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Economics Dissertation Topics

Published by Alvin Nicolas at January 11th, 2023 , Revised On April 16, 2024

The field of economics has changed entirely in recent times. Today, the field holds an extremely important place in every economy, with individual choices, spending, borrowing, production, occupations, markets, trading, employment, and a lot more being predicted and planned by economists.

Today, economists view economics from a modern and slightly different perspective than traditional economics. Different approaches in economics include perspectives like anthropology, sociology, geography, and various institutions.

Studying economics involving these perspectives provides a clearer view of the issues and problems related to the modern economic world. In contrast, focusing on the traditional economic approaches while selecting a topic will result in vague outcomes according to modern economics.

The most difficult task with respect to economics dissertations involves the  collection of data . Mostly the data required by the researcher must be in quantitative form. However, once data is collected, the researcher can focus on performing the analysis.

There are a number of economic perspectives that can be studied in detail. As your final project, you will want to select the most recent and relevant economics topic for your dissertation.

To help you get started with brainstorming for economics topic ideas, we have developed a list of the latest topics that can be used for writing your economics dissertation.

These topics have been developed by PhD-qualified writers of our team , so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting  a brief research proposal  from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an  introduction  to the problem,  research question , aim and objectives,  literature review  along with the proposed  methodology  of research to be conducted.  Let us know  if you need any help in getting started.

Check our  example dissertations to get an idea of  how to structure your dissertation .

You can review step by step guide on how to write your dissertation.

Check our  example dissertation to get an idea of  how to structure your dissertation .

2024 Economics Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: the influence of price and brand on consumer preference during an economic recession: a case of the clothing market in greece.

Research Aim: The research will aim to examine the impact of prices and brands on consumer buying behaviour during an economic recession in Greece’s clothing market. During an economic crisis, not all types of products suffer the same consequences. During a recession, people are more sensible in their buying decisions, and they frequently continue to choose known product brands that meet their demands. The study will look at the impact of the recession on consumer purchasing preferences, taking into account variations in spending on various apparel brands based on price.

Topic 2: The financial and non-financial support of the family members in the growth of a successful entrepreneurship

Research Aim: The research will aim to investigate the importance of financial and non-financial support of family members in the growth of successful entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is a driving force in economic growth, social transformation, and organizational change. Private businesses (entrepreneurship) not only support a state’s social and economic growth but it also develops intellectual competition and innovation. Family members who are involved in business ventures can influence individuals’ goals to start new businesses, and they can also be considered as a means of economic and motivational strength.

Topic 3: The impact of transaction cost on economic development

Research Aim: The research will aim to explore the impact of transaction cost on the economic development of a country. The study will try to find the impact by using different methods and analyses. This article will investigate the difficulties of economic growth as they relate to transaction costs and how the latter produce various sorts of market failures. The study also explores several major contributions to the field of economic development, including market failure and growth barriers. Alternative perspectives on the failure of government and the market-government duality will also be examined.

Topic 4: What effect does oil price fluctuation have on business activity in oil-importing and exporting states?

Research Aim: The research will aim to find the influence of oil rate fluctuation on businesses of oil-importing and exporting countries. Change has a significant influence on the production costs of oil-importing countries and changes in pricing levels changes. At the same time, oil price variations have a significant impact on energy export profits and government budget revenues in energy-exporting economies.

Topic 5: The impact of gender inequality on work productivity and economic growth: A case study on developing countries

Research Aim: The research will aim to find the impact of gender inequality on work productivity and economic growth in developing countries. Gender inequality is not solely a concern in developing countries. Males earn more than women in practically every society. Differences in health, education, and negotiating power within marriage, on the other hand, tend to be bigger in countries with low Per capita income. Gender inequality in the office contributes to females’ lower socio-economic standing. Furthermore, such gender inequality may be associated with human resource rules and human resource related decision-making.

Topic 6: Research to identify the impacts of Coronavirus on the economy

Research Aim: This study will focus on identifying the impacts of coronavirus on the global economy.

Topic 7: Research to study the impacts of Coronavirus on the real estate sector

Research Aim: This research aims at identifying the impacts of coronavirus on the real estate sector. Is real estate a better option for investment during COVID-19?

Topic 8: Research to study the impacts of Coronavirus on the stock market

Research Aim: This research aims at identifying the impacts of coronavirus on the stock market.

Topic 9: Research to identify the impacts of Coronavirus on banking and the future of banking after the pandemic

Research Aim: This research aims at identifying the impacts of coronavirus on banking and the future of banking after the pandemic. What are the predictions? What challenges may come across? How to overcome those challenges?

Dissertation Topics on Economics 2023

Topic 1: economic expansion in bioenergy: a case study.

Research Aim: This research aims to conduct a case study on the economic expansion in bioenergy

Topic 2: Factors responsible for job creation and job destruction in the UK

Research Aim: This research aims to identify the factors responsible for job creation and job destruction in the UK.

Topic 3: Impacts of wars on the economy of both nations

Research Aim: This research aims to address how do wars impact the economy of both nations?

Topic 4: The role of banks in the economy of a country

Research Aim:  This research aims to highlight the role of Banks in the economy of a country. Students can choose any country to conduct the study.

Topic 5: Is an unhealthy country considered an emerging country?

Research Aim:  This research will answer the question: Is an unhealthy country considered a poor country?

Dissertation Topics Related to Economic Geography

Economic geography studies human economic activities with respect to various conditions such as location, distribution, production, consumption, exchange of resources, etc. Thus, studying the availability of all these resources, their development, and utilization is the main subject matter of economic geography.

In addition to studying these resources and their relationship with human economic activities, economic geography also helps study the interaction of these resources and variables with respect to nature and economic activities.

Economic geography is studied within different regions and localities in order to assess various human economic activities. Here are some economic geography dissertation topics to help you explore this field.

Topic 1: Role of local ethics and culture in shaping entrepreneurial economic development in various businesses.

Research Aim: This study will talk about the role of culture and ethics in shaping economic entrepreneurial attitudes in different fields of business.

Topic 2: Diversity in entrepreneurial approaches brought up by emigrants in the economics of a place: A critical analysis

Research Aim: This research will discuss whether entrepreneurial approaches be exported when emigrants move to a new place.

Topic 3: Assessing factors involved in facilitating knowledge transfer in a specific locality or place

Research Aim: This research will understand the various factors that play a role in transferring knowledge from one place or locality to another.

Topic 4: Economic opportunities provided within local boundaries. A case study of any specific area

Research Aim: This study will talk about the economic opportunities provided by local boundaries. This dissertation can be customised according to an area/region of your choice.

Topic 5: To discuss the role of the “European regional policy” in shaping or modifying places in the UK

Research Aim: This study will talk about the role of European regional policy in shaping and modifying UK places.

Topic 6: Location of top IT firms in the UK, the role of location on economics linked to a particular firm

Research Aim: This study will assess the economic geography of top IT firms in the UK that are linked to different firms.

Topic 7: Causes of regional diversity. Analysis and comparison between the richest and poorest places of the UK

Research Aim: This will be a comparative study between the richest and poorest places in the UK based on regional diversity.

Topic 8: Economics and expansion in bioenergy: A Case Study

Research Aim: This study will talk about economics and expansion in bioenergy, and a specific case will be under analysis.

Topic 9: Economic modifications faced by emigrants, causes and impacts

Research Aim: This research will talk about the various economic modifications that emigrants have to face and will also assess its causes and impacts.

Topic 16: A critical analysis of diversity in entrepreneurial attitudes in rural and urban areas

Research Aim: This will be a critical study that will assess diversity in entrepreneurial attitudes in both rural and urban areas.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service!

Dissertation Topics on Microeconomics

This branch of economics deals with economic perspectives on an individual level. It takes into account the allocation of various resources that are limited in nature. Different theories of microeconomics can be applied to markets where different products are bought and sold out.

In order to complete your graduation program, you will have to select the right economics topic that not only interests you but is relevant in today’s world. The suggested topics for you to choose from are listed below:

Topic 1: Difference in consumer attitudes in the UK over the past 15 years – Critical analysis of customer behaviour trends.

Research Aim: This research will compare the consumer attitude in the UK over the past 15 years and will study the trends.

Topic 2: Understanding to what extent does the concept of oligopoly exists in markets of the UK – A critical analysis

Research Aim: This study will first talk about oligopoly, and will then build and critically discuss how this concept exists in the UK market.

Topic 3: Laws and their impact on British firms.

Research Aim: This study will talk about the various laws in the UK that have an impact on various industries as a whole.

Topic 4: “European regional policy” and its effects on British small and medium enterprises

Research Aim: This research will study the European regional policy and the impacts this has on SMEs in the UK.

Topic 5: To discuss specific traits of the UK innovation organisation

Research Aim:  This research will understand the various traits of UK organisations that innovate.

Topic 6: Study of the characteristics of the energy market in the UK – A microeconomic approach

Research Aim: This study will undertake a microeconomic approach in order to understand the characteristics of the energy market in the UK.

Topic 7: Common traits of the top internet technology firms in the US – Analysis of the approaches adopted by different successful technology firms

Research Aim: This research will talk about the various traits of leading internet firms in the US and will analyse their different approaches

Topic 8: How is the concept of “economic convergence” linked to salary levels in the United States? – A critical analysis

Research Aim: This study will critically discuss economic convergence and how it is linked to salary levels in the US.

Topic 9: A Discussion on the use and role of various “pricing models” in making investment decisions.

Research Aim: This research will analyze the various pricing models that companies use to make decisions with respect to their investment.

Topic 10: Analysing salary inequalities in the United States and the forces behind such inequalities? – A Critical analysis

Research Aim: This study will talk about an important issue, i.e., salary inequalities in the US, and will also discuss the various forces that drive such inequalities.

Dissertation Topics on Employment Economics

Employment is a very important aspect that is studied in economics. Employment is interconnected with other academic subjects as well and affects people’s finances, which further determines their type of relationship with their environment or society.

Moreover, with the passage of time, technological advancements in various fields have impacted the labor market, which directly influenced the employment rate.  Dissertation topics  related to the field of employment economics are listed as under:

Topic 1: Factors responsible for the job creation and job destruction in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This research will talk about the different factors that are responsible for job creation and destruction in the United Kingdom.

Topic 2: Analysing to what extent the concept of self-employment prevails in the United Kingdom – Discuss the factors that determine it

Research Aim: This research will determine the extent to which the concept of self-employment prevails in the UK. Furthermore, the factors determining self-employment will also be explored.

Topic 3: Link between minimum wages and British employment. A critical analysis

Research Aim: This study will critically analyze the link between wages minimum wages and employment in Britain.

Topic 4: Understanding In what ways technological advancements have paved the way for a rise in British employment levels

Research Aim: This research will talk about the various ways through which technological advancements have helped increase employment in the British economy.

Topic 5: Exploring the value of labour in the United Kingdom– Skilled or unskilled labour? A Critical Analysis

Research Aim: This study will talk about the value of both types of labour, skilled and unskilled, in the UK. A critical analysis will be conducted as to which type of labour is more in demand in the economic system.

Topic 6: Analysing the levels and prevalence of self-employment in various parts of Europe. An Analysis of the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This research will discuss and analyse the levels and prevalence of self-employment in various parts across Europe. Special attention will be given to the UK in the study to understand the self-employment system.

Topic 7: In what ways does immigration affects British employment levels and productivity? Discuss

Research Aim: This research will talk about the various ways through which immigration affects British employment levels and productivity.

Topic 8: How can professional training impact British employment? Discuss

Research Aim: This study will talk about the impact of professional training on employment in the UK. The research will discuss if the impact was negative or positive.

Topic 9: Analysing the impact of gender inequality in employment on economic growth in the UK

Research Aim: This research will analyse the impact of gender inequality in employment on economic growth in the UK.

Topic 10: Economic productivity and Innovation – Are they both related? A study of the UK services industry

Research Aim: This research will help understand the relationship (if any) between economic productivity and innovation. The UK Services industry will be analyzed.

Dissertation Topics on Economic Sociology

This field refers to the study of sociological aspects from an economic perspective. Social networks are also one of the more important features in the economic world because they can contribute greatly to promoting a particular brand.

Different social gatherings are a source to highlight a particular industry, firm, and even a private setup. They can contribute greatly to building successful businesses. Following are some economic sociology dissertation topics for you to choose from:

Topic 1: Exploring Innovation Activities for the promotion of a particular firm/industry/brand

Research Aim: This research will talk about all the innovative activities that take place while promoting a brand or a company in an industry. This topic can be customised according to a brand/company of your choosing.

Topic 2: Understanding the role of families in funding a particular firm

Research Aim: This research will talk about the family funding of businesses, the whole process and how it takes place. You can choose an industry of your choice to base your dissertation on.

Topic 3: Can a blend of different cultures contribute to increasing the level of productivity? Evidence from a UK firm

Research Aim : This research will discuss how various cultures contribute to increasing productivity levels. A UK firm will be chosen for this research.

Topic 4: Social capital plays its role in the rural areas in the UK – A critical analysis

Research Aim: This research will talk about social capital and its role in the rural areas of the UK.

Topic 5: Youth as one of the biggest supports in the promotion of economic agents

Research Aim: This research will help understand the relationship (if any) between economic productivity and innovation. The UK services industry will be analysed.

Topic 6: Exploring the role of university networks in shaping entrepreneurial behaviours and actions

Research Aim: This study will help explore the role of university networks in shaping entrepreneurial actions and behaviours.

Topic 43: Role of social entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This study will talk about the role of social entrepreneurship in the UK and how it has emerged.

Topic 8: Diverse culture and productivity enhancement – How are the two related?

Research Aim: This study will talk about whether diverse culture has an impact on productivity enhancement in the UK or not.

Topic 9: Exploring the Impact of social networks on the success of Brands

Research Aim: This study will talk about the impact of social networks on the success of brands and how they impact businesses. You can choose a brand for this dissertation.

Topic 10: Understanding the ‘peer’ factor in setting up businesses

Research Aim: Setting up a business involves various factors, and an essential one is a support from peers. This research will explore this aspect of support when starting a business and the impact it has.

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Dissertation Topics on Institutional Economics

Institutional economics helps in understanding the role of institutions in shaping economic behaviour. Certain institutions promote certain values, beliefs and norms, and they impact the public in a certain way.

These institutions can affect the economics of a certain region and help shape economic life and behaviour. Institutional economics is still an emerging field. Following are some institutional economics dissertation topics that you can base your dissertation on.

Topic 1: Assessing the factors behind the power of a successful firm. How is it built?

Research Aim: This research will discuss the various factors that help companies build power in the industry and impact the economy.

Topic 2: Analysing the impact of cultural mix on the organisation of firms in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This study will analyse the impact of diverse cultures on organisations in the UK.

Topic 3: Evaluating the role of bureaucracy in the productivity levels of the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This research will help in evaluating the role of bureaucracy on productivity levels in the UK.

Topic 4: Understanding various methods to ensure economic efficiency in the property markets of the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This study will understand the different ways through which economic efficiency is ensured in the UK property markets.

Topic 5: Impacts of transaction costs on economic development?

Research Aim: This research will evaluate how economic development is impacted by transaction costs.

Topic 6: Analysing the major forces operating behind the concept of control and ownership in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This study will help analyse the major forces that control and own institutions in the UK and how they impact the economy.

Topic 7: Traits of British managers and investors. A Comparative analysis

Research Aim: This will be an interesting study as it will talk about the various traits of British managers and investors.

Topic 8: Role of educational aspects in entrepreneurship

Research Aim: This research will explore the role of education concerning entrepreneurship, i.e. how does education help build entrepreneurs, which in turn benefits the economy.

Topic 9: The concept of latent entrepreneurship – A comparison between the United Kingdom and Europe

Research Aim: This study will understand the concept of latent entrepreneurship by comparing the UK environment with that of Europe.

Topic 10: Is the profit of a firm dependent on its size? Evidence from the manufacturing firms in the UK

Research Aim: This research will help in understanding whether the profit of a company is dependent on the business’ size or not. The UK Manufacturing industry will be explored.

Dissertation Topics on Environmental Economics

Environment and economics share a unique and close relationship. The environment can affect economics in a good or bad way. There are various environmental economic issues that should be addressed. Following are some of the pressing issues pertaining to environmental economics that you can choose as your dissertation topic.

Topic 1: To what extent is the environment responsible for shaping business behaviours? A critical analysis

Research Aim: This research will talk about the extent to which the environment is responsible for building business behaviours.

Topic 2: Economics in relation to biodiversity and nature conservation. An evidence-based study

Research Aim: This research will discuss economics in relation to biodiversity and nature conservation.

Topic 3: Assessing the role of NGO’s and organizations to promote a healthy environment through fundraising programs

Research Aim: This research will help in assessing the role of NGOs and organisations in promoting healthy environments through various fundraising programs.

Topic 4: Willingness to pay for various recycling programs – A case study of the United Kingdom.

Research Aim : This research will help understand the different recycling programs by evaluating a UK-based case study.

Topic 5: Incentives regarding land and water management – A case study of the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This research will talk about various incentives relating to land and water management. A UK-based case study will be chosen.

Topic 6: Economic value of historical places: A critical analysis

Research Aim: This research will talk about the economic value of historical places and will present a critical analysis.

Topic 7: In which field is it cheapest to reduce or cut carbon emissions? Discuss.

Research Aim: This research will talk about the impacts of carbon emissions and will discuss in which field it will be cheapest to reduce or eliminate such emissions.

Topic 8: Ethanol production from an economic perspective. Discuss.

Research Aim: This research will help in exploring ethanol production with respect to economics.

Topic 9: Environmental improvements in regards to locational differences in communities Discuss in an economic approach

Research Aim: This research will present various environmental improvements with respect to locational differences in communities.

Topic 10: Climate change in relation to economics. Discuss

Research Aim: This research will talk about an important issue, i.e. climate change and the impact it has on economics.

Dissertation Topics on Regional Development

Economic growth can also be studied at a regional level. This field considers economic perspectives on a smaller level with a focus on trade between regions. Suggestions for dissertation topics in this field are listed as follows:

Topic 1: Evaluating the link between profit and regional development?

Research Aim: This research will evaluate the link between profit and regional development with respect to economics.

Topic 2: Assessing the “regional development policy” in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This study will talk about the regional development policy in the UK.

Topic 3: Discussing the role of learning or knowledge gaining involved in regional development?

Research Aim: This research will explore the role of knowledge and learning that helps promote regional development.

Topic 4: Assessing the existence of location theories that contribute towards the development and understanding of regional development

Research Aim: This research will assess the existence of locational theories that help contribute towards the development and understanding of regional development.

Topic 5: Evaluating the role that technology plays in regional development? A UK case study

Research Aim: This research will evaluate the role that technology plays in promoting regional development.

Topic 6: Exploring entrepreneurship and its regional aspects in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This research will help explore entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship network with respect to regional development in the UK.

Topic 7: Role of Institutional setups in regional development

Research Aim: This study will talk about the role of institutional setups in regional development.

Topic 8: Assessing the relationship between unemployment and entrepreneurship in the light of evidence from British relationship

Research Aim: This research will assess the relationship between unemployment and entrepreneurship in the UK.

Find 100s of dissertation topics for other research areas.

Topic 9: In what ways the UK and the European firms are different in terms of innovation – A critical analysis

Research Aim: This research will help in understanding the various ways in which the UK and European firms are different with respect to innovation.

Topic 10: Assessing the role of regional co-operation in developing sustainable advantage

Research Aim: This research will help in assessing the role of regional cooperation in developing sustainable advantage amongst regions

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Important Notes

As a student of economics looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment on existing economics theories – i.e., to add value and interest in your research topic.

The field of economics is vast and interrelated to so many other academic disciplines like civil engineering ,  construction ,  law , engineering management , healthcare , mental health , artificial intelligence , tourism , physiotherapy , sociology , management , marketing and nursing . That is why it is imperative to create a project management dissertation topic that is articular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic; it is the basis of your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in  writing your dissertation  as you may end up in the cycle of rejection at the very initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

Keeping our advice in mind while developing a research topic will allow you to pick one of the best economics dissertation topics that not only fulfil your requirement of writing a research paper but also adds to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and can also be practically implemented. Take a look at some of our sample economics dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure your Economics Dissertation

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

  • A Title Page
  • Acknowledgments
  • Declaration
  • Abstract: A summary of the research completed
  • Table of Contents
  • Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems to be addressed. An outline of the structure of a dissertation  can also be added to this chapter.
  • Literature Review :  This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature available on the chosen research topic, in light of  research questions  to be addressed. The purpose is to highlight and discuss the relative weaknesses and strengths of the selected research area while identifying any research gaps. Break down of the topic, and key terms can have a positive impact on your dissertation and your tutor.
  • Methodology:  The  data collection  and  analysis  methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter which usually includes  research design, research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and  data analysis strategy .
  • Findings and Analysis:  Findings of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include  graphs ,  charts, and  tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
  • Discussion  and  Conclusion: The researcher presents his interpretation of results in this chapter, and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section is to establish the link between the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regards to implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
  • References:  Make sure to complete this in accordance with your University’s requirements
  • Bibliography
  • Appendices:  Any additional information, diagrams, graphs that were used to  complete the dissertation  but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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How to find economics dissertation topics.

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130 Excellent Economics Research Topics To Consider

Table of Contents

Are you an economics student searching for good topics for your research paper? If yes, then keep on reading this blog. To make the topic selection process easier for you, here we have suggested a list of the best economics research topics on various areas associated with the subject. In addition to that, we have also presented a brief overview of economics research paper topic selection and writing.

Quickly explore the entire list and choose any ideal topic for composing your economics thesis or dissertation.

Economics Research Paper Topic Selection and Writing

Have your professor asked you to submit an economics research paper? If yes, then topic selection is the first step you should do. In case, your supervisors had not suggested any research ideas, make sure to choose a unique economics research topic that you are interested in. The topic you choose should be understandable for you and your readers, and it should also have a wide research scope with the necessary information for crafting a comprehensive research paper or essay.

After you have selected a research topic for your economics assignment, sketch an outline with the research ideas that you have gathered. Then, with the help of the essay outline you have prepared, draft the research paper in a well-structured manner by including the essential elements such as the introduction, body, and conclusion.

The introduction paragraph of your research paper should have a catchy opening sentence, brief background information on the topic, and a strong thesis statement addressing the purpose of your research paper. After the introduction, in the body paragraphs, you should include innovative topic sentences and explain your arguments with supporting evidence in a way to persuade your reader. Then, you should finally close your research paper with an engaging conclusion that contains a brief summary of the main points.

List of the Best Economics Research Paper Topics

You may think that it is easy to choose a research topic for your economics research paper. But actually, it is not. As economics is a complex and broad subject, choosing a perfect research topic from it is a daunting task.

