EconSim
MarketsClassroom · multi-user

Market Day — Run a Stall on the Square

Every player runs a stall on one town square, selling to a shared crowd. Each market day you chalk a price, order stock (paid up front), and pick marketing; the crowd splits by who's cheapest, loudest and most trusted, unsold stock spoils, and a sold-out stall watches its customers walk to a rival.

You’ll learn: Feel why your price is relative and your stockout is your rival's sale: order stock before you know demand, and the whole square can over-order and eat the spoilage together.

Teacher guide

Students will learn to

  • See how a shared crowd splits across stalls by relative price, marketing and reputation — not absolute effort.
  • Live working capital as a bet: stock is paid for up front, before you know how big the crowd will be.
  • Understand the two ways to waste money — over-order and eat the spoilage, or under-order and hand customers to a rival.
  • Learn that a sold-out day is a small reputation hit, so the reliable stall wins more of the crowd over the game.

Before the session — ask

  • Two stalls sell the same drink side by side. What makes a shopper pick one over the other?
  • You must buy your stock this morning, before you know how many people show up. What could go wrong?
  • If you sell out by noon, is that good or bad? For today — and for tomorrow?

After the session — discuss

  • Who ran out of stock, and which rival picked up the customers they turned away?
  • Who over-ordered and spoiled stock? What did that cost them versus a stockout?
  • When a rival undercut the square, what happened to everyone's margin?
  • Did the most reliably-stocked stall end up with the best reputation and the most customers?

Timing

  • Briefing & a tour of your stall4–6 min
  • Six to ten market days18–25 min
  • Final standings & debrief8–10 min

Run it with your class

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