Topic selection
Research topics will cover some of the current economic or public issues of importance in the U.S. and internationally.
General Topic Areas & Guidelines
Topic Areas
1. The importance of economic models and hypothesis testing in Microeconomic analysis.
2. The role of technological innovation in economic production.
3. The economics of market failures (public goods, market control, externalities, and imperfect information)
4. The economics of climate change
5. The economics of international trade restrictions.
Within these topic areas you will examine three economic questions and/or problems to solve. You will then choose one of those questions/problems to research as the basis for your paper.
Example 1: (under Topic Area 3) Can a junk food tax correct societal/taxpayer healthcare costs in the negative externality of soda and sugar consumption?
Example 2: (under Topic Area 2) Does robotic technology in warehouse distribution centers create a net increase or decrease in jobs?
This project will generate 4 written responses:
Your topic selection with 3 possible economic questions to research. You will choose one of those questions before beginning the outline. 10 pts.
Your outline (please see links to assist). Your outline must include the clearly stated general topic and the economic question. 10 pts.
The research paper itself 100 pts.
The reflection 10 pts.
Guidelines
Paper length—Your paper should be 1250-1500 words.
Sources used (cited) should be a minimum of 6-8 keeping in mind that you will review many resources but only directly use some of them.
Writing style—with few or no typographical errors, misspelled words, and grammatical errors. Use proper paragraphing and improve your writing style by revising the paper as many times as necessary. Our department now requests APA format for all papers.
Please note: If you have done the signature assignment with Dr. Akujuobi or with me in the other section, you must create a new topic and paper for this class.
Citations—anytime you borrow someone’s ideas, paraphrase or quote them, cite all sources. Analyze and question your sources’ assumptions. The Writing Center can assist you with citations and formatting.
The use of statistics, tables, charts, figures, and video links to support your arguments is encouraged.
You will find the Turn it In link to submit the final paper in the module corresponding to your established due date.
General Paper Structure
Section 1: Introduction, background history of your topic and your question/problem to be addressed. Clearly state your research question and your thesis.
Section 2: What is the nature of the problem; why is it an economic problem and/or why is your question of public policy interest?
Section 3: What are the effects or impacts of the problem; which group(s) is affected most? What are the domestic and international (if applicable) economic effects? Who will benefit from the answer to your economic question?
Section 4: Suggest practical solutions to the identified problems including the objectives and constraints of those solutions.
Section 5: Conclusions and recommendations.