If you are asked to write an economics research paper or essay, then you can prefer to choose a topic from economics research areas such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, behavioral economics, agricultural economics, development economics, financial economics, and so on.

Here, we have sorted different categories of economics topics and have recommended a list of excellent economics research topic ideas for you to consider. Go through the entire list and pick a topic that is ideal for writing academic papers as per your instructor’s requirements.

Economics Research Topics

Agricultural Economics Research Topics

  • Farmer’s contribution to agricultural social capital.
  • Agricultural economics and agribusiness.
  • An analysis of economic efficiency in agriculture.
  • Agricultural and resource economics.
  • Agricultural economics and environmental considerations of biofuels.
  • Analysis of food security and poverty status among households in Ehime Mbano
  • Role of bank loans and credit facility in financing Nigerian agriculture sector: a case study of Nigeria agricultural cooperative and rural development bank
  • Evaluation of the impact of micro-finance banks on the South African agriculture sector
  • How poultry farming is becoming a veritable tool for the economic empowerment of South Africa?
  • Critical analysis of the problems and prospects of agriculture financing in rural India

Behavioral Economics Research Paper Topics

  • What does the economy of trust mean?
  • How does the brain change when a person is striking a great deal?
  • The impact of economic stability on the social life of a person
  • The buying capacity and gender
  • How does race relate to economic power?
  • Big data and its implications for behavioral economics
  • The impact of behavioral finance on investment decisions.
  • Cognitive and behavioral theories in economics.
  • Behavior implications of wealth and inequality.
  • Using behavioral economics to help in reducing substance abuse

Development Economics Research Topics

  • The relation between development and incentive for migration.
  • The economic consequences of population growth in developing countries.
  • The determinants of high-performing institutions in emerging economies
  • The impact of globalization on income distribution in emerging economies
  • The problems of tax and taxation in connection with economic growth.
  • The economic impact of terrorism on developing markets.
  • Investigate the relationship between family planning, labor force, and income fluctuations.
  • The impact of natural disasters on the economy and political stability of emerging markets.
  • Budgeting and decision-making by low-income earners in emerging economics
  • The impact of multinational commodity trading through the development of economic perspective.
  • Compare and contrast the impact of demand-pull inflation and cost-push inflation on a country’s economy
  • Discuss the impact of multinational commodity trading through the perspective of development economics
  • Discuss the concepts of mercantilism, linear stages of growth model, economic nationalism, and structural-change theory
  • Investigate the relationship between unemployment and fluctuations in national income
  • Compare and contrast the economic patterns of villages across Papua New Guinea

Environmental Economics Research Paper Topics

  • Explain the energy markets’ economic potential.
  • How does global warming affect economic growth?
  • How technological advancement leads to economic growth
  • Evolution of economic institutions concerning climate change
  • Cost-benefit analysis of the regulation of the environment
  • The economic perspectives of the distribution of natural resources across boundaries
  • The relationship between financial subsidies and the generation of eco-friendly products
  • Detailed analysis of the European Union Emission Trading System
  • Why it’s important to analyze the economics of clean drinking water
  • How wildlife protection affects the economy

Read more: Outstanding Environmental Science Topics for You to Consider

Financial Economics Research Topics

  • Risk-taking by mutual funds as a response to incentives.
  • Financial economics for infrastructure and fiscal policy.
  • Managerial economics and financial accounting as a basis for business
  • The analysis of the global financial crisis of 2020
  • Stock market overreaction.

Health Economics Research Ideas

  • How do chronic diseases affect the workforce and the economy?
  • How can public hospitals optimize their revenue collection?
  • The economics of the pharmaceutical industry
  • How an unhealthy country translates into a poor country
  • Is the world’s hunger affected by economics?
  • How does perfect competition work in the pharmaceutical world?
  • How does an infectious disease outbreak affect the economy?
  • Is health insurance important?
  • How is the economy affected by a smoking ban?

Research Paper Topics on International Trade

  • What are the gains and losses of international trade for developing countries?
  • The importance of international trade in developing countries
  • The relationship between economic growth and international trade
  • The impact of Brexit on small and middle businesses in the UK
  • To what extent does a currency union affect trade?
  • The roles of exchange rate and exchange rate regime in the US export.
  • To what extent are the gains of less developed countries from trade liberalization exaggerated?
  • Foreign direct investment in the United States: Determinants and impact
  • The relationship between foreign direct investment and wages
  • The effects of the banana crisis on the Jamaican and British economies

Macroeconomics Research Topics

  • Global recession and factors that contribute to it.
  • The relationship between Internet connectivity and productivity in the workplace.
  • The relationship between economic growth and unemployment in your country.
  • Income Dynamics and demographic economics.
  • What should our government do to minimize the risks of future default?
  • The connection between politics and economics.
  • The world problems through macroeconomic analysis .
  • US Market Liquidity and Macroeconomics.
  • The structure, history, and activities of the World Bank.
  • Economics of education in developing markets.
  • Public policies and socio-economic disparities.
  • Banks and their role in the economy.
  • Problems and possible solutions for Japan macroeconomics.
  • State regulation of the economy in foreign countries: main models of regulation.
  • The effect of currency devaluation on small and medium firms
  • A comparison of the United States unemployment to the rest of the world
  • The relationship between common stock prices and inflation in your country.
  • Macroeconomics and self-correction of the economy.
  • Analysis of Africa’s macroeconomics and its performance.
  • The implications of Internet banking on bank profitability.

Read more: Best Macroeconomics Research Topics and Ideas for Students

Microeconomics Research Topics

  • Explain how competition influences the price.
  • Opportunity costs explained from a microeconomics perspective
  • Inflation sources and consequences explained
  • The impact of demonetization on small and medium businesses
  • The connection between the minimum wage and market equilibrium.
  • Perfect competition in microeconomics
  • Theories in microeconomics
  • The effect of labor force participation on the economy and budget
  • Economic inequality as a result of globalization.
  • Explain the balance between supply and demand in microeconomics
  • Dynamics of the Gini index as a reflection of the problem of inequality in income
  • Privatization of Public Enterprises and its implications on economic policy and development
  • How does the stock market work?
  • The impact of game theory on economic development.
  • The changes in oil prices: causes and solutions.
  • Marketing uses in microeconomics.
  • The economic explanation of political dishonesty.
  • How company mergers and dissolutions impact the economy
  • The role of tax collection agencies in microeconomics
  • Different microeconomic models and how they face the effect of industry conditions

A Few More Microeconomics Research Ideas

  • How exactly does Uber fit into the economy of trust?
  • How does a person’s brain alter when they hit a big deal?
  • missing practical human insights from big data and how this affects the economy.
  • explaining how supply and demand are balanced in microeconomics
  • Changes in economic institutions with regard to climate change
  • Effects of greenhouses on economic growth
  • Effects of climate change on economic growth
  • Analysis of the European Union Emission Trading System in great detail
  • Is resource management for waste scarce? A microeconomics explanation of opportunity costs
  • Effects of wildlife protection on the economy

Interesting Economics Research Topics

  • What role does entrepreneurship play in economic development?
  • How do automation and artificial intelligence affect the labor market?
  • Discuss the Economics of healthcare systems and policies in developing countries.
  • Explain the effects of trade agreements on income distribution.
  • How does foreign aid affect economic development?
  • Explain the impact of monetary policy on financial markets and inflation.
  • Discuss the effects of income inequality on social mobility.
  • How does tax reform impact business investment?
  • Explain the role of microfinance in alleviating poverty.
  • How does behavioral economics impact personal savings habits?

From the list of economics research topics recommended in this blog, choose any topic of your choice and craft a top-quality research paper or essay. It is not necessary that you need to use the suggested topic as it is, you can also modify the research topic and write your academic paper. In case, you are unsure how to select the right topic and write a persuasive economics research paper, get in touch with us immediately.

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Economics Research Topics

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Welcome to our latest blog post on economics research topics! Whether you are an academic seeking inspiration or a student looking for a starting point for your next assignment, you've come to the right place. 

With so many areas to explore in economics, it can be difficult to know where to begin. But don't worry, we've got your back. In this post, our online paper writers have shared some of the most interesting and hot economics research paper topics. So, grab a cup of coffee and let's dive in!

What Are Economics Research Topics?

Economics is a social science that studies how people, businesses, and governments make decisions about how to use resources. It deals with issues like production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. 

As a student, you might be given to write a research paper on research topics in economics. These types of social science topics can cover a wide range of subjects, including:

  • Macroeconomics
  • Microeconomics
  • International economics
  • Behavioral economics, and more.

Whether you are interested in exploring current trends, global markets or history, or taxes, we collected a bunch of economics topics for a research paper to choose from. Stay with our service to spot the best idea for your upcoming project.

Characteristics of Good Economics Research Paper Topics

When it comes to selecting a research topic related to economics, it is important to decide on a subject that is not only interesting but also appropriate for your academic level. Consider these fundamental characteristics of good economics paper topics to make a wise choice:

  • Select a title that is both relevant and is intended to solve a current issue.
  • Choose a unique topic that has not been explored too much by other researchers.
  • Make sure you can easily access the data or sources needed to create your paper.
  • Consider if the topic has the potential to be of practical or social importance.
  • Pick an area that genuinely interests you and will keep you motivated throughout your project.

How to Choose an Economics Research Paper Topic?

Choosing between this selection of economics project ideas can be really difficult especially if you are first to this. However, with a little bit of guidance, you will see that there is nothing challenging about picking a proper topic for a research paper in economics. Take a look at these step-by-step instructions to make the right decision:

  • Brainstorm potential economics research topics that sound interesting to you in the first place. After all, you don’t want to work with boring aspects.
  • Narrow your list down and consider whether there are enough resources to back up your research.
  • Carry out preliminary investigation to see what you can write about. Use academic journals, newspapers, and other reputable sources to gather information.
  • Check if the topic complies with your instructor’s guidelines.
  • Based on your research and requirements alter a title to create a focused research question.

Remember to choose a topic that you are passionate about and that aligns with your academic and professional goals.

Economics Research Topics List

Economics is a vast field that encompasses a wide range of topics and issues. If you're looking for inspiration for your next research paper, consider exploring one of these top research paper topics in economics:

  • What is the impact of trade policies on international trade patterns?
  • How does income inequality affect economic growth?
  • What role does entrepreneurship play in economic development?
  • How do government regulations affect market efficiency?
  • What are the economic implications of climate change and environmental policy?
  • How do automation and artificial intelligence affect the labor market?
  • What are the effects of healthcare policies on the economy and society?
  • How does education influence economic outcomes?
  • What are some economic aspects of taxation and fiscal policy?
  • How does globalization impact domestic economies and societies?

Interesting Research Topics in Economics

Are you searching for interesting topics in economics? Look no further than these cptivting economic paper topics ideas.

  • How do government policies impact income mobility?
  • What role do financial institutions play in economic growth?
  • Economics of housing and homelessness.
  • How do immigration policies shape the labor market?
  • Impact of gender inequality on economic growth.
  • Sustainable development and renewable energy.
  • What are some effects of globalization on income distribution?
  • How do minimum wage policies impact employment and poverty?
  • Economics of crime and punishment.
  • How does corruption relate to economic growth?
  • Effects of social welfare policies on income inequality.
  • Healthcare markets and insurance systems.
  • How does technology influence income distribution and employment?
  • Education financing and student loan debt.
  • How do economic sanctions affect international trade and diplomacy?

Good Topics for Economic Research Papers

Economics research topics are diverse and can be approached from various angles. Below are some great economic topics to write about:

  • What are some effects of social media on consumer behavior and advertising?
  • What is the relationship between corporate social responsibility and profitability?
  • Sharing economy and its impact on traditional industries.
  • How does climate change affect the tourism industry economically?
  • Economics of healthcare systems and policies in developing countries.
  • How does population aging influence labor markets and retirement policies?
  • How does artificial intelligence impact business and employment?
  • What factors are involved in energy transition and the shift to renewable energy?
  • Income inequality and political polarization.
  • How do digital streaming services and the music industry intersect economically?
  • How does cultural diversity contribute to growth and innovation?
  • Effects of trade agreements on income distribution.
  • Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
  • How does globalization impact labor standards and working conditions?
  • Natural disasters and economic growth.

Best Economics Research Topics

Want to take your project to the next level? Don’t skip these hot economic research questions. They suit any academic level and can be supported by credible evidence.

  • Big data and its role in economic forecasting.
  • How does public debt impact economic growth?
  • The economics of international migration.
  • What is the impact of technological innovation on income inequality?
  • The role of infrastructure investment in fostering economic growth.
  • The economics of the gig economy and freelance work.
  • How does foreign aid affect economic development?
  • The economics of natural resource management and sustainability.
  • What is the impact of urbanization on economic growth and development?
  • The economics of the entertainment industry and streaming services.
  • How do exchange rate fluctuations influence trade and investment?
  • The economics of food production and distribution systems.
  • How do government regulations affect small businesses economically?
  • The study of behavioral finance and decision-making in economics.
  • What is the impact of monetary policy on financial markets and inflation?

Unique Economics Research Topics

Economics is a constantly evolving field that offers endless possibilities for research and analysis. That’s why choosing unique economic research ideas shouldn’t be a big deal. Below we added a list of authentic topics you most likely won’t be able to find anywhere else.

  • How does mobile banking contribute to financial inclusion in emerging economies?
  • How do natural disasters affect supply chains?
  • What are some effects of gender bias in venture capital funding decisions?
  • How does population density influence the demand for public transportation in urban areas?
  • Virtual currencies and their potential as an alternative to traditional currencies.
  • How do government subsidies influence the adoption of renewable energy?
  • How do industrial policies shape innovation and contribute to economic growth?
  • Alternative meat and its potential impact on the food industry.
  • What is the relationship between public transit availability and property values in urban areas?
  • How does corruption impact economic growth and development?
  • Renewable energy storage systems and their impact on grid stability.
  • What are some effects of automation on job displacement and income inequality?
  • Blockchain technology in the banking industry and financial transactions.
  • International trade in cultural goods and services.
  • How does income inequality relate to health outcomes from an economic standpoint?

Popular Economics Topics for Research Paper

Do you want to focus on current and pressing issues? Consider these trending topics for economic research papers.

  • The impact of COVID-19 on the global economy.
  • What are economic implications of healthcare reform?
  • How does globalization affect labor markets economically?
  • Climate change and the role of carbon pricing.
  • Effects of income inequality on social mobility.
  • How does automation impact employment and wages in the workforce?
  • The economics of education and the burden of student loan debt.
  • How do government regulations influence business and innovation economically?
  • Income taxation and progressive taxation.
  • Impact of immigration on labor markets.
  • Behavioral economics and the use of nudges in decision-making.
  • How do trade policies influence international relations and diplomacy?
  • Mergers and acquisitions in the business world.
  • How do minimum wage policies affect low-wage workers economically?
  • Urbanization and transportation planning.

Economics Research Paper Topics for Students

As a student, picking decent economic topics for research papers can be a challenging task. It's important to focus on relevant and interesting aspects. Below you will find some economic research paper topics specifically geared toward students of all levels.

Economics Research Topics for College Students

College students majoring in economics have a range of choices when it comes to research topics. Below are some inspiring economic paper topics you can use as inspiration for your project in college:

  • Effects of gig economy on labor markets.
  • Economic growth and environmental sustainability.
  • Impact of sharing economy on traditional industries.
  • Housing affordability and homelessness.
  • How does trade liberalization affect domestic industries and consumers?
  • How does public policy influence small business growth?
  • Food waste and its impact on sustainability.
  • Income inequality and access to education.
  • Impact of automation on the future of work.
  • Online advertising and consumer behavior.
  • How does fiscal policy influence income distribution and poverty reduction?
  • How does tax reform impact business investment?
  • Economics of international tourism and its impact on local economies.
  • Effects of financial regulation on consumer behavior and investor confidence.
  • Demographic shifts and labor force participation.

Economics Research Topics for Undergraduates

Are you an undergraduate student looking for topics related to economics? Here are some amazing ideas you can pick from:

  • Financial implications of space exploration and commercial space travel.
  • Role of urban farming in city development for sustainability.
  • Impact of genetic engineering and biotechnology on the agricultural sector.
  • Financial consequences of digital privacy.
  • Implications of mass surveillance on consumer spending patterns.
  • How do remittances influence growth in developing countries?
  • Fiscal consequences of cybercrime and cybersecurity breaches.
  • Role of microfinance in alleviating poverty.
  • Potential financial implications of quantum computing.
  • Water scarcity and its worldwide financial implications.
  • Monetary consequences of epidemics, pandemics, and public health crises.
  • Transformation of markets by virtual and augmented reality.
  • Effect of corporate governance on shareholder value.
  • Financial aspects of aging societies and pension reform.
  • Role of intellectual property rights in promoting innovation and growth.

Economics Research Topics for Grad Students

Graduate students in economics are expected to delve deeper into economic theories, models, and concepts. They are also required to contribute new insights to the field. We suggest that you choose these economics topics for research to earn a high grade:

  • How does drug legalization influence national economies?
  • Impact of universal basic income on poverty levels and unemployment rates.
  • Financial implications of political instability and conflict.
  • Impact of cultural heritage sites on local and national finances.
  • Financial repercussions of biodiversity loss and species extinction.
  • Role of venture capital in fostering startups and growth.
  • Disaster risk management and its relevance to financial resilience.
  • Potential fiscal impacts of deep-sea mining.
  • Financial consequences of single-use plastics and transition to a circular economy.
  • Business aspects of the digital gaming industry and eSports.
  • Impact of the maker movement and DIY culture on traditional manufacturing.
  • How can nanotechnology shape future market economies?
  • Impact of drone technology on supply chain operations.
  • Financial aspects of mental health in the workplace.
  • Role of public-private partnerships in fostering growth and infrastructure development.

Research Topics in Economics by Subject

Economics paper topics ideas will also depend on your area of expertise. This block will offer topics by subject, so that you can choose a theme that fits your special needs. Whether you are interested in exploring the economics of renewable energy or the effects of globalization on income distribution,you will surely spot an idea or two right below.

World Economics Research Paper Topics

The global economy is a complex and interconnected system, and there are many world economics research paper topics that can shed light on global aspects. Between them are these ideas:

  • Evolving landscape of international trade in the post-COVID era.
  • Role of Special Economic Zones in boosting global competitiveness.
  • Impact of machine learning and artificial intelligence on global financial markets.
  • How do social impact bonds contribute to global development goals?
  • Cybersecurity risks in global financial institutions: Are we prepared?
  • Influence of social entrepreneurship on worldwide poverty reduction.
  • Green bonds and their role in global sustainable finance.
  • Economic prospects of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
  • Role of global remittance flows in socioeconomic development.
  • Impact of climate change on global supply chains: What can we do?
  • Global consequences of a cashless society: Are we ready?
  • How does geopolitics affect global energy markets?
  • Repercussions of cryptocurrency adoption on global financial stability.
  • Economies of scale in global manufacturing: A new era?
  • Role of international development assistance in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

>> More ideas: Politics Research Topics

Microeconomics Research Paper Topics

Microeconomics studies the behavior of individuals and firms in making decisions regarding the allocation of resources. If you need microeconomics topics for research paper, we collected great ideas below:

  • How do consumer ethics shape purchasing decisions?
  • What influences price elasticity of demand in luxury goods markets?
  • How does the gig economy affect individual financial stability?
  • What are the key economic factors determining college major choices?
  • How do credit scores influence personal finance management?
  • What impacts have peer-to-peer lending platforms had on traditional banking?
  • What drives consumer decisions between online and brick-and-mortar shopping?
  • How do economic considerations play into personal retirement planning?
  • What market dynamics and pricing strategies dominate the smartphone industry?
  • How does behavioral economics impact personal savings habits?
  • How significantly does brand loyalty influence consumer spending?
  • What strategies help businesses survive during economic downturns?
  • How does corporate social responsibility influence consumer choice?
  • What role does digital marketing play in shaping consumer behavior?
  • What are some economic impacts of identity theft on individuals and businesses?

Macroeconomics Research Paper Topics

Unlike microeconomics, macroeconomics explores the behavior and performance of entire economies. Below are some awesome macroeconomics research paper topics:

  • Exploring connections between inflation and unemployment.
  • Impact of quantitative easing on long-term economic growth.
  • How does fiscal deficit affect a country's economic stability?
  • The role of central banks in managing economic downturns.
  • Effects of government debt on interest rates and investment.
  • What factors contribute to business cycles and economic fluctuations?
  • Examination of macroeconomic factors influencing foreign direct investment.
  • How do monetary policies impact inflation and unemployment rates?
  • Role of technology advancements in macroeconomic productivity.
  • Impact of demographic changes on long-term economic growth.
  • Can green investment stimulate economic recovery?
  • What role do exchange rates play in a country's trade balance?
  • Comparative analysis of economic growth models.
  • Macroeconomic challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
  • How does income inequality affect economic growth at a macro level?

Economics Research Paper Topics on International Trade

International trade is a vital part of the global economy and has a significant impact on development, and international relations. Here are unique topics for an economic research paper focusing on international trade:

  • Impact of Brexit on international trade relations.
  • How do currency fluctuations affect international trade?
  • Economic consequences of trade wars: A case study of U.S.-China relations.
  • Role of World Trade Organization in shaping international trade norms.
  • How does international trade contribute to economic growth?
  • Evaluation of free trade agreements and their economic implications.
  • Role of emerging markets in shaping the future of international trade.
  • How do trade barriers influence domestic industries?
  • Fair trade vs. free trade: An economic analysis.
  • Global supply chain disruptions: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Effects of international trade on income distribution within countries.
  • Economic impact of sanctions on international trade.
  • How do intellectual property rights issues affect international trade?
  • Role of e-commerce in transforming international trade.
  • What are the economic consequences of offshore outsourcing on international trade?

Financial Economics Research Topics

Financial economics is a subfield of economics that focuses on financial markets, institutions, and instruments. Here are outstanding financial economic topics for a paper:

  • Role of FinTech in shaping the future of banking.
  • Analysis of risk management strategies in investment banking.
  • How do hedge funds contribute to financial market stability?
  • Impact of regulatory changes on financial market competitiveness.
  • How does financial literacy influence individual investment decisions?
  • Examination of financial derivatives and their role in financial risk management.
  • Role of central banks in maintaining financial stability.
  • Analysis of market efficiency in cryptocurrency markets.
  • How do financial crises affect economies in the long term?
  • Financial inclusion and the role of mobile banking.
  • Impact of corporate governance on financial performance.
  • Examination of the link between financial markets and economic growth.
  • High-frequency trading: Impact on financial market stability.
  • Effect of algorithmic trading on financial market efficiency.
  • How do interest rate changes impact financial markets.

