The UBC Election Stock Market for the 40th Canadian Federal Election on Tuesday October 14, 2008, is now closed. We are planning to open the UBC Election Stock Market for the 2009 British Columbia Provincial Election and Electoral Reform Referendum on March 16, 2009.   The UBC Election Stock Market is a financial market in which the ultimate values of the contracts being traded are based on the outcome of provincial or federal elections in Canada. Participants invest their own funds, buy and sell listed contracts, earn profits and bear the risk of losing money.            The ESM is operated as a not-for-profit venture. The method of issuing contracts and making final payoffs on these contracts ensures that the ESM does not realize financial profits or suffer losses. No commissions or transactions fees are charged.            The exclusive purposes for conducting this market are teaching and research. Through the ESM, participants learn first-hand about the operation of a financial market and, because they have an added incentive to do so, they often become better informed about not only the current election but also the election process itself. As a research project, the ESM generates valuable data that will provide insights into market and trader behaviour. Participation in the ESM is open to all Canadian residents who are at least 19 years of age.            Follow the link in the navigation menu on the left to "Open an Account". The minimum investment amount per trader is $25, and the maximum investment amount is $1,000. Please use our on-line credit card payment system to sign up and activate your trading account instantaneously, or invest by sending us a cheque through the mail. Directors: Prof. Thomas Ross, Ph.D. Prof. Werner Antweiler, Ph.D.   Contact us: E-mail: esm2008@esm.ubc.ca Phone: +1-604-822-8399; Fax: +1-604-827-5657 Postal: UBC-ESM, Attention: Jessie Lam, 2053 Main Mall, Vancouver BC, V6T 1ZT, Canada Media Inquiries: Derek Moscato, Sauder School of Business, Phone: +1-604-822-8345 © 2008 Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia.