Real World MONOPOLY®: A youth ministry activity for the exploration of economic values. (Note : MONOPOLY® is a registered trademark of the Parker Brothers Corporation. This activity is not intended to infringe upon or profit from their trademark.) By The Reverend William S. Wagnon truewill@earthlink.net, developed with the youth of St. John's Church, West Hartford, CT, USA

Introduction and purpose

Charles Darrow was an out-of-work heating engineer when he invented MONOPOLY®. Since its invention in 1933 during the Great Depression, MONOPOLY® has become one of the world's most popular board games. The game's appeal is the same now as then: it feeds the fantasy of wealth and power. By smart moves and with a little luck, one player can rise above the others to become the wealthiest in the game. It is even possible to "gain the whole world" by owning all the property on the game board. However, the play of the game is driven by an objective which many Christians find disturbing. As stated in the rules, the objective is "to become the wealthiest player." When young people in my church played the game, some went even further saying their objective was to drive other players to bankruptcy. Edward Parker, former president of Parker Brothers which makes MONOPOLY®, said the game's appeal is "clobbering your best friend without doing any damage." In the isolated context of the game this may be true, but the lessons we learn in our play as children are often the lessons we carry into real life where consequences are not so benign.

MONOPOLY® is also based on a simple premise which many observers of our society recognize to be untrue in real life. This faulty premise is the equality of opportunity. In the game, all players start with the same amount of money. They all start at the same place on the board. And they all have equal chances based on future rolls of the dice and how well they play the game. In real life, however, everyone does not start at the same place. Education, health, and wealth are not evenly distributed in society. Some are born into more advantageous situations than others. To help young people grow into caring and compassionate adults, youth ministry leaders need to encourage awareness and understanding of social inequalities. Once these inequalities are appreciated, ministers can begin to teach how the Christian faith compells us to act in light of them.

My purpose is not to criticize the game, or make too much of its influence in shaping our values. Still, the fantasy objective of the game is frighteningly close to the values which many people choose to live by. The relentless and single-minded accumulation of wealth can lead to an empty, wasted life. The assumption of equal starting places leads contribute to the myth that the poor choose to be poor.

I would say Christians pretty much agree that loving God and serving the world in God's name should at least temper the pursuit of wealth, if not totally subject it to these purposes.

MONOPOLY's simple premise and singular objective, of course, are part of the game's attraction. If all the complexities of life were built into the game, who would want to play it for fun? On the other hand, the lessons we learn in our play can influence the rules we live by. While the premise and objective of a simple board game may not matter so much on a lazy afternoon of child's play, the game is a product of our culture's attitudes about wealth and in turn contributes to the shaping of those same attitudes in the next generation.

One mission of youth ministry is to help shape the forming attitudes and values of young people. One way to do this is to encourage young people to think critically about the messages they are receiving from culture and to reflect on the values they want to live by. The following youth ministry activity has two purposes: 1) to help young people appreciate the difficulties that come from not having equal starting places, and 2) to encourage them to think about their own "objectives" -- how they want to play the game of life.

The modified game, Real World Monopoly, is designed to fit the context of a youth group meeting or retreat. After the initial explanation and discussion, the game itself should be fun and even a little rowdy. In my experience, the young people pick-up the modified rules very quickly because they are so familiar with game in its orginal format.

What you will need

Getting Started

Explain that the group will be doing a "simulation game" using MONOPOLY®. A simulation game is a structured activity that approximates, but does not exactly reproduce, situations in every day life.

Begin with a discussion about the objective of the game. Ask what the object of MONOPOLY® is in its orginal form. Explain that the game was invented by an unemployed man during the Great Depression and ask why such a game would have been popular in such a time, when as many as one-in-four people were out of work.

Ask the young people if the object of the game (as they said earlier) is also their objective in the game of life. Some may say yes, being wealthiest is important. Some may say no -- other things are more important.

Emphasize that each person has to decide for themselves what will be the objective of their life. The leader might encourage them to make their real life objective their objective for the simulation game..

Explaining the modified rules -- 5 minutes

Explain that this is modified MONOPOLY. Three rule changes have been made. Also, "the banker" has been renamed "the government" and has been given slightly different function.

1) Players start with different amounts of money and property. This change simulates the inequalities with which people start life.

2) By simple majority vote, the players can change the rules of the game or invent new rules, but rule changes must apply to all players. Rule changes can be proposed on a player's turn before he or she rolls the dice. This change is made because our democratic government gives considerable power to those who can organize for change.

3) Players can erect houses without owning all properties in a color group and sell them with the houses and hotels still on the property. This change is made to speed up the play, encourage deal-making among players and incorporate the "American Dream" of owning a home.

The final rule change is that "the banker" becomes "the government" and is handled by a separate player who does not have a game piece. The government keeps track of the rule changes and handles the money and sale of properties. The government is also the arbiter of disputes among players and should explain the implications of the modified rules (i.e. encourage players to take advantage of power to change rules). The government can also initiate proposed rule changes, but the players should be the ones to decide. A bold government player might unilaterally impose a "regulation" which the players would then have to overturn, or not, with a rule change.