Development Economics Research Topics

Development economics studies the economic and social development of low-income countries. With this branch in mind, we prepared a list of development economic research paper topics ideas:

  •  Role of microfinance in economic empowerment in developing countries.
  • How do infrastructure projects affect economic development?
  • How do cultural factors shape economic progress in developing countries?
  • Impact of corruption on resource allocation in developing nations.
  • Impact of foreign aid on economic growth in recipient countries.
  • Evaluation of agricultural policies on rural development.
  • How do commodity price fluctuations affect developing economies?
  • Implications of population growth on resource management in emerging economies.
  • How does political stability influence economic growth in developing countries?
  • Impact of public health initiatives on economic development.
  • Analysis of sustainable development strategies in emerging economies.
  • How do migration patterns affect economic development?
  • How does technological adoption improve productivity in developing economies?
  • Role of social entrepreneurship in sustainable economic development.
  • How does tourism influence the economic development of low-income countries?

Behavioral Economics Research Paper Topics

Behavioral economics combines insights from psychology and economics to understand how people make financial decisions. Below you can find behavioral economics research topics:

  • Impact of cognitive biases on economic decision making.
  • Role of emotions in consumer purchasing behavior.
  • How does social influence shape spending habits?
  • What are the economic implications of procrastination?
  • Nudging for good: Can behavioral economics promote healthier lifestyles?
  • How does framing influence consumers' perception of price and value?
  • Role of incentives in shaping individual and collective behavior.
  • Examination of loss aversion in investment decisions.
  • Analysis of irrational behaviors in financial markets.
  • Behavioral economics in policy design: What works and why?
  • How does choice overload affect consumer decision making?
  • The effect of anchoring bias in pricing strategies.
  • Role of behavioral economics in promoting sustainable consumption.
  • How does scarcity mindset affect economic decisions?
  • Behavioral economics and personal finance: How to avoid common pitfalls?

>> Read more: Psychology Topics to Research

Environmental Economics Research Topics

Environmental economics investigates the interaction between economic systems and the natural environment. This subfield also offers multiple perspectives for exploration. Here are some examples of project topics on economics with emphasis on environment:

  • Examining the economic impacts of biodiversity loss.
  • Impact of environmental policies on manufacturing industries.
  • Role of renewable energy investments in economic growth.
  • Does a carbon tax impact economic competitiveness?
  • Economic analysis of water resource management.
  • How do natural disasters affect economic performance?
  • The economic value of ecosystem services.
  • Cost-effectiveness of different strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Role of environmental economics in climate change mitigation.
  • How does waste management contribute to sustainable economic growth?
  • The effects of air pollution on economic productivity.
  • What is the economic impact of deforestation?
  • Evaluation of economic tools for managing plastic waste.
  • Economics of transitioning to a circular economy.
  • How does sustainable agriculture contribute to economic development?

>> View more: Environmental Research Topics

Health Economics Research Topics

Health economics examines how health care practices affect the health outcomes of individuals and whole populations.  Take a glance at these health economics research paper topics:

  • Economic impact of pandemics on healthcare systems.
  • Role of telemedicine in healthcare cost reduction.
  • How do health insurance policies influence medical spending?
  • Economic analysis of mental health issues and treatment access.
  • The cost-effectiveness of preventative healthcare measures.
  • Evaluating the economic burden of chronic diseases.
  • Economic implications of antibiotic resistance.
  • How does socioeconomic status influence health outcomes?
  • Impact of aging populations on healthcare costs.
  • Evaluation of the economic benefits of vaccination programs.
  • The effect of medical technology advancements on healthcare costs.
  • Role of behavioral economics in health promotion and disease prevention.
  • How does health literacy influence healthcare utilization and costs?
  • Economic analysis of substance abuse treatment.
  • Evaluating the economic impacts of health policy reforms.

>> Read more: Public Health Topics for Research

Extra Research Topics for Economics

Sometimes, finding the right idea can be a challenging task. However, there are numerous resources available to help you find unique angles. Also, don't be afraid to ask your professors or research paper writer team for suggestions on the selection process. But if you don’t have enough time, we gathered some supplementary economics research topics.

Economics Essay Topics

An economics essay can cover a broad range of topics, from macroeconomic issues such as international trade and monetary policy to microeconomic aspects such as consumer behavior and market structure.

  • Can an increase in minimum wage curb poverty?
  • What are the potential economic effects of Brexit?
  • Impact of income inequality on societal cohesion.
  • How does the rise of remote work influence economic structures?
  • Examination of the economic benefits of public libraries.
  • Role of the informal economy in urban development.
  • Economic implications of increasing life expectancy.
  • How does piracy impact the music and film industry economically?
  • Impact of subsidies on agricultural economies.
  • Exploration of the economic factors influencing the housing market.
  • Analysis of the economic costs of obesity.
  • Role of child labor in global supply chains.
  • Examination of the economic implications of internet censorship.
  • Impact of single-use plastics on local and global economies.
  • Economic effects of urban green spaces.

Economics Topics for a Short Project

If you need to complete a short assignment, you may want to consider project topics in economics that can be analyzed within a limited timeframe. Don’t worry. We’ve added some simple ideas as well:

  • Examining the economic impacts of online privacy breaches.
  • Role of advertising in shaping consumer behavior.
  • Analysis of the economic effects of natural disasters.
  • Economic implications of self-driving cars.
  • Role of cooperatives in the economy.
  • Impact of e-waste on developing economies.
  • The role of micro-credit in alleviating poverty.
  • Examining the economic impacts of space exploration.
  • How do online reviews influence consumer purchasing decisions?
  • Economics of disaster recovery: Case studies.
  • Examination of the economic implications of cybercrime.
  • Impact of nutritional labeling on consumer behavior and market outcomes.
  • Economic analysis of the craft beer industry.
  • Examining the economic effects of animal agriculture.
  • How do tax incentives influence corporate behavior and economic outcomes?

Economics Research Questions

Formulating a research question is a crucial step in conducting an economics research project. A good research question should be specific, measurable, and relevant to the topic under study. Here are some economics research questions to consider:

  • How does widespread adoption of digital currencies impact traditional banking?
  • To what extent do economic factors contribute to obesity rates?
  • What are the consequences of large-scale solar power adoption?
  • How do parental leave policies shape labor markets?
  • What impacts do large-scale data breaches have on corporations?
  • Does green urban planning significantly contribute to city development?
  • How much does mental health contribute to workplace productivity?
  • What effects do fair trade agreements have on farmers in low-income countries?
  • How valuable are clean oceans for global trade?
  • How does political stability of a country influence foreign investments?
  • What are the consequences of patent wars in the tech industry?
  • How does the rise of freelancing shape labor laws?
  • What economic implications does the rise of eSports have?
  • How does nutrition education impact economic health?
  • What are some benefits and drawbacks of commercial space tourism?

Economics Research Topics for Exams

If you're preparing for an exam, it's important to have a good understanding of the concepts and theories that you'll be tested on. To help you prepare, we offer these economics research topics for exams to study:

  • Implications of autonomous vehicles on transportation.
  • Role of trade unions in contemporary job markets.
  • Analysis of gender disparities in retirement savings.
  • Influence of corporate social responsibility on brand reputation.
  • How do plant-based diets influence the global meat industry.
  • Evaluating efficiency of ride-sharing platforms.
  • Role of drones in shaping future commercial landscapes.
  • How public health initiatives influence workplace productivity.
  • Exploring the potential economic impact of asteroid mining.
  • How does fashion industry affect global economy and environmental sustainability?
  • Impact of video-on-demand services on traditional film industries.
  • Role of social entrepreneurship in poverty alleviation.
  • Role of energy-efficient appliances in electricity markets.
  • Influence of shifting demographics on global trends.
  • How does celebrity endorsement influence consumer buying behavior?

Economics Research Paper Topics for Experts

For those who are already experts in the field of economics, finding 100% original economics research topics can be an uphill struggle. But not with ideas attached below:

  • How does quantum computing pose an economic challenge to cybersecurity firms?
  • How do gene editing technologies affect agricultural markets?
  • In what ways does space commercialization affect global economies?
  • How does increased lifespan influence retirement and pension systems?
  • Financial viability of carbon capture and storage.
  • Influence of ethical consumerism on global supply chains.
  • How have nanotechnologies impacted manufacturing sectors?
  • Impact of rising sea levels on coastal economies.
  • Role of predictive analytics in preventing financial fraud.
  • Examining the economic consequences of major oil spills.
  • How does deep face technology pose an economic challenge to film industries?
  • Economic impacts of large-scale reforestation.
  • Implications of extensive antibiotic resistance.
  • Impacts of geopolitical tensions on global oil prices.
  • Universal basic income as a solution for automation-induced job loss.

Bottom Line on Economics Papers Topics

Hopefully, by now you have found a perfect economics research paper topic. Make sure you can find enough evidence to back up your points. But if you have any difficulties with the research or writing process, consider to buy coursework or any other project from academic experts.

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Sociology research topics

Economics Dissertation Topics

Economics is about making choices in the face of scarcity and uncertainty and ensuring that resource allocation is effectively and efficiently done. What was popularised by writers, researchers and philosophers such as Adam Smith in the 1770s, has become a field with significant relevance and importance in today’s society that is highly financialised and globalised. Dating back to medieval scholastics as well as literature published back in the 15th and 18th century, through the 19th century, the concerns of economics have largely focused on aspects such as choices of individuals, borrowing, money, consumption and production, occupations and employment, markets, trade, pricing of assets, taxes, and most recently human behaviour in relation to economic decisions.

There are multitudes of research studies, within the existing literature, that have been conducted in relation to the above concerns and many of these have resulted in a number of models that attempt to provide possible explanations to real world problems. As the world continues to evolve with the advent of technological advancements that have increased the pace of transformation and globalisation, new areas in economics have emerged as worthwhile research targets. The following are possible economics dissertation topics to choose from for your academic research project in economics:

Economic Geography Dissertation Topics

Economic sociology dissertation topics, institutional economics dissertation topics, microeconomics dissertation topics, macroeconomics dissertation topics, regional development dissertation topics.

  • Employment Economics Dissertation Topics

Financial Economics Dissertation Topics

This is the area in economics academic literature that is concerned with the role of geographic location and place with the economical outcomes. It focuses on describing and analyzing patterns and trends in human behavior and activity to gain understanding of the processes and drivers that shape and affect the economic and cultural landscapes. Within regions and localities, there are great dynamics that shape the nature and extent of economic activity. Below are some suggestions for economics dissertation topics on economic geography:

  • The impact of local and regional cultures on shaping entrepreneurial economic development.
  • Can entrepreneurial attitude be exported? The role of emigrants in introducing new entrepreneurial attitudes.
  • Differences of entrepreneurial behaviour in rural and urban areas.
  • Is there any relationship between mature industries dominating small towns and their local cultural factors?
  • The role of local culture in promoting regional innovation networks.
  • National, regional and local policies to support local clusters: opportunities.
  • How can policy support the creation of a local cluster?
  • Are networks affected by local proximity? Differences between co-localised and dispersed networks.
  • The likelihood impact of Brexit on policy outcomes that shape the local economy in UK cities.
  • A model for the development of information and communication technology incubators in the UK. Analysis of the concentration of Top 50 IT companies.
  • What is causing regional divergence? An analysis of the richest and poorest regions in the UK.
  • The economic geography of recession. Difference between regional and city economics in the UK.
  • Why are housing built in flood-prone coastal areas?
  • Understanding educational progression at the local level: A comparison of the North and South cities in the UK.
  • How COVID has contributed to house price volatility in various cities in the UK.
  • How the COVID lockdown has affected social life of big cities.
  • Will coronavirus cause a big city exodus?

Economic sociology refers to sociological aspects influencing the economic indicators and their relationship with social outcomes. It is the study of how the material conditions of life are produced and reproduced through social processes and broadly covers the sociology of markets and the sociology of consumptions. Possible economics dissertation topics in this area include:

  • The role of social networks in supporting innovation activities in mature industries.
  • The financial and non-financial support of family in the development of successful entrepreneurship.
  • The private network as the facilitator of the firm start-up.
  • Exploring the differences between trust and power in local productive systems.
  • Social contracts and peer-pressure as the source of traditional industry development in the UK.
  • Can cultural mix increase productivity in creative industries? Evidence from the UK.
  • The role of social and intellectual capital in rural places in the UK.
  • Is social capital a critical factor in the British creative industries?
  • How can universities take advantage of social networks to induce entrepreneurial action among their students?
  • The role and contribution of social entrepreneurship in the UK.
  • The economic impact of migration from different regions of the world to the UK. Comparative analysis between the EU and the non-EU migration.
  • Is the relationship between economic and social development linear?
  • The convergence of economic systems in the wake of globalisation and their implications on the social development across developed, emerging and developing national economies.

Institutional Economics relates to a variety of economics traditions that are concerned with social institutions which are linked to consumption, distribution and production of goods and services as well as the underlying corresponding social relations. In essence, Institutional Economics has a relatively broad inquiry scope and is considered to have relatively close ties with other disciplines such as anthropology, economic sociology, psychology, economic history, behavioural economics, behavioural finance, physical science, management and business studies, and nowadays neuro, cognitive and brain science. This implies that there are various dissertation topics that can fall under the Institutional Economics bracket; some of these include the following.

  • An assessment of the implications of Institutional Economics methodologies for the analysis of the property market.
  • A study of how the theoretical assumptions of the New Institutional Economics’ (NIE) micro analytical level influence a firm’s choice of governance structures.
  • How do habits and routines affect productivity? The case of (an industry).
  • How does the culture mix impact on the organisation of firms in the UK?
  • Resilience to economic shrinking in an emerging economy: the role of social capabilities.
  • Financial constraint, trust, and export performances: The case of UK SMEs.
  • Efficiency in the property market in the UK: An institutional perspective.
  • Transaction costs and economic development.
  • A resource-based theory analysis to firm co-operation.
  • How can transaction costs economics account for inter-firm collaboration?
  • Ownership and control in the UK: An institutional analysis.
  • Institutions and policies of economic freedom: different effects on income and growth.
  • How does job experience relate to entrepreneurship? Evidence from the UK.
  • Educational aspects of entrepreneurship. The role of formal school in promoting entrepreneurial capacities in the UK.
  • Latent entrepreneurship: the UK vs Europe.

Microeconomics has to do with supply and demand, and with the way they interact in various markets. It is andconcerned with how economic agents, that is, individual decision-makers (both consumers and producers) behave in different economic settings. The overarching goal of microeconomic research is to identify the incentives of various agents and trade-offs that they may face. To understand behaviour of individuals in terms of their economic decision-making, researchers build various models, use data and conduct experiments.

The following are the examples of dissertation topics on ‘Microeconomics’:

  • The evolution of household consumption in the UK over the last 10 years: Trends in consumer behaviour.
  • Are mergers and acquisitions related to productivity in UK firms?
  • Is the minimum wage still relevant in the UK economy?
  • Is the British retail sector becoming less oligopolistic? An analysis of the impact of new supermarkets.
  • Are British oligopolistic markets really oligopolistic?
  • Conditions for the existence of a knowledge firm.
  • Characteristics of the innovative organisation in the UK.
  • Are UK firms more innovative than their European counterparts?
  • The impact of the European regional policy on British small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
  • The energy market in the UK: A microeconomic approach.
  • The impact of regulation on British industries: The case study of Uk energy sector.
  • Does firm size affect firm profits? Evidence from telecommunication firms in the UK.
  • Game theory and decision theory.

Macroeconomics is concerned with how the overall economy works and how all markets interact to generate big phenomena that economists call aggregate variables. It studies such things as employment, gross domestic product, inflation, national income, employment and the interaction between the global economy and financial markets.

The following are the examples of dissertation topics on ‘Macroeconomics’:

  • How do interest rates affect consumption in the UK?
  • What is the role of the dollar evolution in UK spending?
  • The magnitude of the impact of oil price changes on UK consumption.
  • The impact of Brexit on consumer spending in the UK.
  • The impact of Brexit on employment and labour in the UK.
  • What factors influence the salary inequality across the UK?
  • The evolution of the exchange rates in the UK: Causes and consequences.
  • Negative interest household savings in the UK.
  • The impact of the common agriculture policy (CAP) on British agriculture.
  • Economic growth and productivity. The UK in the century transition.
  • Interest rates and foreign direct investment in the UK.
  • Brexit and foreign direct investment in the UK.
  • Monetary policy pass-through for the UK after Brexit.
  • Development of UK monetary policy overtime.
  • Does inflation affect firms’ profits in the UK?
  • Macroeconomic determinant of house prices in the UK.
  • Unemployment and regional mobility of labour in the UK.
  • The impact of finance on growth: The case of UK.
  • Economic growth and unemployment: Is there a relationship in the UK?
  • The macroeconomics of SMEs entrepreneurship in the UK.
  • Global economic recession and factors that contribute to it.
  • Is the UK insurance system economically viable?
  • How does the Greek financial crisis impact the EU economy overtime?
  • The impact of COVID income inequality in the UK.
  • Coronavirus and wage inequality: The case of UK manufacturing sector.
  • COVID and economic recession: Will the impact be more pronounced than the 2007 financial recession?
  • Role of information technology in economic development.
  • Social inequality: the difference between wealth and income.
  • Why is insurance necessary for the economic development of a country?
  • How is the tax burden shared between buyers and sellers in the UK?
  • Asymmetric information and adverse market selection: A case study of UK insurance market.
  • Economic rent and transfer earnings in the UK.

This discipline is focused on understanding the dynamics of regions as smaller economies with their own circumstances and outcomes. The focus is on the internal working of the regional economies as well as on their interaction with other regions. There is a component of economic growth and development at a regional level. The suggestions below will give you further ideas for your economics dissertation topics:

  • Regional development and profitability of the businesses. What are the factors underpinning this relationship?
  • The contribution of entrepreneurial networks for regional development.
  • Implications and development of regional development policy in the UK.
  • Infrastructures and regional development. How can the rail and road network explain the differences in the development of regions in the UK.
  • Regional comparative advantage in natural resources and regional development.
  • Effect of regional policy surrounding start-ups on regional development: more new firms or better old ones?
  • The role of broadband internet technology in regional development: co-relation between internet speeds and regional development?
  • Public investment and regional output: Evidence from the UK regions.
  • Robustness of regional institutions and development: How to search for a link?
  • Regional aspects of entrepreneurship in the UK.
  • Differences between types and extent of entrepreneurship and unemployment across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  • Convergence and endogenous growth differences between South East England and the rest of the UK.

Employment/Labour Economics Dissertation Topics

Employment is considered to be a key concept in economics and its significance is reflected in the perception that people at work are seen as individuals/groups of individuals involved in the production of services and goods. Such production requires human capital and time; thus, organisations of different types pay people that are involved in the production process providing them with income that is later used to boost economic activity. In macroeconomics, low rates of national employment may signal underdevelopment or long-lasting depression while high rates of national employment may signal economic growth and development. Below is a list of dissertation topics that cover the area of employment economics.

  • Work from home or office and employee wellbeing: The case of the COVID pandemic.
  • A study of how flexible employment affects political support for social policy protection.
  • The impact of gender inequality in employment on economic growth and workforce productivity.
  • The influence of economic cycles on employment, workforce productivity and innovation: a study of manufacturing industries.
  • Local pools on unemployment in the UK: Looking for similarities.
  • Factors determining self-employment in the UK.
  • The effects of minimum wages on British employment.
  • How does technological innovation affect British unemployment? Evidence from the manufacturing industries.
  • A comparison of self-employment across Europe: Where does the UK stand?
  • Government policies in support of self-employment: Evidence from the UK.
  • The effects of immigration on British employment and productivity.

Financial economics concentrates on exchanges in which money of one type or another is likely to appear on both sides of a trade. Financial markets are crucial in facilitating these exchanges at a relatively reduced transaction cost. In many such cases, the amount of money to be transferred in the future is uncertain. Financial economists thus deal with both time and uncertainty. Often the latter is called risk. Financial economics is thus a branch of economics that examines the utilisation and distribution of economic resources in financial markets in which decisions must be made under uncertainty.

The following are examples of dissertation topics on ‘Financial Economics’:

  • How has the coronavirus pandemic affected the UK stock market?
  • How is the FTSE affected by interest rates?
  • Does CAPM measure the risk of stocks listed on the FTSE 100?
  • How does the behaviour of the FSTE 100 affect economic growth?
  • Behavioural finance: A study on the motivation of British investors.
  • The determinants of corporate debt in the UK.
  • The role of private equity and debt market in the finances of SMEs in the UK.
  • Do SMEs achieve higher profitability rates than large corporations in the UK?
  • The financial structure of British firms: A comparison with the European Union.
  • Financial markets and financial intermediation in the UK.
  • Temporary and permanent components of asset prices in the UK.
  • Capital and financial structure of UK companies.
  • Investor protection and corporate governance: Comparison between EU and US financial market.
  • Political uncertainty on asset prices.

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102 Best Econometrics Research Topics

econometrics research topics

College and university professors require students to write about econometrics research topics to gauge their comprehension of the relationship between mathematical economics, statistics, and economics.

The purpose of this integration is to provide numerical values to economic relationships and parameters. Usually, econometrics involves economic theories and their presentation in mathematical forms and the empirical study of business. Perhaps, this integration explains why some students struggle to choose topics for research in econometrics.

What Is Econometrics?

As hinted, econometrics is an economics branch that focuses on the relationships between economics, statistics, and mathematical economics. Ideally, econometrics entails the quantitative application of mathematical and statistical models using data to test hypotheses and develop economic theories while forecasting future trends based on historical data. Econometricians subject real-world data to various statistical trials while comparing and contrasting the results against the idea under examination.

Writing an econometric research paper is a process that starts with the selection of an interesting topic. Once you’ve chosen a title and the supervisor approves it, embark on extensive research using the prompt from your teacher. Proceed by gathering and analyzing all relevant information from different sources. Engaging in in-depth study and comprehensive analysis will enable you to write an informative paper that will compel the educator to award you the best grade in your class. Below are the steps to follow to write a high-quality econometric thesis or essay.

Write the introduction: Introduce your econometrics topic and tell the audience why it’s crucial. Also, include a thesis statement summarizing the entire paper. Describe the theoretical model: Tell the readers about the theoretical models to structure the empirical work. Present the data: Describe the data, whether time series or cross-sectional. Use descriptive statistics data and graphics if possible. Present the empirical model: Explain the model you intend to estimate and the functional form you intend to use. Present your empirical results: This section presents empirical results using a table to summarize them. Conclude the paper: Describe lessons from the research and state whether it supports the theory. Also, suggest approaches for future research on the topic.

Your paper should also include a reference section comprising the information sources you used to gather data.

