyone can develop step by step, just like reading, writing, or riding a bicycle. In our work at the ERSTE Foundation, we observe that even basic knowledge of household budgeting, saving, or planning expenses can help people make more informed decisions and build a greater sense of financial security. This competition was born out of a simple human need: we want to demystify the word ‘economics’. We want to show that talking about money can be interesting, natural, and bring immediate benefits in everyday life. I invite everyone to take part — whether they manage a household, run a business, or are just entering adulthood. Test yourselves and help us create a map of Poles’ economic knowledge! And as a Foundation, we will be truly delighted to reward those who demonstrate the greatest knowledge.
Revealing the cards: Is the SGH test difficult?
Collaboration among academic experts has resulted in questions that directly refer to market realities and everyday financial decisions.
We do not ask about dry textbook definitions. When designing the questions, we placed economic mechanisms in real, everyday market situations. When we ask about ‘opportunity cost’, we examine the decision of Marta, who, having a free weekend, chooses to go to the cinema with a friend instead of taking on an additional paid assignment. When we address ‘information asymmetry’, we analyse a situation in which we buy a used car from a seller who knows its full service history. We ask about the price of ice cream on a hot day, how not to be deceived online, and how inflation affects our everyday savings. We want this test to be a useful experience for participants. Referring to SGH’s 120th anniversary, we are inviting the 120 best participants to compete in the historic main auditorium of SGH — it will be an excellent opportunity for discussion and for showing that economics is a very vibrant science, close to people,
How to take part and what is at stake?
Participation in the competition is completely free of charge and open to every adult resident of Poland. The competition has been divided into three key stages:
The 120 best participants will meet in person in the Main Building of SGH in Warsaw (al. Niepodległości 162) to take the final written test. The winners will be announced on the same day. For the three people who score the highest number of points, the ERSTE Foundation has funded cash prizes of PLN 10,000 for first place, PLN 7,000 for second place, and PLN 5,000 for third place.
Importantly, each of the 120 finalists will receive a guaranteed surprise prize worth up to PLN 200, and the ERSTE Foundation will fully pay and settle the tax due on all awarded prizes.
After the online test is completed, SGH researchers will begin analysing fully anonymized and aggregated data. The project will culminate in the official presentation of the report and a debate involving experts, representatives of public institutions, and the academic community in the Senate of the Republic of Poland.
Registration for the competition and the full rules and regulations are available at: www.sgh.waw.pl/mistrz-wiedzy.