The government player should establish an attitude or policy before play begins, but this does not need to be announced. Just as different governments set different policies, this player should decide whether to support policies of fairness or favor one group of players and whether to be an activist or minimalist force in the game. The way the government plays will have a huge impact on the game. The role should be played with creativity by a person who understands the teaching function of the game.

The government player should also act as an observer, making notes of players actions and reactions which can be offered during the later discussion.

Dividing the Money and Property -- 5 minutes

By roll of the dice, assign starting amounts of money and property. If there are five players divide the group into one who is wealthiest, three who are a middle class and one who is poorest. For six players, I suggest a 1-3-2 split; for seven, 1-4-2; for eight, 1-4-3.

The player with the highest roll will get $3,771 and three properties from the richest side of the game board. The player or players with the lowest roll will get no property and $565. Other players will get $1,500 (as the orginial rules suggest) and two properties from the same side of the game board, but not the same color group.

A further option is to vary the amounts each player receives as he or she passes GO. Using the same percentages as the initial division of money, the wealthiest player would get $503 for passing GO; the middle players $200, and the poorest player $75. If this is too complicated in the course of play it may be omitted.

Play the Game -- 45 minutes to 1 hour

As the game goes on, the government or observing group leaders may have to encourage the poorest player to not give up. In one game I ran, the poorest players felt utterly powerless and wanted to walk out of the meeting. The government has discretion to make loans or give financial aid. Wealthier players also may help out poorer ones, and the government may to choose to encourage this.

The players also may need some encouragement to think creatively about their power to change the rules. They may automatically play by the rules of the original game, which they are free to do. On the other hand, as they become adults these young people will have more and more control over their lives. Once they realize their power in the game and in their lives, they can begin to direct their future. During one game I lead, the poorer players pooled their resources but kept their seperate turns at play. They also used a numerical majority, acheived by a mutually profitable alliance with the middle class, to pass rules that greatly benefitted them. Another player who was uncomfortable with the great wealth she received at the beginning gave away money whenever other players were in need and she still finished the game with far more than anyone else.

Closing discussion -- 20 minutes

Ask the players to think back to the objectives that guided their play. Did they have opportunities to realize their objectives. Were there times for making money? Were there times for helping others? Was there a certain amount of luck or random fortune in the game? While the players all had the same number of turns and the same chances at each roll of the dice, do they think there was really equality of opportunity? Encourage players to make connections between how they played the game and how they would act in real life.

In closing, the group leader could lead a Biblical reflection using one or more of these passages from Scripture:

Isaiah 10:1-4
Zechariah 7:9-12
Matthew 25:14-30
Mark 10:17-27 (similar to Luke 18:18-30)
Luke 20:46-21:4
Romans 15:25-27
1 Timothy6:9-12
James 1:9-11 and 2:1-8

*Explanation for the division of wealth: Statistics on the distribution of wealth is fertile ground for eisigesis, so a confession about method is warranted. In the 1995 Statistical Abstract of the United States (page 475, chart 733) I found a table dividing the total number U.S. families into quintiles (20% segments) by income. The upper limit of income in each quintile for 1993 is as follows: the lowest 20%, $19,952; the second lowest, $30,000; the third lowest, $45,020; the fourth lowest, $66,794; and the lower limit of the top 5% is $113,182. For this simulation, I took the upper limit of the lowest and third lowest quintiles and the lower limit of the top 5% . I keyed MONOPOLY's® suggested amount ($1,500 to start the game and $200 for passing GO) to the middle quintile and set the upper and lower amounts by relative percentage..

**Sample Community Chest and Chance cards for the modified game which can be produced on constuction paper.

Community Chest Cards (yellow)

Property Tax: Pay $50 for each undeveloped property, $100 for each house, and $200 for each hotel

You Win the Lottery: Collect $50 from each player

United Charities Appeal: Give as much as you will to a worthy cause. (Note: group leader should either name the cause, or let each player name the cause they would like their donation to go to.)

Hostile Takeover: You may purchase any property from another player at 150% of it's face value

Get Out of Jail Free

Convicted of Tax Evasion: Go Directly to Jail Do not pass go, Do not collect $200

Catastrophic Illness: You lose 50% of your net worth (the value of all cash and property)

You Win Lawsuit: Collect $125 from any one player

Bank Failure: You lose $250

Income Tax Refund: Collect $75 from government

Pay School Tax: $200

Advance to Go: Collect $200

Advance to St. Charles Place: If you pass Go collect $200.

Advance to Boardwalk

No Slum Lords! Make general repair on all your property: Pay $100 for each hotel, and $25 for each house (except the one you live in).

Go Back Three Spaces

Advance to Nearest Utility: if already owned, throw dice and pay owner 10 times the amount on dice

Go Directly to Jail

Get Out of Jail Free

Stock Market Rally: Collect $150 from the government

Toxic Waste Dump is planned near your most valuable property. All rents and values are reduced by 25% of face value. (Place this card on the property).