Interesting Econometrics Paper Topics

Maybe you know the process of writing a paper on an econometrics topic but don’t have an idea to explore. If so, consider these exciting econometrics paper ideas.

  • How privatizing public enterprises could affect economic development and policy
  • Cashless economy: How demonetization affects medium and small businesses
  • How Gini index dynamics reflect the income inequality problem
  • Consumption evolution over the last decade: Consumer behavior and trends
  • Investigating salary inequalities and the forces behind them
  • How income changes affect consumer choices
  • How does allowing the labor force to participate in public budgeting affect the economy
  • How the marital status affect the labor force composition
  • How consumption attitudes have changed over the last decade
  • How economic convergence relates to salary levels
  • How income affects life insurance
  • The consequences of leaving the rat race
  • Testing Okun’s Law in the U.S
  • Analysis of spending on disposable income and imports
  • Comparing the unemployment rate in the United States to the rest of the world
  • Regional labor mobility and unemployment
  • Stock market evolution: Analyzing the causes and effects
  • How internet productivity relate to connectivity in the workplace
  • How currency devaluation affects medium and small companies
  • How government spending and inflation relate in an economy
  • The relationship between stock prices and inflation in a country
  • How income tax revenue affects a developing economy
  • How government expenditure affects economic growth
  • Factors contributing to the global recession
  • How a country’s unemployment rate relates to economic growth

Any of these topics can be an excellent basis for an econometrics paper. However, you require extensive research about any of these topics to develop a winning thesis.

Undergraduate Econometrics Project Ideas

Maybe your school or faculty requires you to write an econometrics paper to graduate from university. In that case, consider these econometrics research topics for undergraduates.

  • Analyzing the impact of income inequality on the poverty level
  • Analyzing gender differences in education between developing and developed countries
  • How immigration affects unemployment in the European Union
  • How economic growth relates to trade
  • Are immigrants more in countries with a high income?
  • How high taxations affect GSP
  • Analyzing the relationship between local income level and house prices
  • How income, education, and life expectancy affect the human development index
  • How inflation affects national savings
  • How life expectancy relates to national income
  • How financial development affects the economic growth of a country
  • Crime index versus the average education years
  • Investigating the correlation between youth unemployment and minimum wage
  • How economic prosperity relate to government systems
  • Economic factors that affect housing prices in the United States
  • Economic factors contributing to homelessness in the U.S
  • Socioeconomic and economic determinants of infant mortality
  • Econometric analysis: Impact of trade barriers
  • Why matching methods are essential in econometrics
  • How a randomized experiment can aid econometrics
  • Why instrumental variables matter in econometrics
  • Can experts predict the future using econometrics?
  • Econometrics as a numerical estimates source for economic relationship variables
  • Ways of testing economic theories that econometricians present
  • Regression discontinuity: Describe its application

These are great ideas to consider for an econometrics project. Nevertheless, you require sufficient time to research any of these topics and write a winning essay or dissertation.

Easy Econometric Research Topics

Perhaps, you need an easy topic for an econometrics paper. Maybe you have a short time to complete your assignment. In that case, these econometrics topics are ideal for you.

  • Theory suggestion- The initial econometrics methodology step
  • Why estimating variables is important
  • The importance of Proof-reading once you have evaluated the variables
  • Why testing a hypothesis matters
  • The impact of poverty on education
  • How poverty relates to childhood obesity
  • Human development and income inequality
  • The link between religion and ideologies on a country’s economy
  • Income and importation- How do they connect?
  • Personal income and life expectancy- What is the connection?
  • The effects of minimum wage on unemployment
  • Investigating monetary policies and bank regulations
  • A study of the economies of scale
  • The impact and relevance of comparative institutional economics
  • Analyzing the effect of making a company international
  • Studying the macroeconomics of rare events
  • Investigating customer behavior towards green products
  • Trade patterns: Investigating different trade patterns and their applications
  • Different stochastic processes concepts
  • Accurate stochastic processes prediction

Any of these topics can be a sound basis of a simple paper. Nevertheless, you still require time to research the idea and analyze data to develop a quality paper.

Financial Econometrics Research Paper Topics

Perhaps, you want to write an academic paper about a financial econometrics topic. If so, consider these ideas.

  • How does bank regulation affect the economy?
  • A critical look into the loan markets
  • How a cashless policy affects the economy
  • Structure and implementation of the monetary policy
  • Lessons to learn from financial crises
  • Investigating regression models
  • Statistical tools in the financial econometrics

These are good topics to explore in financial econometrics. However, follow the prompt from your teacher to write an impressive paper.

Econometrics Empirical Project Ideas FExor Ph.D. Level

Maybe you’re pursuing your Ph.D. and want to write a dissertation about an econometrics topic. In that case, this category comprises excellent ideas for you.

  • Analytical statistics versus theoretical statistics
  • The effects of the low and high demand of labor on an economy
  • The arbitrage pricing theory
  • How goods production and productivity affect econometrics at a national level
  • Applied econometrics- Its essence in turning qualitative economic ideas into quantitative ones
  • Definition, relevance, and application of the general line model
  • Theoretical econometrics’ study and application
  • The macro behavioral theory
  • Panel data methods applications- A microeconomics subsection
  • The impacts of the spillover effect on econometrics
  • The impact of labor supply on a local economy
  • Why labor markets are essential to econometrics
  • What is micro-econometrics modeling?
  • Micro-econometrics methods and applications
  • Statistical tools and their use in financial econometrics

This list also has fantastic economics paper topic ideas. But like the topics in the other sections, each of these notions requires extensive research to write a quality paper.

Exciting Econometrics Questions

Maybe you need a question to serve as the basis of your econometrics research. In that case, here are exciting queries to inspire you.

  • What is the current state of your country’s economy?
  • What’s the difference between the current state of the local and international trades?
  • What are the latest forecasts for the global economy?
  • How do the foreign exchange market and the local businesses relate?
  • What’s the impact of exportation and importation on the local economy?
  • How do businesses monopolies affect a country’s economy?
  • What are the effects of international banks on the local banking sector?
  • How does population growth affect economic development?
  • How can a natural disaster affect an emerging economy?
  • What techniques do companies use to “nudge” consumers into spending more?

This comprehensive list has some of the best econometrics ideas for essays and research papers. Nevertheless, having a topic is not a guarantee that you’ll write a good essay. You might still need help with your assignment after choosing a topic.

Get Help With Thesis About Econometrics Topic

Our crew comprises the most skilled, talented, and experienced econometrics writers. These professionals have helped many students complete their econometrics papers on varied topics. If stuck with an econometric essay or an MBA thesis , for example, and require a cheap dissertation writing service , our native, educated experts can help you. We’re the most knowledgeable econometrics writers online. Contact us now to get a custom, high-quality research paper on any econometrics topic!

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261 Macroeconomics Topics for Any Paper [+Tips]

Take a look at our macroeconomics research topics and select the most suitable one. And don’t forget to check out our tips on how to compose a paper.

  • ⚖️ Macro & Micro
  • 📑 Topics in Macro

🏆 Best Macroeconomics Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

📑 good research topics about macroeconomics, ⭐ simple & easy macroeconomics essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on macroeconomics.

  • 📄 For Essay
  • 🖥️ For Presentation
  • 📊 For Project
  • 👩‍💻 For Research
  • ✍️ For Term Paper
  • 🔥 20 More Hot Topics

❓ Macroeconomics Essay Questions

  • 🔨 Tricks for a Paper

All finance students are required to take the macroeconomics course throughout their studies. Although the subject is crucial and useful, it is pretty challenging. In particular, it can become a problem if you want to nail an original macroeconomics project. Topics to write about can be tricky to find for students regardless of their school level.

But you won’t face any difficulties.

Our team of experts has prepared a comprehensive list of macroeconomic topics. Here you can find fascinating ideas for any type of assignment.

🤔 What Is Macroeconomics?

Of course, you could go straight away to the essay ideas search. But are you familiar with essential economic terms? If not, then the topic selection process can turn into huge trouble.

We have good news for you!

For your convenience, we developed a brief study guide on the basics of economics. So, don’t hesitate to use our prompts to make your studying process more pleasurable.

⚖️ Macroeconomics & Microeconomics

In essence, macroeconomics and microeconomics are two fundamental parts of economic science. They perfectly complement each other and provide a wide range of opportunities for economists. Nevertheless, the microeconomic and macroeconomic objectives differ to a great extent.

Macroeconomics and microeconomics deal with similar issues.

So, what are they?

Macroeconomics is a field of economics that studies the economic performance of countries. By employing it, governments can analyze the financial situation within a country. Macroeconomic theory’s concepts help to predict and prevent possible economic obstacles. Generally, the field presents the big picture. That is to say, it shows the economic development on a national and international level.

In contrast, microeconomics focuses on specific firms or companies. It analyzes the business owners’ decision-making process. Microeconomics does not interact with national or even international economic problems. It mainly investigates enterprises and their internal issues.

📑 Topics in Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics is a broad field that covers a wide range of issues. The two topics of primary concern in macroeconomics are:

  • the behavioral tendencies;
  • the decision-making processes of an economy as a whole.

In other words:

Macroeconomics explores human actions and interactions from an economic perspective.

Have you ever noticed any macroeconomic topics in the news? Or maybe in the headings of magazine articles, in the posts on social media? Or have you heard the discussion of high inflation and unemployment rate on the radio or television? These are all examples of the application of macroeconomics in real life.

Professor Carol L. Osler's quote about macroeconomics as a verb.

The spectrum of issues examined by macroeconomics impresses with its diversity. To make your studying more pleasant, our team gathered ideas in one place.

The topics studied in macroeconomics include:

  • Price levels
  • Inflation rates
  • Political economy
  • Unemployment rates
  • Finance development
  • Fiscal and monetary policies
  • National and international trade
  • Government savings and investments
  • Macroeconomic and Microeconomic Analysis of Nestle Nutrition Due to high competition in the market, an increase in the prices of Nestle’s products is likely to decrease their demand, thereby reducing the firm’s sales.
  • New Classical Macroeconomics The New Classical Macroeconomics school of thought is built on the assumption that all agents in the economy use the information available to make rational decisions.
  • Difference Between Microeconomics and Macroeconomics Macroeconomics Macroeconomics emphasizes on the bigger picture of the economy thus acquitting on how things in the world in terms of the structure, performance, behavior and decision making process of the whole economy.
  • Basics of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics GDP is equal to all expenses of all goods and services produced in a country, equal to the total of value-added during the production of the goods and services by all industries within a country […]
  • The Microeconomics and Macroeconomics Factors in a Startup Café The objectives of this poster are to illustrate the importance of the microeconomics and macroeconomics factors in my project, which is a Startup Cafe.
  • Mexico Country: Micro and Macroeconomic Environment This undertaking is of vital importance to the company; it provides a view of short run costs that will have to be paid for the company to gain in the long run.
  • Greece and Ireland: Macroeconomic and Financial Comparison However, the growth in Ireland was more than that in Greece. For Greece, it was engaged in fighting a runaway debt since the 1990s.
  • How Macroeconomics Affects on Remote Industry & Operating Environments The fourth and last macroeconomics variable is the interest rate prevailing in the economy, which is the measure of the cost of capital.
  • Macroeconomics in Unemployment Frictional unemployment is described as the unemployment that takes place because of the movement of people from one occupation to another.
  • Macroeconomic Environment: Oversight and Governance In order for the business to be listed on the exchange, it must first meet all of the listing rules and then pay any expenses associated with being listed.
  • Insurance in Europe Profitability and the Macroeconomic Environment The assignment analyses the cost structure of the industry, the economic landscape in Europe, and how it relates to the insurance sector, changing consumer preference, and the impact of Covid-19 on the industry.
  • Articles Explaining Macroeconomic Concepts and Events The model interprets the characteristics of the financial markets and investigates the stability of a country’s economy. The LM curve indicates the GDP output levels where the money supply is equal to the demand.
  • Macroeconomic Problems Faced by Sweden and Saudi Arabia Macroeconomics studies the behavior of the economy, as well as its major sectors, such as the public and private sectors, and the monetary system, as well as the relationships between the most significant general economic […]
  • The Impacts of the Macroeconomic Variables on the Business Environment These are also indicators of the rank of the well-being of the population, exports and imports operations, the overall rate of economic growth, and other economic processes.
  • Macroeconomics Principles: International Commerce On the other hand, the higher the productivity gap, the greater the concentration of export businesses and the fewer their links with the rest of the economy.
  • Macroeconomics Principles of Demand and Supply The article suggested that the aggregate demand must be boosted to support the monetary policies and decrease the risks faced after the pandemic’s shock for the worldwide economy.
  • United States National Debt and Macroeconomics The national debt of the United States is one of the most known economic phenomena in the world. This is the real danger of using the national debt as a solution to the lack of […]
  • The United States Macroeconomic Policies During COVID-19 One of the main reasons is the social hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and, consequently, the government’s need to ensure a steady flow of funds to support the budget.
  • Macroeconomic Variables Overview According to the data, GDP growth in 2017 was 2. The inflation rate in the same years was 2.
  • Economic Principles: Macroeconomics This paper intends to describe the housing industry in the United States as presented in the Census Bureau. The housing industry is one of the most vibrant in the United States and the rest of […]
  • Behavioral Finance: Meaning of Macroeconomics Keen disapproves of all the economic theories that support the concept describing their flaws and mishaps. The theories they disapprove of have some flaws that are well stated and displayed.
  • Macroeconomics: US Monetary Policies in 1980-1990 The chart shows the rise in inflation that reached peak levels in the late 70’s, causing the Federal Reserve to come up with new policies to solve the issue.
  • Food Security and Macroeconomics Discussion This is a bad trend which severely hurts the supply of food in third world countries which are not food sufficient.
  • Macroeconomic Overview and Employment Rates in India The occupational structure of India shifted since the 1990s, and the percentage of people employed in the agricultural sector decreased considerable, which also positively affects economic growth. In summary, both the internal and external environment […]
  • Macroeconomics and Hyperinflation in 1914-1923 The officials of the Central bank of Germany thought the cause of hyperinflation was the depreciation of the mark in foreign exchange currency.
  • Interpreting World Macroeconomic Conditions The production of wine is related more to the gross domestic product compared to the rates of interest. In the United States the fast food industry is said to contribute a total of $ 1.
  • Gas Prices and Macroeconomic Indicators The paper will investigate the possible effects of the change of gasoline price on changes in GDP, CPI, and unemployment rate.
  • Macroeconomic Study of Latin America The economic growth as in the third quarter of 2008 was at 4. 8% and with the economic stimulus plan of $ 4Billion that is intended to quash the current meltdown in the economy, economic […]
  • Macroeconomics – Fiscal Policy‏ The stability of the Fiscal Policy is of great significance to any economy because it is one of the prime determinants of the strength of the economy of the country.
  • Microeconomics and Macroeconomics Differences The perception of macroeconomics is in terms of a worldly view of resources while microeconomics entails a more individual feature of the economy. This makes the difference from macroeconomics, which appertains to the sum total […]
  • Macroeconomic Development of Haiti The political condition in Haiti is in the shambles with a long history of anarchy, insurrection, dictatorship and political infighting the Haitian economy has remained one of the poorest economies of the world. Then the […]
  • Evaluating Effectiveness of Supply Side Economics on Macroeconomic Objectives This paper takes the position that supply side economics has had its day and the deregulation aspect of the theory has gone too far with the result that the US economy as well as the […]
  • Macroeconomic Impact on UK Hotel Chain’s Marketing Mix Other harbingers of the current economic travails are tight credit and falling home prices The country has not been spared the effects of the global economic slowdown that commenced with a recession across the Atlantic […]
  • Kenya’s Macroeconomic Activities With the expansion of tourism, transport, and recovery in Agriculture which is in the due process, the gross domestic product per capita is expected to increase with high percentage. On top of that, Kenya’s economy […]
  • Reductionist Effect in Macroeconomics Coddington says that limiting the supply of a product or service in the market will pull down the performance of a firm since the firm will lose its market share to competitors.
  • Macroeconomics: Aggregate Demand and Supply The overall effect of the drilling in Alaska on the economy is that the economy will be rejuvenated and this cannot be more welcome in the united states at this time of financial crisis.
  • Australian Fashion Industries. Macroeconomic Situation. It has been investing heavily in the industry by having designer wear that are readily available in the market and shopping malls and there are many customers who are interested and exposed to the products […]
  • Macroeconomics: Increasing Firm’s Income The assumption of the equilibrium state within national income will hold and that the supply in national income is equal to the demand for the same income.
  • Macroeconomics: South Africa’s Fiscal Space Reforms The purpose of this paper is to review the article and express the author’s opinion on the subject matter. The budget of South Africa should implement the government’s commitments to reduce the budget deficit and […]
  • Fiscal Policy and Macroeconomics Moreover, the peculiarities and current state of the fiscal policy can be discussed by the Council of Economic Advisers, which means that this body is another aspect that might include macro.
  • Macroeconomics: Unemployment Rate in North America Such indicators of economic development as the labor force rate and the unemployment rate are the significant aspects of state development and its policies regarding the labor market.
  • France: Applying Macroeconomic Concepts Its continental borders are the North Sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of Biscay, Spain, Monaco, and Andorra, the Mediterranean Sea, and Italy, Switzerland and Germany, and Belgium and Luxemburg.
  • “The Trouble with Macroeconomics” by Paul Romer In his article, Paul Romer addresses the challenges that the global economy has been experiencing due to the rise in the influence of the factors such as scientific research on the development of macroeconomics and […]
  • Macroeconomics: McDonald’s Challenges in 2012 Therefore, this hurts McDonald’s reputation as a global fast-food business. The price demand elasticity strategy was a tactic to increase McDonald’s market share.
  • American Macroeconomic Situation in 2011 It should be known that various insolvencies that had been experienced are falling and this is good as far as the economy is concerned. The Federal Reserve has maintained low-interest rates and this has been […]
  • Australia’s Macroeconomic Policies The unemployment rate had been above 3% once since the the1940s went above 4% in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s recessions. The inflation rate was above 10% in the early 1990s.
  • Macroeconomic Issues and Funding Adjustments When ADF and ASF are equal, the amount of group 3 funds has for lending would be equal to the total amount group 2iwould be willing to borrow.
  • Macroeconomics: Origins, Development and Current State In the event that there are these changes to these variables, the graphs presented in appendix 1 are a show of what is anticipated to happen to the core macroeconomic elements of the economy.
  • Macroeconomics Course: Japanese Yen and US Dollar March 1: 1 USD = 81. 8425 JPY March 12: 1 USD = 81.
  • 2008 Macroeconomic Collapse and Prevention Efforts The rise in the subprime mortgage rates led to the crash of the stock prices in the US. Therefore, in a volatile market, the aim is to reduce portfolio risk and not maximize trading profits.
  • Macroeconomic Determinants of Savings in the UK The neoclassical model examines whether the development between steady states, positive changes in the savings ratio may stimulate the growth rate in the economy.
  • Macroeconomic Factors of Website Content and Services Since internet usage is advancing significantly, the long-run prices offered in internet marketing would significantly decline as a result of high competition.
  • “Lectures in Macroeconomics” by Arnold Kling Both increased productivity and trade are regarded as beneficial for the economy due to the potential ability to move labor resources from one sector that experiences productivity exceeding demand to those that encounters prevalence of […]
  • Classical Macroeconomic Analysis and Its Principles The repercussion of the ASF line being horizontal is seen given a scenario where the APE line shifts to the right; implying an increase in expenditure with no funding to compliment it.
  • Macroeconomics: Aggregate Planned Expenditures The major role of any economy is to ensure that it coordinates the changes in the level of goods produced and the changes in the demand for the goods.
  • Macroeconomic Factors and Hong Kong Stock Returns This chapter covers the background of the study, problem statement, research objectives and hypotheses and the significance of the study. He argues that the inverse relationship between inflation and real stock returns is as a […]
  • Macroeconomic Coordination and Demand Shocks Based on their needs, the most appropriate options are for the consumers, especially group two to borrow money in the form of loans, spend the money, and pay back the loan with interest. However, the […]
  • Britain’s Economic Issues and Macroeconomic Concepts The spending power of the population has been eroded and the growth of wages is half the level of inflation. This is because there is little excess to be affected than in the first occurrence […]
  • Russian Federation’s Macroeconomics in 2011 This resulted in a major decline of the economy with the GDP and the industrial output dropping by up to 50%.
  • Johnson & Johnson: Macroeconomic Variables Analysis It will be used to show the effect of the variables on the sales of the product GDP stands for the gross domestic product which is used to represent the total demand for the goods […]
  • Macroeconomics Performance and Policies of Mexico That is why it is possible to claim that inflation is one of the important macroeconomic issues that are to be solved in the future.
  • Brexit Macroeconomic Impact on the United Kingdom One of the most important aspects of the referendum that appealed to pro-Brexit voters was the perception of how immigration can affect the labour market.
  • US Macroeconomic Indicators in 2005-2012 The decline in economic growth reported in the first quarter of the year 2012 is a reflection of a lower growth rate in fixed investments and inventory by businesses.
  • Scarcity, Decision-Making, and Macroeconomics The inability to concentrate on a particular task due to distractive thoughts about an ill parent/child or the need to make provision for a family usually plays a huge disservice in the matters of general […]
  • Azerbaijan Macroeconomic Risk Analysis When entering the gas and oil sector of Azerbaijan, the CEO of the company should determine whether the risk factors outweigh the positive aspects of the industry.
  • Japan Macroeconomics: Problems and Possible Solutions Based on this, the problems that need to be addressed as a result of this crisis are threefold: the first is the need to implement some form of reconstruction, the second is to address the […]
  • Macroeconomics Fundamentals and Terms The unemployment rate is also used to evaluate the purchasing power of consumers in a particular economy. It is used to estimate the value of a currency and the purchasing power of consumers in a […]
  • Macroeconomic Environment: Self Correction of the Economy However, if the demand of shares in the stock market drops, it means that there will be a drop in income payments and many firms will be affected.
  • Belgium Macroeconomic Data Analysis In Belgium, expenditure by the central government and the regional governments is separate. In 2012, central government expenditure was 23% of the total government expenditure.
  • Current Macroeconomics in the US Most importantly, the building and sale of residential houses have reduced and the cost of housing has also declined prompting a closure of the housing industry in the future.
  • Equilibrium Supply and Demand – Macroeconomic Demand is the quantity of goods desired by consumers while supply is the amount of goods the producers can offer to the market.
  • Germany and Its Macroeconomics At the same time, the growing share of private consumer spending in the German GDP is a wonderful opportunity to expand employment prospects and use its positive results to improve the standards of living in […]
  • Larry Elliott: Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century It is possible, to contradict the rationality of the major theme in Piketty’s book because a simple reduction in inequality may not be the solution.
  • Macroeconomic Factors within the EU Recession in the EU has pushed some of the international companies out of the market because of the increased production costs in the region and low profits.
  • 2008 Global Recession: UK’s Macroeconomic Policies It is on the basis of these negative effects of the global recession that the group of twenty countries met in the United Kingdom to come up with new macroeconomic policy mechanisms in response to […]
  • Public Debt in Managing Macroeconomics The rates compound, and finally the government’s ability to repay the debt is doubted. The solution to the US’ debt crisis is to reduce government spending.
  • Macroeconomic Concepts and Models Application Some of the impacts that have brought about more use of the biofuel in the current world have led to the replacement of the liquid oil from 1-2% recently1.
  • Current macroeconomic situation in the USA In order to deal with the problem of inflation, the federal government could sell treasuries of the United States such as bonds in the international market.
  • Economic Data Comparison of Australia, China, and Greece The budgetary position for Australia and Greece has been increasing from 1999 up to 2009 when the GFC occurred making the governments of these countries to reduce national expenditure and increase taxation to curb the […]
  • Setting Macroeconomic Policies Initially, the government sets the inflation target and the Monetary Policy Committee forecasts the expected future inflation through economic statistics and imposes measures to curb it so as to meet the target.
  • Project Macroeconomics Forecast Component Compare and contrast differences for the respective statistics prepared by the forecasters From the projection carried out by the CBO forecasters, the economic indicators seem to be at the highest between 2007 and 2010.
  • European Macroeconomic Policies and Risks New entrepreneurs need to consider key macroeconomic factors such as aggregate demand polices, aggregate supply policies, fiscal policies, and the policies for the integration of the macroeconomic factors with the European social model.
  • United States of America’s Macroeconomic Analysis The political system in the U.S.has been relatively stable over the years, making it the leading democracy in the world. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the United States of America had experienced a […]
  • Macroeconomic Situation of the US The United States boasts of being a leading economic power in the world, and as a result, the recent economic recession in the country led to the repercussions being felt in almost all the parts […]
  • The Impact and Link of Macroeconomic Variables on the Share Prices in UK The reason of the difference of stock market behavior in the two countries is explained to be the result of slump of Japan after 1990 and liquidity trap of the late 1990 and start of […]
  • Interpreting Macroeconomic Conditions: interest rate Low income levels means that the industry will spend a lot in an effort to increase sales and this will be reflected in high operating costs.
  • Nominal and Real GDP Growth Rates When the real GDP is constant, the inflation rate follows the same trend and the natural rate of unemployment is not necessarily constant. When the Real GDP is high, the unemployment rate is low and […]
  • France’s Economy: Five Key Macroeconomic Variables However, the economic crisis in Europe and the global economic downturn, which began in 2007, have led to severe reduction in the country’s growth rate.
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics: Sequestration and Its Impacts on an Economy According to Choi and Devereux, an increase in the permanent spending results in an increase in the released money, thus, an increase in the circulating currency.
  • Macroeconomic Issues Related to the Federal Deficit and the National Debt What is affected by the federal budget deficit, which is equivalent to government debt level, is the change in the rate of interest.
  • Exchange Regimes and Their Impact on Macroeconomic Performance The terms and the conditions of the exchange rates can either have a positive or a negative impact on the economic growth of a given country. The managed floating rates are a combination of the […]
  • GDP Evaluation and Comparison: China, Greece, and Australia China GDP Annual Growth Rate In the year 2000 the annual growth rate of the GDP was 6% while the highest attained was 13% in the year 2009.
  • Macroeconomic Policy About Population Growth Below is a list of twenty developing countries whose population growth was high in the 1960’s and 1970’s and declined at the beginning of the 21st century; Population growth rate GDP per capita Argentina 1 […]
  • Macroeconomic Policy under Floating Exchange Rate This means that the exchange rate is flexible and can change from time to time in response to the dynamics of the foreign exchange markets.
  • Macroeconomics: Socialism, Totalitarism and US Economics Compare and contrast the approach to economics of the U.S.system of government to Socialism Capitalism, which is the economic system in the U.
  • Macroeconomic Analysis Using an Article The prize that a commodity or service is worth in the market is accumulated is summed up to the value of government expenditure and overall consumer expenses and is measured against the income value1. The […]
  • Macroeconomics and Reality This demand is affected by the price of the car, the price of other models of cars, tastes and preferences of consumers among others. Many of the models in the article are also difficult to […]
  • Macroeconomic Policy Settings in Australia Monetary policies on the other hand are policies used by the reserve bank of Australia to monitor the flow of money in the economy.
  • Macroeconomic Policy Settings in Australia The economic growth in Australia is aimed at reducing the unemployment rates in the future. The country has succeeded in achieving economic growth and prosperity in the face of the global recession.
  • Macroeconomics: Collapse of the United States Housing Market Such was the experience that the economy of the United States faced in the year 2009 following the crisis that was realized in the housing market.
  • Macroeconomics and Monetary Policies The rate of interest will lower to such an extent that the aggregate demand will start to rise until it is equalized with the addition supply of funding.
  • Macroeconomics: Determination of GDP It is the market value of these final goods and services that is referred to as gross domestic product. A general rise in the average price of goods and services in an economy is referred […]
  • Macroeconomics: Demand of Super Bowl Tickets Rovel argues that the prices of Super Bowl tickets are plummeting because there are very few short sellers and that the location of New Orleans is not optimal since it is not easy to make […]
  • Analysis of Macroeconomic Condition of Argentina Despite acquiring the land against the will of the natives, the foreigners ensured that the proceeds from agriculture were used for the development of the country.
  • Macroeconomic Study about Argentina Despite the growth in the real GDP of the country, the aforementioned statistics shows a consistent rise in the rate of inflation in the country.
  • The Impact of Premature Financial Liberalisation on Macroeconomic and Financial Stability Effects on rate of savings and investment One of the roles of liberalisation is to remove rigidity in the control of rates of exchange and rates of interest, compulsory allocation of credits from banks, and […]
  • Comparative Analysis of Macroeconomic Indicators of USA and Brazil The rationale is that unemployment refers to a proportion of the population that has skills and is willing to provide the skills to the labor market.
  • Macroeconomic forecast of Turkey for the next 5 years (up to 2017) To determine the unemployment rate, the total population of the labor force and the employed people in a given region/country is considered.
  • Macroeconomics: Interest Rates Keynesian theory of interest has been used to explain the effects of changes in the Federal Reserve rate on the general interest rates and prices in the economy.
  • Conceptual Study on Macroeconomics Notions The law of demand states that the higher the costof the good or service, the less people will demand it, while the law of supply states that the higher the price of a commodity, the […]
  • Macroeconomic Coordination Process The graph, which is one diagram, will show the relationship between the level of interest on the vertical axis and the degrees of GDP, APE and ASF on the horizontal axis.
  • A Macroeconomic And Financial Outlook Of New Zealand Some of this factors are the level of consumption of the country’s population, the level of savings and investment and the government’s fiscal and monetary policies.
  • Measuring Macroeconomic Concepts As a matter of fact, it can also be referred to as the rate at which the purchasing power of individuals’ changes as time goes by. The country is in a stable period of prices […]
  • Great Britain’s Macroeconomics In Relation To The US The mammoth economy was however destabilized by the innumerable costs accrued to the first and the second world wars and the great depression in the ninety’s.
  • Macroeconomics: Price Elasticity of Demand Price elasticity of demand refers to the “…responsiveness of changes in the quantity of goods and services demanded in relation to the changes in their prices”.
  • Rapidly Developing Macroeconomics in Chile The history of macroeconomic reforms in Chile dates back to the beginning of the 1990s, when the military government initiated the first economic reform.
  • Principles of Macroeconomics: Supply and Demand Relationship In conclusion, supply and demand relationship tries to describe macroeconomic variables like price levels and amount of quantity in the economy.
  • Macroeconomic Policies in Australia The policy makers therefore always strive to keep the inflation rate at low levels to minimize the effects of a high inflation rate.

