Suggested Research Paper Topics
1. College tuition is increasing. Provide a cost/benefit analysis describing your own decision to pursue higher education. Explain, in detail, the economic concept of opportunity cost as well as the opportunity cost of continuing your education?
2. Using the tools of microeconomics, analyze the effectiveness of a specific gun control proposal (you must identify a valid, specific, gun control proposal). What social costs will this legislation attempt to mitigate? How can those costs be quantified? Do you think this goal will be achieved by the specific gun control proposal?
3. Explain the concept of progressive taxation in microeconomics (i.e., production and sales taxes). Do you think that progressive taxation is “fair”? What economic arguments are made that it is fair or unfair?
4. In 2016, the EpiPen (a life-saving injection device used particularly by those suffering from severe allergic reactions) had a large price surge (Mylan, its producing company, took advantage of its virtual monopoly on this life-saving allergy treatment by increasing its price to more than $600 compared to $100 in 2009). How did Mylan achieve this kind of market power in the first place (i.e., explain the various sources of Mylan’s market power)?
5. “Is Wal-Mart good for America”? You may have heard or even watched movies about such a topic. What are the micro-economic and social advantages and disadvantages you see associated with a Wal-Mart to your local area, and to you as a consumer? Make sure that you consider the social and economic effects on small businesses and worker’s wages in your analysis. Explain, using microeconomic theory from our textbook, how a large discount store can replace many small independent store selling the same or similar merchandise.
6. Provide an analysis of the changes in the microeconomic market for marijuana where it has become legal (i.e., using the supply/demand model, what kinds of changes have there been and/or will there be vis-a-vis supply, demand, costs, and pricing. What micro-economic and social costs are affected by legalization?
7. What can the individual household and community do about global warming? What kinds of businesses are most impacted by CO2 regulations? What are the economic issues involved in regulating fossil fuel emissions for a business and individual household?
8. Should We Sweat About Sweatshops? After exploring the two sides of the economic and legal arguments by researching the pros and cons of the economic impacts of sweatshops on the employer, the employees, and the consumer, draw your own conclusion by taking sides on the issue of Sweatshops.
9. Using the models studied in Chapter 6 (i.e., apply the supply and demand model to analyze the effect of rent control (a price ceiling) on the availability of rental properties (vacancies)), explain the reluctance of the landlords to build new apartment complexes under rent control regulations? Is rent control that creates shortages of rental properties fair under conditions of low level of vacancies? Consider a rental market where earnings increased by about 10% and the rent increased by 20% (with no rent control regulations). Explain if this scenario would lead to a shift in the demand/supply curve or a movement along the demand/supply curve.
10. Evaluate the on-line dating markets (examples include EHarmony, OK Cupid, Match.com) at improving the efficiency of meeting a significant other. Make sure to explain and use the economic concept of supply, demand, equilibrium, marginal cost, marginal benefit, and opportunity cost.
Textbook must be a source on this research paper ( Mankiw, N.G. Principles of Economics, 9th Edition, Cengage Learning.*)
How to write the paper
Conduct research on your topic using at least two outside sources in addition to using applicable theory from our textbook readings & citing your textbook (including page #s) in your bibliography. Please do not use wikis or blogs as resources.
Write a Research Paper with a Body length of a minimum of 3 pages using MLA style (minimum word count of 1000 words not counting title page, abstract, and bibliography). Please refer to MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources // Purdue Writing Lab, https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html, for instruction on using MLA formatting for citations.
Double-space your Research Paper.
Include a Title Page, an Abstract with Key Words, a Body, and References.
Use a spell and grammar check prior to posting for a grade.
In the Body of your Research Paper begin with an Introductory Paragraph and end with a Concluding Paragraph
Add a relevant graph for increased grade potential.
Your paper will be checked for plagiarism using SafeAssign. Plagiarized papers, whether intentional or simply due to ignorance will receive a total grade of zero. Read the following information on plagiarism.
Submit a Draft Paper to receive a SafeAssign report about potential problems with plagiarism. No paper is to have a ‘SafeAssign’ ‘Similarity Index’ greater than a 20% (not counting the bibliography).
Consider using the Writing Lab to aid with editing your paper.
Select one of the suggested research topics and write a “critically thought-out” essay on it. Articulate your typed essay into 3 clearly separate sections: an introduction of the topic and its context, a development of the topic (body), and a conclusion that recaps your main points along with introducing either your solutions to the problem on hand or a view into other avenues to research further such a topic. The minimum length of the body of the paper must be 3 pages (@ 1000 words written in MLA formatting) in addition to the cover and the references pages. Keeping in mind that this is a college-level type of required effort, please make sure to write full sentences
Remember to cite all your sources correctly and do not copy/paste anything that is not cited (i.e., you cannot use any portion of any paper that you or anyone else has already turned in for a grade in another class without proper citation). Please use your textbook as much as possible for theory and model references. Only two Internet sources can be used as references. All other references should come from your textbook.
Textbook Name : *Mankiw, N.G. Principles of Economics, 9th Edition, Cengage Learning.*
. Remember that while appropriate research is necessary, it is your economic analysis which is important.
I have. attached a research paper example.