🤗 Interesting Macroeconomic Topics

Did you figure out the basic economic terms and concepts? Congratulations! Now, you are ready to go to the next step of your task completing. It is a topic search. Take this step responsibly because a compelling topic is a key to a successful paper.

The process of idea selection may become a real struggle for students. But not for you! We created a list of macroeconomics paper topics. The ideas are divided into several sections based on the type of assignment you need to complete. The macroeconomics topic choice has never been so easy!

📄 Macroeconomics Topics for Essay

  • Effect of oil prices on different countries’ GDP.
  • The political economy of international trade.
  • Limitations of GDP as a measure of economic welfare.
  • The significance of Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” concept in modern economics.

The invisible hand is an unobservable market force.

  • Remittances role in spurring global economic growth.
  • Economic factors of Dubai tourism demand.
  • The effects of inflation targeting.
  • The interactions of economic and political science.
  • The nature of the catch-up growth phenomenon in developing countries.
  • The benefits of medical tourism to the world economy.
  • The economic recession of 2007-2009 . Conduct an economic analysis of the worldwide crisis of 2007-2009. What were the causes and effects of the recession? Analyze the role of monetary and fiscal policies. What role do they play in reducing the risks of a total financial collapse during the crisis?
  • The tourism industry in the state of Oregon . Investigate traveling commerce in Oregon from an economic perspective. How thousands of tourists help to maintain the appropriate level of economic growth? Explore the impact of tourism on the economy of Oregon and the USA. Look at them separately.
  • The impact of the COVID -19 outbreak on the global economy . Explore the influence of the pandemic on the different branches of the economy. Analyze the readiness of the countries to face financial difficulties. Were the governments’ reactions to the risks of recession effective enough?
  • Practical problems of active economic stabilization policy . There are three key negative effects of stabilization policy: – recognition lag – decision lag – impact lagDiscuss how these lags may lead to destabilization of the economy instead of stabilization. Why can a stabilization policy be useful for one class of enterprises? Why can it be ineffective for another one?
  • Neoclassical economists. Analyze the scientific impact of three the most famous neoclassical economists: -Thorstein Veblen -Eliot Roy Weintraub -George Joseph StiglerCompare and contrast their approaches to macroeconomic objectives. How did these figures contribute to the development of the modern economy?

🖥️ Macroeconomics Topics for Presentation

  • Sustainable economic development. The four greens.
  • European macroeconomic policies and risks.
  • International environmental concerns in economics.
  • Macroeconomic environment: self-correction of the economy .
  • Economic systems types: free market and a mixed economy.
  • Abu Dhabi commercial bank and financial regulation.
  • Economic inequality as a result of globalization.
  • Cultural differences and ethics of international trading.
  • Economic analysis of criminal law.

Economists approach the analysis of crime assuming that criminals are rational.

  • Economic fluctuations in aggregate demand and aggregate supply.
  • Theory of liquidity preference . Analyze Keyne’s theory of liquidity preference. Can interest rate adjustments indeed bring money supply and demand in balance? Use visual aids (graphs, charts) to make the understanding of the topic more accessible.
  • Who leads the economy: economists or politicians? Explore the influence of politics on the economic sector. Why economics and politics cannot exist independently? Investigate the positive and negative outcomes of economic and political interactions. List all the key ideas on the slides. Appropriate illustrations will help the audience comprehend your ideas more effectively.
  • Money laundering as one of the most critical financial crimes . Explain the mechanisms of economic crimes that occur in modern society. What criminal procedures are applied to deal with money laundering? What are the possible ways to reduce the risks of crimes against the property?
  • Short-run aggregate supply and long-run aggregate supply differences. Explore the notions. What do they mean? How are they familiar? To make your presentation more professional, use slides. Demonstrate the correlation of short-run aggregate supply and long-run aggregate supply curves on the graph.
  • Keynesian economics . Briefly introduce John Maynard Keynes. What were his economic approaches? Illustrate his models (the liquidity trap, IS-LM plot, Keynes–Samuelson cross). Highlight the significance of Keynesian discoveries for modern economics.

📊 Macroeconomics Topics for Project

  • The costs and benefits of incurring an annual federal budget deficit.
  • Cause and effects of the mortgage crisis.
  • The effects of the introduction of the national minimum wage on employment.
  • GDP growth rate and economic future of the United States.
  • Alternative policies towards the exchange rate.
  • Economic tools: alcohol abuse problem-solving.
  • Optimizing production in the food industry.
  • Automatic economic stabilizers.
  • Methods of sustainable economic development.
  • The role of China and the USA for the international economy. Compare and contrast the impact of both countries for global economic development.
  • Strategies to overcome economic recession . Develop your ways to deal with economic obstacles. How to be ready for a financial crisis? How to reduce the negative consequences of the recession? State your ideas clearly and structure them wisely.
  • Ways to reduce the unemployment level . Examine the causes and effects of unemployment. What would be possible mechanisms of dealing with the issue of lack of working places in a country? Explore the concept of the natural unemployment level and consider it while developing your project.
  • Business establishment. Imagine you are planning to open a company. Applying economic concepts, develop a business plan for your enterprise. Organize the funds’ distribution within a company. What macroeconomic concepts should be used for this project

A business establishment is a location where a business is conducted.

  • Inflation vs. deflation. Investigate the positive and negative sides of inflation and deflation. What causes more harm to the national economy? Develop a strategic plan of dealing with the obstacles of inflation and deflation.
  • Overconsumption of goods: beneficial for the producers, bad for the environment. Comment on the problem of unreasonable goods’ purchases. Why don’t people consider the lack of environmental resources while buying useless stuff? Develop a mechanism to control the consumption of the products to save the environment.

👩‍💻 Macroeconomics Topics for Research

  • Different forms of currency regimes and their impact on economic determinants.
  • The implications of internet-banking on bank profitability.
  • The trickle-down economics definition and aspects .
  • Effects of increasing interest rates in Africa.
  • The structure, history, and activities of the World Bank.
  • Analysis of economic indicators for the United States and South Korea.
  • The impact of demographic fluctuations within a country on its economic performance.
  • The importance of the governmental support of small and medium businesses.
  • The causes of economic inequality, poverty of underdeveloped countries.
  • Macroeconomic implications of the healthcare sector development.
  • The real exchange rate and the nominal exchange rate. Conduct research and analyze the differences between real and nominal exchange rates. What are the reasons for utilizing a real exchange rate? Support your ideas with arguments and appropriate examples.
  • Theory of effective demand. Explore the significance of a balanced demand for the global economy. What place does Keynesianism take in this theory? For convenience, demonstrate your findings in the graphs.
  • The bright future of the economy of ASEAN countries . Explain how the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) can become a leading economic force globally. What opportunities and benefits do these countries have? Using economic thinking, suggest the right direction for the economic growth of ASEAN countries.

ASEAN is fast becoming a major economic force in Asia.

  • How the Coronavirus outbreak affected stock prices and growth expectations? The worldwide pandemic noticeably weakened international economic performance. Discuss the adverse effects of COVID-19 on stock prices. What strategies did the governments implement to maintain a stable financial situation in a country?
  • The impact of immigration on the national economy. What are the positive and negative effects of immigration? Develop an economic strategy to reduce the drawback of immigration on the national economy and maximize the benefits.

✍️ Macroeconomics Topics for Term Paper

  • Unemployment rate as the most prominent national economy challenge .
  • The nation’s budget deficit and how it relates to economic theory and crisis .
  • Market elasticity in the banking industry.
  • Minimum wages and their effects on the hospitality industry .
  • New liquidity standards and implications.
  • Corporate entrepreneurship and new business venturing.
  • Economic factors on the stock market.
  • The threat of Norwegian commercial banks for the economic stability of a country.
  • Indicators of the upcoming recession and the strategies to prevent it.
  • Influence of consumers’ tastes and preferences on market growth.
  • The economy of France: five key macroeconomic variables . Provide a brief background of France’s economy and the overview of five variables. Analyze of the country’s economy. What would be some possible policy recommendations? Provide graphs, charts, or tables if necessary.
  • Strategies for raising the country’s per capita gross domestic product. Explore the possible ways to increase the GDP per capita. How will the rise of GDP stimulate the country’s economic growth? Provide clear arguments to support your opinion.
  • The benefits of investments in innovative technologies . Explain why business owners should invest in innovations. How will it help them to increase the profitability of the companies? Examine the future of economics. Will the high-quality production be possible without modern technologies?
  • Profit maximization strategies. Analyze the existing ways of maximizing the firms’ profit. What are the benefits and drawbacks of these strategies? Develop your profit-maximizing method. What macroeconomic principles and theories would you use for it? State your ideas clearly and provide examples to support your position.

A classic profit-maximizing strategy is skim pricing.

  • Globalization: an opportunity or a threat to the international economy? Analyze the positive and negative effects of globalization. What obstacles does globalization cause to small entrepreneurial organizations? How does globalization influence huge corporations? Present bright examples to solidify your ideas.

🔥 20 More Hot Topics in Macroeconomics

Did you look through our ideas and still unsure of which one to select? Then, take a look at the following section. Here, you can find the most popular and effective macroeconomics paper topics. Use one of the ideas from this list, and don’t worry that it will be inappropriate.

  • International political economy perspectives.
  • An invisible network of demand and supply.
  • Factors affecting marketing and production decisions.
  • The impact of monetary policy on economic stabilization.
  • Behavioral finance and economics.
  • Elasticity and its crucial role in business development.
  • Sustainability and trends of the global trade imbalance.
  • Financial economics for infrastructure and fiscal policy.
  • The ways to increase the stockholders’ equities after the settlement of liabilities.
  • Core-Econ: what economic data offers this online platform?
  • The causes and effects of inflationary and deflationary gaps.
  • The most effective ways to reach market equilibrium.
  • The application of the macroeconomic concepts in real-life situations.
  • Price discrimination problem. Introduce the phenomenon of price discrimination in the modern economic environment. What are the causes of the problem? What are the possible solutions? After the problem is solved, suggest future directions to prevent further concerns about price discrimination.
  • The impact of the governmental regulations on the national economy. This is a topic of multiple-purpose. Are you searching for an idea for a term paper, presentation, or a capstone project? Then use this topic. It is quite relatable and offers a wide variety of sources to explore.
  • The impact of biology progress on economic growth . Explain how biological innovations improve the production capacities of firms. What impact do such changes have on the healthcare, food, and agricultural industries? Refer to statistical data from reliable sources to support your ideas.
  • Economic ethics . Analyze the progress of economic ethics from middle ages to contemporary times. Why is the following of moral rules while developing a business essential? Provide solid arguments and clear examples to prove your position.
  • The importance of GDP for investors. Explain how investors make their decisions based on the GDP of a country. What factors do the investors take into consideration while investing money?

Investors pay attention to the GDP because it can affect the stock market.

  • Unemployment and inflation rates correlation. Explore the relationship between inflation and unemployment in the short-run and the long-run. Why do the outcomes of their correlation are different in the short-run and long-run? Refer to the Philips curve line graph to demonstrate your findings.
  • Securities market structures. There are four types of securities market structures: – Quote-driven markets – Order-driven markets – Hybrid markets – Brokered markets Compare and contrast them. What structure is the most transparent and effective? How to minimize the risks of the securities market collapse?
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🔨 Tricks to Nail a Macroeconomics Paper

You are likely to have a general idea of essay writing. A thesis statement, five-paragraph structure, and arguments with supporting evidence are all part of it. Your paper on macroeconomics will probably follow the same old formula as well. However, we found a few tricks that will make the writing process less complicated. They can be used for any paper on macroeconomics.

  • Find out the type of assignment beforehand. The structure of the project will differ drastically from that of the research paper. If it’s an essay, determine whether its an argumentative, informative, cause and effect, etc. Follow the structure If you need to prepare a presentation. Make appropriate slides to help the audience get your ideas. But remember to make the PowerPoint presentation professional. Use a readable font and suitable design to impress your listeners.
  • academic style;
  • suitable writing formats;
  • reliable sources;
  • proper citations.
  • Change the central idea. The first viewpoint that comes to your mind can be erroneous. Any piece of academic writing requires a thought-out message. If you’re not sure what to state in your thesis, search for another macroeconomic topic for a paper. And don’t be afraid of changing it if necessary. Remember, a well-developed central idea is a key to a high grade. So, take enough time to compose a strong thesis statement.
  • Research before writing. Macroeconomics is a broad field, so you have to make sure you see all the angles of the issue. Look for related macroeconomic topics or overlapping areas of study. If needed, improve your research question or change the perspective of your research. Make sure to select only credible sources. And don’t forget to cite them properly. Are you unsure about formatting requirements? Double-check the rules of the writing format you use.
  • Outline your paper. Any writing guide will tell you that this is a great way to ensure the logical order. A well-developed outline will help you to structure your paper correctly. Thus, the readers will get your ideas without any difficulties. Moreover, fixing it is easier than the written text. So, don’t skip this step. By spending some time on outlining, you will save a lot of time on writing.
  • Set out the size of each part. Remember that the introduction and conclusion must be shorter than the body. Moreover, the central part of your paper has to be divided into several sections. Use a separate body paragraph for each key point. A long and complicated text unit will only distract the readers’ attention. So, each part should follow its purpose and deliver the idea effectively.
  • Find examples . Appropriate examples always improve the quality of a paper. Firstly, the readers understand the ideas more deeply when the writer presents the illustrations. Secondly, well-selected cases establish the credibility of a document. So, you can use them for reference. But be careful. To avoid confusion, make sure you provide suitable and relatable examples.
  • Use online grammar correctors. We are not robots, and we make mistakes. That’s natural! Fortunately, we have an opportunity to use online grammar correctors. Such tools will ensure you haven’t missed an error while proofreading. One of the most useful and efficient ones is Grammarly . Besides correcting your spelling or grammar mistakes, it will also suggest style and vocabulary improvements. Why not use the benefits of correcting tools if there is such an opportunity?

Ask your friends or relatives to check an economic paper for you.

Thank you for visiting our page! We hope your article was helpful. Don’t forget to share your macroeconomic topics and essay writing tips with your friends!

🔗References

  • Macroeconomics: Economics and Finance, Khan Academy
  • Macroeconomics: Articles, Research, & Case Studies on Macroeconomics, HBS Working Knowledge
  • Top 100 Economics Blogs Of 2020: Prateek Agarwal, Economics Theory & News, Intelligent Economist
  • Hot Topics in the U.S. Economy: US Economy and News, The Balance
  • Writing Economics: Robert Neugeboren with Mireille Jacobson, Harvard University
  • Macroeconomics Essay: Bartleby
  • Organizing an Essay: Writing Advice by Jerry Plotnick, University College Writing Centre, University of Toronto
  • Academic Essay Writing, Some Guidelines: Department of Economics, Carleton University
  • Sample Business and Economics Essay: Research & Learning Online, Monash University
  • Macroeconomics: Britannica
  • Studies in Macroeconomic History: Cambridge Core, Cambridge University Press
  • 14 Types of Essay Hooks with Samples And How to Write Them: EduPeet
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IvyPanda. (2024, February 28). 261 Macroeconomics Topics for Any Paper [+Tips]. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/macroeconomics-essay-topics/

"261 Macroeconomics Topics for Any Paper [+Tips]." IvyPanda , 28 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/macroeconomics-essay-topics/.

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IvyPanda . 2024. "261 Macroeconomics Topics for Any Paper [+Tips]." February 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/macroeconomics-essay-topics/.

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IvyPanda . "261 Macroeconomics Topics for Any Paper [+Tips]." February 28, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/macroeconomics-essay-topics/.

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Economics Dissertation Topics: 25+ Examples You Can Explore

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by  Antony W

June 28, 2024

Economics dissertation topics

If you’re looking for some economics dissertation topics to help you brainstorm your topic idea, this guide is for you.

Popularized by the likes of Adam Smith as far back as 1770, Economics is a subject that deals with making the right decisions in the face of uncertainty and scarcity.

As much as it dates back to the medieval scholastics, economics still focuses largely on human choices, borrowing habits, markets and trade, assets’ pricing, human behavior in relation to economic decisions, taxes, and consumption.

Existing literature on economics attempt to give the best possible explanations to problems human beings face. Still, there’s need for more research in this field because new areas continue to emerge in economics, especially since technology continues to advance enhance transformation and increase the rate of globalization.

Given how wide this field is, there are dozens of economic dissertation topics that you can choose to explore in your research project. This guide is a list of some of the topic ideas that you might want to consider for the project.

25+ List of Economic Dissertation Topics

Economics is a wide field with different areas of exploration. This guide looks at some of the areas economics, each with a few examples of dissertation topics that you can investigate.

Dissertation Topics on Regional Development

Your focus on regional development is to study regions as small economies with the aim of understanding their circumstances and outcomes. You’ll examine how internal regional economies operate and evaluate how they relate to other regions.

Some interesting topics that you can investigate in your dissertation in this area are as follows:

  • Business development and profitability in the region What are the underlying variables in this relationship?
  • Natural resource comparative advantage and regional development
  • There are differences in the forms and levels of entrepreneurship and unemployment across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
  • The impact of regional policy on start-ups on regional development: more new enterprises or better existing ones?
  • Entrepreneurial networks’ contribution to regional development.

Also Check: Custom Economics Dissertation Writing Help

Dissertation Topic Ideas on Economic Sociology

Examine the sociological aspects that affect economic indicators and explain how they relate with the social outcome.

Some great topics that you might want to consider for your dissertation project if you choose to focus on this area include:

  • The function of social networks in facilitating innovation in mature sectors.
  • How can universities take advantage of social networks to induce entrepreneurial action among their students?
  • Exploring the disparities between trust and power in local productive systems.
  • Is there a straight line between economic and social development?
  • In the United Kingdom, traditional industry development is fueled by social contracts and peer pressure.
  • Family support, both financial and non-financial, in the development of successful entrepreneurship.
  • The convergence of economic systems as a result of globalization and its implications for social development in developed, emerging, and developing economies.

Related: Technology Dissertation Topics

Economic Geography Topics for Dissertation Project

This area focuses on economical outcome in relation to geographical location. You’ll evaluate patterns and trends in activities and human behavior to explain what shapes the cultural and economic landscapes.

Here are some topic ideas to consider if you want to write a dissertation project in this area:

  • The influence of local and regional cultures on entrepreneurship and economic growth.
  • Is there a link between established enterprises that dominate small towns and local cultural factors?
  • The likelihood impact of Brexit on policy outcomes that shape the local economy in UK cities.
  • The economic geography of recession. Difference between regional and city economics in the UK.
  • Understanding educational progression at the local level: A comparison of cities in the UK’s north and south.
  • How COVID has influenced house price volatility in various UK cities.

Institutional Economics Dissertation Topics

This area deals with social entities linked to production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Given that this is a broad area, you might have to study related disciplines such as psychology, economic history , management and business studies cognitive and brain science, and behavioral economics and finance. 

  • Here are some dissertation topic ideas that you should consider:
  • How can transaction costs economics account for inter-firm collaboration?
  • Economic freedom institutions and policies have different effects on income and growth.
  • How does the cultural mix affect the organization of enterprises in the United Kingdom?

Also Check: Social Work Dissertation Topics

Dissertation Topics That Deals With Employment Economics

Given that employment is a key concept in the production of goods and services, it’s important to study the rate at which organizations hire talents and the compensations offered.

Below are some topic ideas that you can explore in this area of economics: 

  • The influence of gender disparity in employment on economic growth and labor productivity.
  • What effect does technological innovation have on British unemployment? Evidence from the industrial industry.
  • The impact of economic cycles on employment, workforce productivity, and innovation: a case study of the manufacturing sector

Macroeconomics Dissertation Topics

Macroeconomics is an interesting field that examines an economy as a whole. In this division, the focus is on how markets interact with each other to generate aggregate variables. You’ll study national income, gross domestic product, employment, inflation, global economy, and financial markets.

Here are some interesting topics that you can explore in your dissertation if you’re studying macroeconomics:

  • COVID and the economic downturn: Will the impact be as severe as the 2007 financial downturn?
  • The global economic downturn and the causes that lead to it.
  • How will the Greek financial crisis affect the EU economy in the long run?

Microeconomic Dissertation Topics

In microeconomics, the focus is on the interaction between demand and supply in different markets. You’ll study and interpret how economic agents behave in different settings and identify the incentives they’re more than likely to face by building modes and using data to conduct your research and experiments.

Here are some interesting topics to cover in this area:

  • Does the size of a company impact its profits? Evidence from UK telecommunications companies.
  • Are UK corporations more inventive than their European counterparts?
  • Is the retail industry in the United Kingdom becoming less oligopolistic? An examination of the effects of new supermarkets.
  • The development of household consumption in the United Kingdom during the previous decade: Consumer behavior trends.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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How To Pick A Topic For Your Economics Research Project Or Master's Thesis

Read a summary or generate practice questions using the INOMICS AI tool

One of the biggest and most exciting challenges of a young academic's career is coming up with that first economics research topic. Knowing how much is riding on the decision, it can also be pretty stressful. With so much to consider, we thought it would be easier to break the decision-making process down into some key points. Consideration of each will give you the best chance possible to make sure the topic of your economics Master's thesis is the right one - both for you personally and for your future career.

Without further ado, read on for our advice on how to pick a topic for your economics thesis.

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How to pick your economics master's thesis

1. Make sure it's something you're interested in

This sounds obvious, but you should make sure that the project you choose is of interest to you. If you're going to be working on a project for months or even longer, then it has to be something which you are engaged with.

The best way to keep engaged is to pose a question for your project to which you want to know the answer. Think back over the lectures you've attended and the books you've read, and consider what issues you enjoyed discussing and thinking about. If there was ever a topic which you came across and enjoyed studying, but didn't have the time or resources to investigate more, this is your chance to dive deep and become an expert.

2. Get inspired by previous students' projects

If you're unsure where to start, or don't know what sort of project would be appropriate for your course, it's a great idea to look at previous students' projects. In most universities you'll be able to access previous student theses in the library, so you should take advantage of this resource.

While you should never copy someone else's idea, you can use it as inspiration. For example, perhaps someone has done a project on the economic implications of an international policy within a certain country. Your project could look at the implications of that same policy in a different country. Or you could look at a similar policy in a different period of history.

Additionally, many alumni will still have links with your university, so it may be possible to get in contact with them directly. If someone has written about a topic you are interested in, do not hesitate to request a meet up to pick their brains. Most academics relish the opportunity to discuss their own research, so there is no reason to be shy. In any case, it is always fascinating meeting those more experienced than yourself who have remained in the field.

3. Ask your lecturers or supervisor for advice

Once you have one or more ideas about thesis topics, you'll want to ask for advice from people who have experience in assessing projects. You don't want to do a lot of work on a project idea, only to hear much later that your supervisor thinks your topic is not a good choice.

Do some basic preparation before meeting with a supervisor or lecturer. Make sure you understand the basic facts of the topic area in which you're interested, and that you have some ideas about what your research question will be and what methods you'll use to study it.

Further, make sure that you get feedback on your idea early in the process. This advice extends to the rest of the research project too. It is your supervisor's job to guide you, so keep in regular contact with them throughout the course of your research.

4. Pick something original, but not too obscure

It’s common to struggle to come up with new economics research topic ideas, but you don't want to do the same project which has been done by a million students before. Not only will this be uninteresting to you, but it will be uninteresting to the person marking your thesis.

Try to come up with a novel approach or a new topic to study. Perhaps there is a new type of data analysis you could use to study an old problem from a new angle. Perhaps new data has been made available, and an older study could be challenged or reaffirmed by studying the new data.

However, be wary of anything too obscure – you don't want to be stuck with no materials or resources to work from. To reiterate the above, definitely run your more ambitious topic ideas by your supervisor to help avoid the pitfall of going too niche and really falling down the rabbit hole.

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5. Choose a small and specific topic

One general tip when coming up with a project or research question is to think smaller. If you don't know a lot about a topic, you won't yet appreciate all the subtleties and complexities it contains. You might think that you can produce a great project on the impact of the introduction of the Euro in Ireland, for example, but this topic is way too broad to cover in a Master's project.

Choosing a topic that is far too broad like the above example is a common mistake that new students make when they are unfamiliar with academic research. Get more specific, and your project will not only be more manageable, but you will actually get to the crux of something.

It may seem counterintuitive, or scary - it can seem impossible to write 50 or more pages about an obscure question. But, it’s much better for your final evaluation to maintain a small scope and conduct very high-quality research about that small topic, rather than attempt to explain a large phenomenon alone and fill up an entire paper with surface-level analysis.

6. Consider an interdisciplinary topic

If you're thinking of economics Master's thesis ideas but find yourself interested in another academic subject, you may have the opportunity to learn about that field as a part of your research project. You could consider a project which touches on a subject like history, sociology, business, politics, or psychology, for example.

The advantage of this is that you can try out learning information and methods from another field to see if studying it further would interest you. It will also help you to create a unique and memorable project, as most of your fellow students will likely study a topic which is based purely in economics.

However, this might also make your project a little harder, as you will have more new information to grasp than others – but it can also be very rewarding for ambitious and engaged students. If you wish to take this route, strongly consider finding a secondary supervisor within the interdisciplinary field who can guide you along with your more economics-focused supervisor. This can even be beneficial for your career, as you become well-versed in a niche set of skills that employers or PhD programs would find attractive.

thesis topic ideas economics

7. Check for available data

If you’re doing an empirical project, the success or failure of your thesis may very well come down to data availability. It’s very important to have an idea of what data to use for your study before you commit to a topic. If you have the world’s greatest research idea, but the data to study it just isn’t available, you’re out of luck.

To avoid this heartbreaking situation, search for usable data as early in the process as possible. This search can even help you narrow down your topic area of focus, and pick a specific, small-scope research question within your field of interest.

Perhaps you’re interested in the effect of malaria prevention programs on children’s economic outcomes in the future, but panel studies haven’t yet been completed in your region of interest. If you search for data, you might find a completed panel dataset that studied a similar disease, or one that studied malaria in a different country. These types of searches can help you pick a related, doable, and properly-scoped research question without wasting time racing towards a dead end.

8. Meticulously plan your experiment

Of course, if you’re running an experiment, you can create your own dataset. This situation presents its own, equally important challenges.

A poorly designed experiment can render your data biased or unusable even after months of work. To avoid this type of catastrophe, spend as much time as you can designing the experiment, checking over all your assumptions meticulously, and seeking feedback and approval from your supervisor to ensure that the experiment is designed well.

Studying examples of experimental designs that led to published studies in prominent journals is highly recommended. Modeling your experiment on successful ones in the past is a great way to ensure your experiment runs smoothly.

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Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

Examples of honors theses written by economics undergraduate students.

Posted with permission of the author. © 2019-2022 by the individual author. All rights reserved.

  • "The Causal Effect of ACA Subsidies on Insurance Coverage Status Among California Adults"  - William Vereyken
  • "Economic Impacts of Immigration Detention Centers Built Between 1990-2016 on U.S. Commuting Zones"  - Ekaterina Yudina

Spring/Summer 2022

  • "The Impact of Indiv. Mandate on High-Income, Non-elderly Indiv. Health Insurance Coverage Rates and Racial/Ethnic Disparities"  - YeJin Ahn
  • "An Economic Analysis of the 1997 Amhara Land Redistribution in Ethiopia"  - Ezana Anley
  • "Affirmative Action's Effect on Educational and Wage Outcomes for Underrepresented Minorities"  - Vishnu G. Arul
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  • "Tax Revenue Cyclicality and Income Inequality: Evidence from U.S. Counties From 1989 to 2019"  - Yiyang Chen
  • "The Impact of Economic Opportunities on African American Migration Patterns in Oakland"  - Fernando Cheung
  • "Impact of Tech Companies on Wages in the Local Economy"  - Niki Collette
  • "Warm Welcome: Evidence for Weather-based Projection Bias in College Choice"  - Maria Cullen
  • "Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Bilateral Trade with China"  - Pedro de Marcos
  • "Renaissance of the Black Homeowner: Impact Evaluation of Michigan's Renaissance Zones"  - Rupsha Debnath
  • "Lockdown Blues: The Effect of Social Norms on the Psychological Cost of Unemployment During the COVID-19 Pandemic"  - Dylan Hallahan
  • "How Education Affects Health Outcomes Across Genders"  - Jessica Li
  • "Is Increasing Diversity Inclusion Effective in Improving Companies' Performance in the Financial Services Industry?"  - Miranda Li
  • "The Future Financial Status of the Social Security Program"  - Chloe Manouchehri
  • "Does Recreational Marijuana Legalization Affect Hard-Drug Use? - Evidence from Cocaine Prevalence and Treatment Admissions"  - Arthur Weiss
  • "Relationship Between Economic Status and Money Spent on Private Education Leading to Economic Inequality in South Korea"  - Jiho Lee
  • "The Impact of Migrant Remittances on Rural Labor Supply: Evidence from Nepal"  - Amanda Wong
  • "Confirmation Bias: The Role of Messages and Messengers"  - Hongyu (Randol) Yao

Spring 2021

  • "Gender Equality and Economic Growth: Solving the Asian Puzzle"  - Zoya Ali
  • "Women in STEM: Moving Up or Falling Off the Academic Career Ladder?"  - Sophia J. Bai
  • "Time Dependence in Okun's Law at the State Level" - Sarah Baig
  • "Labor Regulation and the Impact on Firm Behavior in India" - Vatsal Bajaj
  • "Gender Representation in Academia: Evidence from the Italian Education System Reform" - Oyundari Batbayar
  • "Money & Marriage on the Elementary Mind: A High-Level Analysis of Inequitable Child Development in LA County" - Matthew J. Chang
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thesis topic ideas economics

Research Topics & Ideas: Finance

120+ Finance Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

If you’re just starting out exploring potential research topics for your finance-related dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research topic ideation process by providing a hearty list of finance-centric research topics and ideas.

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . To develop a suitable education-related research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Finance Research Topics

  • Corporate finance topics
  • Investment banking topics
  • Private equity & VC
  • Asset management
  • Hedge funds
  • Financial planning & advisory
  • Quantitative finance
  • Treasury management
  • Financial technology (FinTech)
  • Commercial banking
  • International finance

Research topic idea mega list

Corporate Finance

These research topic ideas explore a breadth of issues ranging from the examination of capital structure to the exploration of financial strategies in mergers and acquisitions.

  • Evaluating the impact of capital structure on firm performance across different industries
  • Assessing the effectiveness of financial management practices in emerging markets
  • A comparative analysis of the cost of capital and financial structure in multinational corporations across different regulatory environments
  • Examining how integrating sustainability and CSR initiatives affect a corporation’s financial performance and brand reputation
  • Analysing how rigorous financial analysis informs strategic decisions and contributes to corporate growth
  • Examining the relationship between corporate governance structures and financial performance
  • A comparative analysis of financing strategies among mergers and acquisitions
  • Evaluating the importance of financial transparency and its impact on investor relations and trust
  • Investigating the role of financial flexibility in strategic investment decisions during economic downturns
  • Investigating how different dividend policies affect shareholder value and the firm’s financial performance

Investment Banking

The list below presents a series of research topics exploring the multifaceted dimensions of investment banking, with a particular focus on its evolution following the 2008 financial crisis.

  • Analysing the evolution and impact of regulatory frameworks in investment banking post-2008 financial crisis
  • Investigating the challenges and opportunities associated with cross-border M&As facilitated by investment banks.
  • Evaluating the role of investment banks in facilitating mergers and acquisitions in emerging markets
  • Analysing the transformation brought about by digital technologies in the delivery of investment banking services and its effects on efficiency and client satisfaction.
  • Evaluating the role of investment banks in promoting sustainable finance and the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in investment decisions.
  • Assessing the impact of technology on the efficiency and effectiveness of investment banking services
  • Examining the effectiveness of investment banks in pricing and marketing IPOs, and the subsequent performance of these IPOs in the stock market.
  • A comparative analysis of different risk management strategies employed by investment banks
  • Examining the relationship between investment banking fees and corporate performance
  • A comparative analysis of competitive strategies employed by leading investment banks and their impact on market share and profitability

Private Equity & Venture Capital (VC)

These research topic ideas are centred on venture capital and private equity investments, with a focus on their impact on technological startups, emerging technologies, and broader economic ecosystems.

  • Investigating the determinants of successful venture capital investments in tech startups
  • Analysing the trends and outcomes of venture capital funding in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, or clean energy
  • Assessing the performance and return on investment of different exit strategies employed by venture capital firms
  • Assessing the impact of private equity investments on the financial performance of SMEs
  • Analysing the role of venture capital in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Evaluating the exit strategies of private equity firms: A comparative analysis
  • Exploring the ethical considerations in private equity and venture capital financing
  • Investigating how private equity ownership influences operational efficiency and overall business performance
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of corporate governance structures in companies backed by private equity investments
  • Examining how the regulatory environment in different regions affects the operations, investments and performance of private equity and venture capital firms

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

Asset Management

This list includes a range of research topic ideas focused on asset management, probing into the effectiveness of various strategies, the integration of technology, and the alignment with ethical principles among other key dimensions.

  • Analysing the effectiveness of different asset allocation strategies in diverse economic environments
  • Analysing the methodologies and effectiveness of performance attribution in asset management firms
  • Assessing the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria on fund performance
  • Examining the role of robo-advisors in modern asset management
  • Evaluating how advancements in technology are reshaping portfolio management strategies within asset management firms
  • Evaluating the performance persistence of mutual funds and hedge funds
  • Investigating the long-term performance of portfolios managed with ethical or socially responsible investing principles
  • Investigating the behavioural biases in individual and institutional investment decisions
  • Examining the asset allocation strategies employed by pension funds and their impact on long-term fund performance
  • Assessing the operational efficiency of asset management firms and its correlation with fund performance

Hedge Funds

Here we explore research topics related to hedge fund operations and strategies, including their implications on corporate governance, financial market stability, and regulatory compliance among other critical facets.

  • Assessing the impact of hedge fund activism on corporate governance and financial performance
  • Analysing the effectiveness and implications of market-neutral strategies employed by hedge funds
  • Investigating how different fee structures impact the performance and investor attraction to hedge funds
  • Evaluating the contribution of hedge funds to financial market liquidity and the implications for market stability
  • Analysing the risk-return profile of hedge fund strategies during financial crises
  • Evaluating the influence of regulatory changes on hedge fund operations and performance
  • Examining the level of transparency and disclosure practices in the hedge fund industry and its impact on investor trust and regulatory compliance
  • Assessing the contribution of hedge funds to systemic risk in financial markets, and the effectiveness of regulatory measures in mitigating such risks
  • Examining the role of hedge funds in financial market stability
  • Investigating the determinants of hedge fund success: A comparative analysis

Financial Planning and Advisory

This list explores various research topic ideas related to financial planning, focusing on the effects of financial literacy, the adoption of digital tools, taxation policies, and the role of financial advisors.

  • Evaluating the impact of financial literacy on individual financial planning effectiveness
  • Analysing how different taxation policies influence financial planning strategies among individuals and businesses
  • Evaluating the effectiveness and user adoption of digital tools in modern financial planning practices
  • Investigating the adequacy of long-term financial planning strategies in ensuring retirement security
  • Assessing the role of financial education in shaping financial planning behaviour among different demographic groups
  • Examining the impact of psychological biases on financial planning and decision-making, and strategies to mitigate these biases
  • Assessing the behavioural factors influencing financial planning decisions
  • Examining the role of financial advisors in managing retirement savings
  • A comparative analysis of traditional versus robo-advisory in financial planning
  • Investigating the ethics of financial advisory practices

Free Webinar: How To Find A Dissertation Research Topic

The following list delves into research topics within the insurance sector, touching on the technological transformations, regulatory shifts, and evolving consumer behaviours among other pivotal aspects.

  • Analysing the impact of technology adoption on insurance pricing and risk management
  • Analysing the influence of Insurtech innovations on the competitive dynamics and consumer choices in insurance markets
  • Investigating the factors affecting consumer behaviour in insurance product selection and the role of digital channels in influencing decisions
  • Assessing the effect of regulatory changes on insurance product offerings
  • Examining the determinants of insurance penetration in emerging markets
  • Evaluating the operational efficiency of claims management processes in insurance companies and its impact on customer satisfaction
  • Examining the evolution and effectiveness of risk assessment models used in insurance underwriting and their impact on pricing and coverage
  • Evaluating the role of insurance in financial stability and economic development
  • Investigating the impact of climate change on insurance models and products
  • Exploring the challenges and opportunities in underwriting cyber insurance in the face of evolving cyber threats and regulations

Quantitative Finance

These topic ideas span the development of asset pricing models, evaluation of machine learning algorithms, and the exploration of ethical implications among other pivotal areas.

  • Developing and testing new quantitative models for asset pricing
  • Analysing the effectiveness and limitations of machine learning algorithms in predicting financial market movements
  • Assessing the effectiveness of various risk management techniques in quantitative finance
  • Evaluating the advancements in portfolio optimisation techniques and their impact on risk-adjusted returns
  • Evaluating the impact of high-frequency trading on market efficiency and stability
  • Investigating the influence of algorithmic trading strategies on market efficiency and liquidity
  • Examining the risk parity approach in asset allocation and its effectiveness in different market conditions
  • Examining the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence in quantitative financial analysis
  • Investigating the ethical implications of quantitative financial innovations
  • Assessing the profitability and market impact of statistical arbitrage strategies considering different market microstructures

Treasury Management

The following topic ideas explore treasury management, focusing on modernisation through technological advancements, the impact on firm liquidity, and the intertwined relationship with corporate governance among other crucial areas.

  • Analysing the impact of treasury management practices on firm liquidity and profitability
  • Analysing the role of automation in enhancing operational efficiency and strategic decision-making in treasury management
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of various cash management strategies in multinational corporations
  • Investigating the potential of blockchain technology in streamlining treasury operations and enhancing transparency
  • Examining the role of treasury management in mitigating financial risks
  • Evaluating the accuracy and effectiveness of various cash flow forecasting techniques employed in treasury management
  • Assessing the impact of technological advancements on treasury management operations
  • Examining the effectiveness of different foreign exchange risk management strategies employed by treasury managers in multinational corporations
  • Assessing the impact of regulatory compliance requirements on the operational and strategic aspects of treasury management
  • Investigating the relationship between treasury management and corporate governance

Financial Technology (FinTech)

The following research topic ideas explore the transformative potential of blockchain, the rise of open banking, and the burgeoning landscape of peer-to-peer lending among other focal areas.

  • Evaluating the impact of blockchain technology on financial services
  • Investigating the implications of open banking on consumer data privacy and financial services competition
  • Assessing the role of FinTech in financial inclusion in emerging markets
  • Analysing the role of peer-to-peer lending platforms in promoting financial inclusion and their impact on traditional banking systems
  • Examining the cybersecurity challenges faced by FinTech firms and the regulatory measures to ensure data protection and financial stability
  • Examining the regulatory challenges and opportunities in the FinTech ecosystem
  • Assessing the impact of artificial intelligence on the delivery of financial services, customer experience, and operational efficiency within FinTech firms
  • Analysing the adoption and impact of cryptocurrencies on traditional financial systems
  • Investigating the determinants of success for FinTech startups

Research topic evaluator

Commercial Banking

These topic ideas span commercial banking, encompassing digital transformation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the evolving regulatory and competitive landscape among other key themes.

  • Assessing the impact of digital transformation on commercial banking services and competitiveness
  • Analysing the impact of digital transformation on customer experience and operational efficiency in commercial banking
  • Evaluating the role of commercial banks in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
  • Investigating the effectiveness of credit risk management practices and their impact on bank profitability and financial stability
  • Examining the relationship between commercial banking practices and financial stability
  • Evaluating the implications of open banking frameworks on the competitive landscape and service innovation in commercial banking
  • Assessing how regulatory changes affect lending practices and risk appetite of commercial banks
  • Examining how commercial banks are adapting their strategies in response to competition from FinTech firms and changing consumer preferences
  • Analysing the impact of regulatory compliance on commercial banking operations
  • Investigating the determinants of customer satisfaction and loyalty in commercial banking

International Finance

The folowing research topic ideas are centred around international finance and global economic dynamics, delving into aspects like exchange rate fluctuations, international financial regulations, and the role of international financial institutions among other pivotal areas.

  • Analysing the determinants of exchange rate fluctuations and their impact on international trade
  • Analysing the influence of global trade agreements on international financial flows and foreign direct investments
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of international portfolio diversification strategies in mitigating risks and enhancing returns
  • Evaluating the role of international financial institutions in global financial stability
  • Investigating the role and implications of offshore financial centres on international financial stability and regulatory harmonisation
  • Examining the impact of global financial crises on emerging market economies
  • Examining the challenges and regulatory frameworks associated with cross-border banking operations
  • Assessing the effectiveness of international financial regulations
  • Investigating the challenges and opportunities of cross-border mergers and acquisitions

Choosing A Research Topic

These finance-related research topic ideas are starting points to guide your thinking. They are intentionally very broad and open-ended. By engaging with the currently literature in your field of interest, you’ll be able to narrow down your focus to a specific research gap .

When choosing a topic , you’ll need to take into account its originality, relevance, feasibility, and the resources you have at your disposal. Make sure to align your interest and expertise in the subject with your university program’s specific requirements. Always consult your academic advisor to ensure that your chosen topic not only meets the academic criteria but also provides a valuable contribution to the field. 

If you need a helping hand, feel free to check out our private coaching service here.

hamza mashaqby

thank you for suggest those topic, I want to ask you about the subjects related to the fintech, can i measure it and how?

Zeleke Getinet Alemayehu

Please guide me on selecting research titles

Tweety

I am doing financial engineering. , can you please help me choose a dissertation topic?

AGBORTABOT BRANDON EBOT

I’m studying Banking and finance (MBA) please guide me on to choose a good research topic.

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50+ Economics Dissertation Topics in 2024

Manali Ganguly Image

Manali Ganguly ,

Mar 4, 2024

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The most popular economics dissertation topics in 2024 are economic development, economic policy and planning, impact of globalisation on economy, money and rates of interest, and international finance among others.

50+ Economics Dissertation Topics in 2024

The economics dissertation topics include impact of globalisation on economy, international finance, economic development, the macroeconomic features of international trade, and many more. A student who has enrolled in a BA Economics course or who is pursuing a PhD in Economics must be aware of the topics that are popularly selected to prepare economics dissertation.

Economics can be said to be a social science associated with the production, distribution, and the consumption of services. The subject analyses the efforts made by the country, organisation, or individual for the allocation of resources.

Economics covers a vast number of topics. These are macroeconomics, microeconomics, international economics, managerial economics, labour economics, behavioural economics and many more.

Top 50+ Economics Dissertation Topics

The list of economics dissertation topics that have been listed below are the most popular ones picked up by the students. These topics cover varied theories, laws, and principles of economics. The list has been categorised under various heads, which are as follows:

  • Macroeconomics Dissertation Topics
  • Microeconomics Dissertation Topics
  • Economic Geography Dissertation Topics
  • Labour Economics Dissertation Topics
  • Environmental Economics Dissertation Topics

1. Macroeconomics Dissertation Topics

This branch of Economics studies the performance, behaviour, structure, and decision-making of an aggregate or the whole economy. Long term growth in the economy and short termed cycles in business are the two major areas of macroeconomics.

The economics dissertation topics for macroeconomics are:

  • Is the system of economics practicable for all sections of a society?
  • How do interest rates affect consumption in a country?
  • Effect of Covid-19 on industrial production?
  • Using big data in behavioural economics at macro level
  • Has Brexit influenced the rate and quality of consumer spending?
  • Division of tax between a buyer and seller
  • How to mitigate the space between theory and practise of behavioural macroeconomics?
  • FDI and interest rates in India
  • Is it necessary to revise neoclassical growth according to the modern world conditions?
  • Housing prices and the macroeconomics determinants

Also Check: Thesis Vs. Dissertation - Meaning, Differences and Similarities

2. Microeconomics Dissertation Topics

Microeconomics is the branch of economics that deals with the study of households, firms, and individual’s ' behaviour in allocating resources. It applies to goods and services and deals with economic and individual issues.

The dissertation topics on macroeconomics are:

  • A macroeconomic study of the energy sector
  • The relationship between merger and acquisition and productivity
  • Inequality of income in the Indian workforce
  • The antitrust regulations and horizontal mergers
  • Impact of the new supermarket stores on local economy
  • The impact of cryptocurrency on economy
  • The concept of minimum wage for the daily wage wage earners
  • Relationship between the game theory and decision theory
  • Impact of eCommerce on small and medium enterprises
  • Is the profit percentage made by a firm directly proportional to the size of the firm? Shed light on the telecommunication sector

Also Check : Skill Development Courses List for Students 2024

3. Economic Geography Dissertation Topics

Economic geography can be said to be a part of human geography and the economic activities that affect it. This is a subfield of economics.

The economics dissertation topics related to economic geography are:

  • How is local proximity being affected by the networks? Difference between co-localized and dispersed networks
  • The effect of Covid-19 on the economic life in the cities
  • The role of local and regional cultures in the shaping of economic development of the entrepreneurs
  • Indian economy in the post pandemic era
  • National, regional, and local policies for an environment conducive to local cluster
  • How does local culture help promote regional innovation networks?
  • What is regional divergence? Poorest and richest areas in India in terms of wealth distribution.
  • The difference in entrepreneurial behaviour between the rural and urban areas
  • How can natural calamities affect the economy and resources of a localised region or state or country?
  • How has recession affected the economic geography of India in the past?

Also Check : 6 Coping Strategies For Student Mental Health

4. Labour Economics Dissertation Topics

The Labour Economics studies the role of the labour force in the production process. The labour force refers to the whole gamut of the industry, i.e., the employers and the employed.

The distinctive labour economics dissertation topics are:

  • A critical and analytical assessment of a collective bargaining practice
  • The role of gender inequality in the staggered growth of economy and productivity within the context of work-culture
  • The impact of digitization on the labour market
  • How practical are the economic labour laws in India?
  • Government policies in favour of self-employment
  • The impact of ‘Vocal for local’ on local and regional economies in India
  • Immigration policies in India and its impact on the local labour market
  • Labour exploitation in China and its impact on the labour laws of the country
  • How Brexit has impacted the policy outcomes shaping the local economy of the cities in the United Kingdom.
  • Cheap labour: An exploitation of the labour laws in India

Also Check :  10 Tips for Staying Focused and Productive as A Student

5. Environmental Economics Dissertation Topics

Environmental economics is a branch of economics that deals with the cost-effective use, allocation, and protection of the natural resources of the world.

The most popular environmental economics dissertation topics are:

  • The impact of a company running on an eco-friendly model on its competitiveness in the market
  • The economic and cultural impact of the of the maintenance of heritage cities on a country’s economy
  • A qualitative study of the paying for recycled products
  • Biological invasion and its impact on a country’s economy
  • Analysing the impact of risk aversions in the context of goods and services
  • Climate change and its impact on natural production and thereby on the national economy
  • Does drinking clean water really impact the GDP of a country?
  • The impact of greenhouse effect on the global and local economy
  • Waste management procedure: implication on the environmental economy
  • Economic environmental policies in the lights of natural disasters: An impact on the national economy
  • Is the growth of new industries impacting the environment economy of India?
  • Preservation of natural resources and its impact on the economy

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Undergraduate Dissertations in Economics

A practical guide

1. Introduction

2. the uk experience, 3. the dissertation life-cycle, 4. an alternative to the dissertation.

Emeritus Professor Peter Smith, University of Southampton  First published 2009  Revised version July 2016

https://doi.org/10.53593/n169a

For many students, the dissertation is the culmination of their undergraduate careers, and a rewarding and satisfying experience that gives them the opportunity to undertake an in-depth study of a topic that interests them. However, it can also become a traumatic and disillusioning venture for students who do not engage with the research, or who have a bad experience with some aspect of the dissertation process.

This chapter sets out to share good practice and provide guidance for co-ordinators, curriculum planners and supervisors, highlighting danger areas and providing discussion of some of the more contentious aspects of the dissertation process.

A key aim of any honours degree programme in the UK is to encourage students to become independent learners. This is no easy task in an environment in which many students arrive from school or college with preconceived notions of what is meant by study, and an array of expectations about the support they will receive from academic staff, not to mention the feedback and interaction with staff that they can expect.

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in August 2008 set out the Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland , which contains the following descriptor for a Bachelor’s degree with honours:

‘Bachelor's degrees with honours are awarded to students who have demonstrated:

  • a systematic understanding of key aspects of their field of study, including acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of a discipline
  • an ability to deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within a discipline
  • to devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of a discipline
  • to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in the discipline
  • an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge
  • the ability to manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (e.g. refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to the discipline).’

(Source:   http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Framework-Higher-Education-Qualifications-08.pdf  )

In the context of an economics programme, where in many cases students can arrive at university with no prior knowledge of the discipline, it is ambitious to think that students will be able to use ideas and techniques ‘at the forefront’ of the discipline after only three years of study, especially if this is really to be the aim for all honours students. On many programmes, the dissertation has become the prime vehicle by which students find an opportunity to become independent learners and to confront current research. For many students, the dissertation is the culmination of their undergraduate careers, and a rewarding and satisfying experience that gives them the opportunity to undertake an in-depth study of a topic that interests them. However, it can also become a traumatic and disillusioning venture for students who do not engage with the research, or who have a bad experience with some aspect of the dissertation process.

After a brief investigation of the current experience in the UK, this chapter is organised around the typical life-cycle of a dissertation, divided into a series of stages:

  • laying the foundations
  • topic selection
  • early practicalities
  • supervision
  • progress monitoring
  • data issues
  • dissertation structure
  • academic integrity.

As background to this chapter, a brief email survey was undertaken to gather information about the role of the undergraduate dissertation in economics departments across the UK. A report on this survey may be found in Appendix 1 .

From the survey it seems that dissertations are a part of the majority of Economics programmes in the UK. However, there are significant differences in the way in which the dissertation module is organised, and the way that students experience the dissertation.

A particular issue is whether all students should be required to complete a dissertation as part of their undergraduate programme. In some institutions, the dissertation is indeed compulsory for everyone, but elsewhere it is restricted to single honours students, or to those students who obtain an average of 60% or more in their second year. The QAA’s descriptor quoted above suggests that all students should receive some exposure to research, but clearly joint honours students are likely to find this more challenging than the specialists, having acquired less in-depth familiarity with either of their chosen disciplines.

Where joint honours students are required to take the dissertation, it may be necessary to adjust the expectations in terms of content. For example, whilst a single honours student with some exposure to econometrics may be expected to undertake some empirical work, it would be unreasonable to expect a joint honours (e.g. Politics and Economics) student to have the same familiarity with econometric methods. It has been known for students to try to teach themselves econometrics, which can prove disastrous.

Whether the dissertation should be limited to the better students is a moot point. On the one hand, it could be argued that weaker students should have equal access to the dissertation option; it may even be that there are some students who may achieve a better result on the dissertation where they can immerse themselves in a topic and produce a polished piece of work, than they could produce under examination conditions or in a problem-set-oriented assessment. On the other hand, experience suggests that weaker students require more supervision, and are more likely to resort to practices that breach academic integrity guidelines.

For these reasons, it may be necessary (or desirable) to provide alternative ways of exposing joint honours and weaker students to research methods. This will be discussed later in section 4 .

Where the dissertation is compulsory for all students, the organisation of the module causes concern. When there are large numbers of students requiring supervision, the load on individual staff members becomes heavy – especially given that some topic areas (and some staff members) tend to be more popular with students than others. It may then be necessary to find some way of spreading the supervision load across available staff or accommodating differences through a workload management system. Spreading the load evenly may result in inconsistency in the supervision provided, which can be very difficult to monitor effectively.

Another major impact on the dissertation has been the rise of the internet, and the ease with which students are able to find material. This can lead to excessive reliance on sites such as Wikipedia, and makes it imperative to be able to monitor standards of academic integrity. Almost all of the survey respondents reported using TurnitinUK, whether as routine for all dissertations submitted, for a random sample or for suspect cases. The traditional remedy of holding vivas for all student dissertations becomes extremely costly when large numbers of students are involved (one institution reported that more than 500 dissertations are submitted in a typical year). Nonetheless, this practice appears to have survived in some economics departments.

3.1 Laying the foundations

3.2 topic selection, 3.3 some early practicalities, 3.4 supervision, 3.5 early progress monitoring and the dangers of the last minute rush, 3.6 data issues, 3.7 dissertation content and structure, 3.8 submission, 3.9 assessment, 3.10 academic integrity.

There is a sense in which the whole of learning and teaching in a programme can be seen as preparation for the dissertation, as it provides the opportunity for students to draw holistically upon the range of material that they have studied during their programme. However, the dissertation is a very different exercise from anything else that they will have been required to undertake and specific preparation is needed.

First, some training in research skills will need to be provided. This may or may not take place as part of a specific module within the programme that is devoted to preparation for the dissertation, perhaps in the penultimate year of study. This needs to include general discussion of research in economics, and the ways in which economists undertake research and scholarship. It is important to remember that this is likely to be a wholly new experience for most students, who may be well drilled in problem solving and mathematical exercises, but who may not have had much exposure to the practicalities of economic research.

The booklets by Greenlaw (2006) and Neugeboren (2005) may be useful references for students at this stage of the process, or they may wish to visit the "Doing a dissertation" tab of the Studying Economics website run by the Economics Network.

Included in this research training it is important to provide some guidance in library skills and the use of evidence in economics research. Being able to evaluate evidence, to weigh up the importance of a set of results and to be aware of the limitations of the evidence produced are challenging skills for students to develop.

There are different approaches to providing such research methods training. It may be that library staff will be able to provide sessions in library skills. It may be wise to incentivise students by awarding a small percentage of the dissertation marks for a library skills exercise. For example, students could be required to undertake an online literature search related to their chosen topic and produce a preliminary reading list. This has the added benefit for forcing them to start their research at an early stage of proceedings.

Depending on programme structure, some students may have had extensive exposure to statistical and econometric methods, so may be accustomed to handling data and interpreting results. However, there may still be a difference between running some regressions in response to a specific exercise during an econometrics module and devising a model to allow testing of a specific hypothesis.

Where students have not been exposed to econometrics, this will clearly affect the scope and nature of research that they can undertake. It may be that they are restricted to a theoretical approach or a literature review style of project, or that they need to find alternative ways of presenting evidence. Where there is a mixture of single and joint honours students it may well be that there are students working on similar topic areas, some of whom know some econometrics and others not. This can create particular pressures on the joint honours students, who may feel obliged to try to use techniques with which they are unfamiliar. This is almost always disastrous. It also becomes important that the skills base of students is taken into account during the assessment process, so that students without training in econometrics are not unduly penalised by markers.

It is increasingly crucial to provide clear guidance on academic integrity at an early juncture. Section 3.10 explores this issue in more depth.

Where there are large numbers of international students, support may need to be provided in academic writing. Indeed, such support may be necessary more generally, given that so many economics assessments are based on problem sets and exercises, rather than on extended continuous prose. There is some evidence that the writing skills of UK students may also need to be further developed in this context.

From a student perspective, finding a topic for the dissertation is a critical step. One of the key strengths of the dissertation is its capacity to engage the student by arousing interest and motivating through a sense of discovery. However, it can also be a stressful part of the process, especially for some weaker students who may not have strong ideas about topics that might inspire interest, and who may be daunted by the prospect of undertaking the task. Failure to find the right topic can be a recipe for a weak dissertation that does not fulfil the intended outcomes.

When the numbers of students looking for dissertation topics are relatively small, then it may be that students can be left to choose their own topics – probably subject to the availability of an appropriate supervisor or the submission of a coherent research proposal. With large numbers of students, this laissez-faire approach may not be feasible.

An alternative approach is to provide students with a list of topics from which they can choose. These topics may be closely circumscribed, or may simply offer a general topic area, leaving the student to focus on a specific research question within that topic area.

The advantage of providing very general topics is that that it leaves the responsibility of formulating a specific research question with the student. This is a key part of research in economics, of course, so it is good (albeit challenging) for the student to have to think about how to go about it. It also has the benefit of giving the student ownership of the question to be investigated, which helps to provide motivation.

Where there are large numbers of students, topic choice can be handled online.

Students can submit their preferences through a webpage, and asked to specify their top four choices and rank them. Students can then be allocated to topics and supervisors, with no guarantee that they will get their first choice – depending on whether certain topics are over-subscribed.

It is helpful for students if a selection of past dissertations is made available to current students to provide some guidance on what is expected of them. However, if the same topics appear for too many successive years, there may be the obvious danger of plagiarism. Even where this does not extend to actual copying, there is the danger that students will simply adopt the same dissertation structure as used by previous students rather than working through this part of the process on their own.

Top tips: dissertation topics

There are several ways in which students can find (or be allocated) the topic for their research.

Students find their own topic, and then look for a supervisor

This may work where the number of students is limited, but may be more difficult to manage when numbers increase. Some staff members are likely to be overwhelmed with requests, especially if they happen to have taught popular second year modules.

Students may also congregate around topics of recent interest – the financial crisis, the impact of migration, or the economics of Brexit…

Others may delay thinking about their topic until it is too late, or may choose topics that prove to be impracticable.

Staff declare topic areas in which they are prepared to supervise projects

This seems to work for a number of institutions. Topics here may be defined broadly – labour economics, development economics, or monetary economics. This may also produce bunching around some staff members.

A list of topic areas is provided

This entails listing key areas of economics – public economics, behavioural economics etc. Students are then allocated a supervisor, where possible a supervisor with a specific interest in that area. Bunching can be ameliorated by not guaranteeing that the allocated supervisor will be an expert in that field. After all, at undergraduate level, detailed knowledge of the topic area may not be crucial.

A list of topics is provided

More specific titles could be provided, rather than general areas. Some staff may prefer this, but others may not. Too specific a topic may attract no students at all (there are only so many undergraduates burning to undertake research into theoretical issues in econometrics).

For example, a topic such as ‘Child labour in less developed countries’ offers wide scope for tackling the issue in different ways and different contexts. A more specific topic such as “Are household members altruistically linked? an examination based on the Mexican anti-poverty programme Progresa’ is much more prescriptive, and may deter students.

There will always be students with fixed ideas about what they wish to research, and these should be accommodated where possible and plausible.

Legislation impinges on the dissertation process, and students may all be required to complete risk assessments before they start their research. The impetus from this comes from Health and Safety legislation in place since 1992, and many universities require such assessments for undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking research. The need for this is perhaps more obvious where students are carrying out experiments in the physical sciences, but may also be important in the social sciences. There may also be a need to seek ethics approval, especially where research involves the use of human subjects, for example, where students intend to undertake surveys or to conduct experiments using human participants.

Given that most economics dissertations tend to be desk studies that do not involve the use of human subjects, the bureaucracy may be viewed as superfluous. Nonetheless, compliance with the law is essential. This may be especially important where economics as a discipline is part of a wider School of Social Sciences. Sociologists who decide to interview local drug dealers as part of their dissertation research clearly face rather different risks and ethical issues than an economist who decides to estimate a consumption function from macro data.

Sample forms can be viewed in Appendix 2 . The ethics form is designed for a School of Social Sciences. The expectation is that the vast majority of economics projects will qualify to skip from question 1 to question 15, thus minimising the paperwork whilst still complying with the demands of the legislation.

Given the requirements of the Data Protection Act, it is also advisable to ask students to give permission for their completed dissertations to be made available within the university for succeeding generations of students. This then allows a database of previous dissertations to be mounted on an internal website or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) such as Blackboard or Moodle.

It is also important at the outset to be absolutely clear about some aspects of the dissertation. In particular, students seem to get very exercised about word length. In many UK undergraduate economics programmes, the dissertation counts as a double module in the final year – for example, 15 ECTS, or a quarter of the assessment for the year. Given the importance of this piece of work (especially where the final year carries a heavy weight), it is probably appropriate for the dissertation to carry a word length of 7,500 to 10,000 words. Notice that this may depend on institutional demands set by your School, Faculty or at University level.

Top Tips on the word limit

  • Be explicit from the start about what is included and not included in the word count. When students get near to submission time, the chances are that they will be hitting the limit, and will want to exclude as much as possible from the count. To remove ambiguity, it is wise to be clear.
  • Acknowledgements
  • Table of contents
  • Bibliography
  • Figures (i.e. diagrams, maps)
  • Tables of data
  • Prohibit the widespread use of appendices – otherwise, students will simply carve chunks of material out of the main text and stash it away at the back in the hope that it will not count. Make it clear that appendices will be part of the word count (perhaps allowing some appendices to be exempt, e.g. raw data, with the express permission of the supervisor).
  • Then state that everything else counts. Students will still find questions to ask (what about footnotes?), but if you have been explicit you will be on reasonably firm ground – and you can point out that the rules are the same for everyone.
  • In order to enforce the word limit, you will probably need to impose penalties for exceeding it. A sliding scale is probably best – say, 1 percentage point per 100 words (or part thereof) by which the dissertation exceeds the limit. This provides students with the incentive to learn to be selective and to avoid waffle in presenting their report. And it seems to work!

The provision of good supervision is crucial to the success of the dissertation. In many institutions facing increasing student numbers, the amount of contact between staff and students on a one-to-one basis is in decline. Indeed, it may be that the supervision of the dissertation provides the single most important opportunity for students to interact on a personal basis with a member of the academic staff. Some students may be intimidated by this, but if the relationship works, it can be mutually rewarding as an educational experience.

As in many other areas of learning and teaching, it is important to manage student expectations of the supervision process. It is helpful for students to be told clearly what they can expect from their supervisor. This may be expressed in terms of an entitlement, rather than being left open-ended. Such an entitlement could be expressed in terms of a number of meetings that each student is entitled to have with their supervisor or it could be expressed in hours. Experience with operating such a system is that although some students may request assistance above their entitlement – and this need not be prohibited within the scheme – others may choose not to avail themselves of their full entitlement. In the context of encouraging students to become independent learners, it may not be desirable to insist that all students attend for a given number of sessions. It is this that makes the entitlement system an attractive way of specifying what is the normal expectation for supervisory contact.

Such an approach has the added benefit of helping to manage the supervisors’ expectations of the process. Supervisors need to know what is expected of them in terms of reading drafts, marking, length and frequency of meetings, and so on. It is also crucial that both supervisors and students have the same expectations of what is involved. Being explicit about this is thus crucial for both groups.

Achieving consistency of supervision provision is one of the challenges, especially when large numbers of students are in need of supervision. Just as some students may need more help than others, it is also important to be aware that some supervisors may be more comfortable in the role than others, or more prepared (or able) to make themselves available.

It is also common for certain topic areas to be more popular than others – and for some supervisors to be more popular than others. If unregulated, this can lead to a situation in which some members of staff find that they have much heavier loads than their colleagues.

Some fair way of allocating supervisory responsibilities may thus be needed. One possibility is to ensure that supervisory loads are recognised as part of a workload management system, in which there is a trade-off between supervisory responsibilities and other forms of teaching contact. An alternative is to allocate loads evenly across available staff. This may require allocating students to topics that are not their first choice, or requiring supervisors to oversee topics of which they have little specialist knowledge. This needs to be monitored carefully to safeguard the student experience. However, at the undergraduate level, specialist knowledge of topic areas may be less crucial than at masters’ or doctoral level.

There may be benefits from group supervision of students following similar topics, not only in terms of economies of scale, but also because the students may be able to learn from each other. Economies of scale may arise because much of the advice given to students will be common – the central importance of economic analysis, the need for a literature review, the interpretation of evidence, how to avoid plagiarism and so on.

At my university, each supervisor is responsible for between six and ten students. It may be highly time-consuming to meet each supervisee separately on a one-to-one basis, but there are some issues that can be readily communicated in group sessions, perhaps even in combination with a colleague supervising in similar topic areas.

A first meeting could take place early in the year, or at the end of the penultimate year, when students have been allocated their topics and supervisors. This would be a preliminary briefing meeting, to answer questions and concerns, highlight some key relevant readings and data sources, and explain how the supervision will be conducted. Some preliminary explanation of how to structure a good dissertation is also provided, together with some discussion of what is meant by academic integrity.

At a second meeting each student could be asked to talk about their topic, outline their progress to date, identify their research question (if they have formulated it) and comment on any problem areas that they have encountered.

A third meeting could be held towards the end of the first term. By this time, students will have been required to submit an interim report, in which they sketch out their proposed research, including an explanation of their research question, and the methodology that they propose to use in order to investigate their question. This is an opportunity to provide feedback and progress to date, to suggest future directions and to identify potential problems.

A fourth meeting could be held towards the end of the second term. Before this meeting, you could invite each student to submit an extract from the first chapter, including their explanation of their research question. In the meeting, you could comment on writing styles and referencing, and provide an opportunity for questions. The importance of maintaining standards of academic integrity also needs to be stressed.

Students should also be encouraged to meet up on a one-to-one basis if they have questions that are specific to their own research.

In some institutions, this is taken one step further, through the provision of a whole module (normally in the second year) that deals with research methods. The economies of scale in doing this are even greater, of course, as one individual (or a relatively small number of staff) can provide the generic advice that all students need in approaching the dissertation. Such dedicated modules are not always popular with students, who may see the material as being fragmented and of little relevance to them at the time. In other words, they may need to be convinced that they really will need this material at a later stage. Such modules are not always popular with the staff either. They may not be appealing to teach, and also put pressure on the curriculum. When so much other material has to be covered in the second year, there may be a reluctance to use up a whole module on research methods that could have been used to provide more micro theory or econometrics.

A frequent complaint about students undertaking undergraduate dissertations is that they leave everything until the last minute. The pressures of other coursework items and mid-term or mid-year examinations may encourage students to devote their time to these, as the dissertation seems less urgent.

There are various ways of trying to encourage students to start work on their research early, and not to rely on a late rush. It may be worth drawing an analogy in early discussions with them. Few students would think of arriving at an exam with only a few minutes to go, and thus finding they have no time to answer the questions. So, why should they think they can fritter away their dissertation time and start work on it when it is too late to do it justice?

However, as economists, we understand about incentives, and thus realise that exhortation alone will not suffice. We need to provide good incentives if we expect students to start work early.

One possibility is to require students to give a presentation of their intended research at an early stage of proceedings. This could be a presentation to their peers with a member of academic staff present. It would even be possible to designate a discussant for each presentation or for a small percentage of the overall mark to be attached to it. However, as soon as numbers begin to grow, this option begins to become very costly in time and effort. Ensuring consistency in the assessment becomes problematic – although if it is a very small percentage of the overall mark, this may be less crucial. If the presentation becomes more than a small percentage, then the logistics of enabling appropriate external examining becomes a potential issue.

An alternative is to introduce an interim report or research proposal that has to be submitted at an early stage. Again, attaching a modest percentage of the overall marks to this report has good incentive effects, and provides an early check to identify students that are not engaging with the process, or who have unrealistic grandiose plans for solving the world’s problems in 10,000 words. It is also a good opportunity to provide formal feedback – an important consideration when the paucity of feedback is a common criticism emerging from questionnaire surveys.

It may be helpful to ask students to submit draft material (or even chapters) to provide a framework for discussion in supervisory meetings – and to do so before the meeting takes place. There is nothing worse than having a student arrive to discuss their work clutching their precious draft, only to find that the time is mainly spent in the supervisor reading it, rather than being able to discuss it. It should be made clear that this is not for the purpose of proof-reading, which is not the supervisor’s responsibility. It may be worth setting a timetable for such discussions at the beginning of the year – which then forces the student into a regular schedule of work. Of course, your institution’s rules may prohibit the reading of draft material. You may also think that it is possible to go too far in helping the student, as this may militate against encouraging independent work and time management. However, it can make for more productive supervisory meetings – and anything that highlights that you are providing feedback may pay dividends in national student surveys.

The other task that must be tackled at an early stage is data hunting. Students embarking on empirical work – probably for the first time – almost always have over-optimistic views of the data that are likely to be available. Perhaps a student has been to a course in development economics that has stressed the importance of human capital formation in stimulating improvements in agricultural productivity. An interesting project might be to examine the effect of primary schooling on agricultural productivity in rural Zanzibar. Or to examine the effect of overseas assistance on the provision of health care in Papua New Guinea. Panic then sets in when it transpires that, with only a few weeks remaining, there are no data to be found.

Again, this is partly a question of managing student expectations – and of getting students to hunt for their data as early as possible.

Of course, there is a time inconsistency problem here. We tell the students that they must look for data as soon as possible… but we also tell them that they should think about the underlying economics of their topic first, in order that they know what data they will require. Without this proviso, the danger of data-mining is high. Students told to look for data early may well see what they can find, run a few regressions and then see if they can find a theory that will match their results.

There is a lot of data readily available on the internet. This brings good and bad news. The good news is that there are more data accessible on a wide range of economic topics that students can readily obtain. This expands the range of topics on which they can undertake empirical work – and they are aided and abetted in this by the software at their disposal to enable them to produce lots of results. The bad news is that the scope for doing foolish things and getting nonsense results is also much expanded. The ease of use of today’s software makes it very easy to produce results that go way beyond the competence and understanding of the students. Indeed, a key part of the supervisor’s role may be to rein in the over-enthusiastic student to ensure that the work undertaken is appropriate for the topic being investigated, and the reasonable ambition of the student given knowledge and understanding of statistical and/or econometric methodology. This reining in has to done in a sensitive way, so as not to discourage or dishearten. A fine line to tread.

Provide web links to the most relevant data sources.

Providing web links to key recommended data sources is wise. This can be accomplished through a dedicated dissertation webpage or VLE. The links can then be tailored to the needs of a particular cohort of students. There is also a helpful section on the Economics Network website that provides links to freely available data .

One obvious situation in which this can be an issue is where a student has received no training in econometrics, but has heard of ‘regression’ and perceives that no dissertation is complete without it. There may be some bright students out there who can teach themselves regression along the way and produce sensible results. But for every one such student, there are likely to be countless others who will be unable to produce coherent results. For the econometrically untrained, more modest objectives need to be set for the analysis of empirical data. However, the collection of data, and the marshalling of evidence in support (or not) of an hypothesis, is a central part of research in economics. In some cases, students may sign up for an optional course in econometrics for which they are ill-prepared. This has a doubly damaging impact, as they may fail the module as well as finding themselves no better off for the research.

Another pitfall is where a student with some econometric training collects data and runs some regressions, but is unable to produce results that are consistent with any known economic theory. Panic then sets in. Can economic theory really be so wrong? It takes confidence for a novice researcher to look at a set of seemingly meaningless results with equanimity. It may then be for the supervisor to reassure, and to point out how many possible explanations there are for seemingly contradictory results. Perhaps the data do not measure what the model demands. Perhaps a more sophisticated econometric methodology is required. Perhaps there are omitted variables. And so on. The student researcher may then need to be persuaded that it is perfectly OK to present weak results, so long as some awareness is shown that the analysis has limitations, and that there are many possible reasons for the seeming contradictions.

It is important to remind students of the key objective of the dissertation – namely, to showcase what they have assimilated during their degree programme. If they can show competence in applying economic analysis and (perhaps) econometric techniques in a topic area of their choice, then they are on their way to a reasonable mark. They will not be submitting their dissertation to Econometrica .

‘The secret of happiness lay in limiting the aspirations.’ Thomas Hardy in The Woodlanders .

Students who have spent most of their undergraduate careers solving problems and tackling exercises are likely to need specific help in constructing a coherent argument through continuous prose and appropriate structuring of material. Furthermore, the dissertation will require them to move beyond the descriptive to analysis and evaluation. These are also key skills that may only be developed through the dissertation in many economics undergraduate programmes.

There are several guides available providing advice to students on how to structure a report on a piece of economic research (e.g. Neugeboren (2005); Greenlaw (2006) ).

A typical structure

Introductionpose an interesting question or problem
Literature reviewsurvey the literature on your topic
Methods/dataformulate your hypothesis and describe your data
Resultspresent your results with the help of graphs and charts
Discussioncritique your method and/or discuss any policy implications
Conclusionssummarise what you have done; pose questions for further research

From Neugeboren (2005)

Students need further guidance to keep an appropriate balance between the key components. The temptation is to use up too many words in the early sections in introducing the topic and describing the background. This is especially tempting in relation to some projects. For example, a student investigating a question in the context of a particular country may begin by describing the economic conditions of that country, so that the report comes to resemble something more appropriate for economic history or geography than economics. On the other hand, there may be a temptation to take some of the economic analysis for granted, thus missing the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of economic analysis and thereby showcasing their skills to the examiner. This question of knowing what to include and what to omit is a tricky one, and an area in which supervisors will need to be ready to offer guidance. Another challenge is for students to be evaluative and analytic, going beyond description.

At the outset, students often find it intimidating to launch themselves on writing an 8,000 or 10,000 word report. It is important to find a way of overcoming this. One way is to encourage students to draw up a chapter plan at an early stage. This could be based on the general pattern set out above, with the students being asked to draft a few sentences describing the intended content of each chapter, and a target word count. This has the advantage of breaking the overall task into a sequence of shorter pieces of work, which may be less intimidating. Making some examples of previous dissertations available for students to consult may also be helpful, as they are able to see what can be achieved, as well as getting a feel for how to structure a long report.

Make sure there is no ambiguity about the deadline for submission and the penalties for missing it.

Another danger point comes at submission time. Be clear about the conditions under which an extension might be granted and how and whether this might be authorised. In addition, be clear about the conditions in which an extension will not be granted. For example, you might want to be explicit that extensions will not be granted for frivolous reasons or because ‘my computer crashed’. There are good reasons for being strict about this. One of the skills that students derive from producing a dissertation is project management. Meeting deadlines will give students the opportunity to practise time management. A student who does not understand the need to keep back-up copies of files will have a rude awakening in the world of work. Furthermore, a student granted an extension is likely to find that there are knock-on effects in terms of exam preparation.

Assessment is a crucial part of the dissertation process and entails a number of problematic issues.

It is important that students have a clear idea of what is expected of them in producing a dissertation. Unlike the problem sets and exercises that characterise much of assessment in economics, there cannot be a specific mark scheme for the dissertation. However, it is possible to provide a set of grade descriptors designed for the dissertation, showing the characteristics that markers will be looking for in allocating marks to the final product. This helps in forming student expectations and provides transparency. A sample set of descriptors is available in Appendix 3 . These descriptors can be tailored to local requirements. Asking markers to highlight a copy of the descriptors for each student being assessed indicating how well they have performed on each aspect is a good way of reaching comparability of standards across markers, and providing feedback to students afterwards.

There is no universal agreement that this approach is desirable. It has been argued that marking to descriptors enforces too much conformity and inhibits markers from examining with their own personal and professional judgement. However, this may be an argument for framing the descriptors in such a way that they are not overly prescriptive, but yet identify the intended outcomes on which the assessment of the dissertation should be based. When large numbers of students are involved, it may be that personal and professional judgement has to be harnessed in order to ensure equity in treatment.

Another way of trying to manage student expectations is through some element of peer- or self-assessment – not necessarily as part of the summative assessment. For example, students could be encouraged to evaluate a fellow student’s research proposal or presentation. Alternatively, a self-assessment checklist could be required as part of the dissertation submission, itemising key aspects of the dissertation. A sample self-assessment form is available through the Appendices .

Students may also gain confidence in their work if some portion of the summative assessment is derived from interim pieces of work, such as the research proposal, a presentation or library skills project. This can also incentivise students to manage their time and receive feedback on how they are progressing.

Achieving consistency in assessment is challenging, especially where the number of dissertations to be marked is large so that marking has to be spread between a relatively large number of staff members. Consistency is also difficult because of the wide range of dissertation topics that is possible. The use of descriptors can help here, as they are cast in general terms that do not vary across topics. The danger is that some markers will be more diligent than others in giving marks based on the descriptors. At department level, this could be monitored by constructing a spreadsheet to compare mean marks (and the standard deviation) for each pair of markers. This may help to reassure external examiners that marking has been carefully undertaken — as well as ensuring equality of treatment for students.

The nature of the dissertation is such that it is difficult to maintain anonymity in the marking, so this is one type of assessment where double-blind marking must be retained, rather than some form of sample moderation process.

Where the economics dissertation can be taken by both single honours students and those following joint honours, it is important for markers to be aware of what is reasonable for particular students to produce. A politics and economics student should not be penalised for avoiding econometric work, nor should a single honours economics student be penalised for lacking background in political science.

One of the issues on which practice varies between universities is the question of whether the supervisor should or should not be one of the markers of the dissertation. Some argue that the supervisor should be excluded from the assessment process in order to ensure independence of the marking, whereas others argue that the supervisor is able to identify the extent to which the student had received assistance as part of the supervisory process. Consistency may be more likely where marking is organised to mix up the pairings of first and second markers.

Given the ubiquity of the internet, it has become impossible to discuss undergraduate dissertations without also discussing the greater opportunities for student plagiarism. The internet provides students with access to a vast range of material, and anecdotal evidence suggests that many students arrive at university with at best a sketchy understanding of methods of scholarship and standards of academic integrity.

Inculcating a sense of what constitutes academic integrity at an early stage in the degree programme is critical. This approach – stressing that there are expected standards for student work – is to be preferred to instructing students simply to ‘avoid plagiarism’. The notion of avoiding plagiarism is almost tantamount to telling students not to get caught, whereas setting expected standards is a more positive tack to take.

The importance of academic integrity is reflected in the fact that there is a whole chapter in this Handbook by Jeremy Williams devoted to the topic. The detail of this discussion will not be repeated here, where the focus will be on academic integrity in the dissertation.

Jeremy Williams identifies three types of plagiarist. The ‘lazy plagiarist’ takes the work of another author and puts his or her own name to it, and may use a ‘cheat’ site in order to purchase a dissertation or part thereof. The ‘cunning plagiarist’ uses the work of another author or authors, but changes things sufficiently to avoid detection. ‘Cut-and-paste’ characterises this approach. The ‘accidental plagiarist’ does not even realise that they are plagiarising – for example, they may have taken notes on a journal article in the early stages of their research without realising that they were simply noting down the original author’s words. They then construct their dissertation from those notes. In some cases, students from a Confucian tradition may believe that in reproducing the words of the experts they are paying them a compliment, and may find it culturally difficult to criticise or even amend what has been printed in a textbook. The use of anti-plagiarism software will throw up examples of all three types.

In the email survey of UK economics departments, most made use of TurnitinUK as a way of identifying whether plagiarism has taken place. The convenience of this is that a dissertation submitted via a VLE can be automatically screened for overlap with TurnitinUK’s growing database. The disadvantage is that the output produced by the software requires very careful interpretation. The software produces a Similarity Index (SI), which quantifies the degree of overlap with material in the database. A high SI does not necessarily indicate plagiarism, but it does help to highlight which dissertation submissions are suspicious.

An important practical point to remember is that when students submit their dissertation they should not only be asked to sign a declaration stating that the work is their own, but also that they understand what is meant by academic integrity and that their dissertation will be checked by TurnitinUK.

Sample declaration for students to sign on submission:

I understand that by signing the declaration below, I have read and accepted the following statements:

  • I have read and understood the University’s Academic Integrity Statement for Students, including the information on practice to avoid given the Statement and that in the attached submission I have worked within the expectations of this Statement.
  • I am aware that failure to act in accordance with the Academic Integrity Statement for Students may lead to the imposition of penalties which, for the most serious cases, may include termination of the programme.

I consent to the University copying and distributing any or all of my work in any form and using third parties (who may be based outside the EU/EEA). This may include the use of anti-plagiarism software (e.g. TurnitinUK) to verify whether my work contains plagiarised material, and for quality assurance purposes.

Perhaps more valuable than its diagnostic properties is the deterrent value of TurnitinUK. The very fact that all dissertations are to be screened may encourage students to take care in their work. If this does not suffice, then a practical demonstration may be effective.

Encouraging good academic practice

Find a brief paper written by a member of staff in the department and submit it to TurnitinUK. Then hack the article about. Include some quotations (some with, some without quotation marks), paraphrase some passages, introduce some new material. Submit the revised version to TurnitinUK.

Arrange a session for all students writing a dissertation, and show them the TurnitinUK output on the amended version. Let them see what we see as examiners. Point out the key examples of bad practice that we can readily recognise.

This exercise can have a dramatic effect. In one academic year, I (as the School’s Academic Integrity Officer) had to investigate 10 breaches of academic integrity in economics dissertations. Penalties were imposed in all cases. The following year, having demonstrated the examiner’s eye view of the TurnitinUK output, not one single case emerged.

More difficult to detect is where students commission a third party to produced their dissertation for them – either to order, or off the peg from subscription websites. TurnitinUK may or may not identify these cases, although I have known one case where the dissertation that had been purchased was picked up because some paragraphs from it were used as an advert on the website, and were thus caught by TurnitinUK. The risks of being caught may be lower for this form of cheating – but the penalties are likely to be more severe.

An important part of the fight for academic integrity is to make sure that all supervisors are familiar with your university’s procedures for dealing with breaches of academic integrity, and with how to interpret the TurnitinUK output. This is a key part of ensuring consistency in supervision and equity of treatment across students. It is wise to make sure that the general principles of academic integrity are covered in joint sessions to all students, rather than this being left as part of the responsibility of the individual supervisor. Student handbooks also need to carry clear guidance on your institution’s policies and procedures.

More discussion on academic integrity may be found in the Handbook chapter by Jeremy Williams and the more recent chapter by Carlos Cortinhas .

If it is accepted that all honours students should be exposed to ‘current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in the discipline…’ (QAA), then can the dissertation be avoided?

It could be argued that if we provide research-led teaching , then this in itself ensures that students will fit the bill in terms of exposure to research. But what do we mean by ‘research-led teaching’? Does it mean that academic staff are given the opportunity to teach in their specialist research areas? Is that enough? How do we ensure that students engage with this process? If we cannot be sure about the answer to these questions, then is the dissertation the only solution?

To some extent, a research-led approach can be embedded within the normal curriculum. Modules can be designed in such a way as to enhance the students’ ability to develop critical and evaluative thinking skills and thereby support and promote independent learning. This approach can be reinforced by a research-led approach to assessment and may be most straightforward in econometric or other quantitative methods modules, where students can be required to find, analyse and interpret their own data. A similar approach can be adopted for other modules. A development economics module can require students to prepare a report on a particular country; students could be required to evaluate a recent report from the CMA . Such exercises can encourage and engender a sense of discovery and engage students in a reflective and self-critical process. There is much more discussion or undergraduate research in economics in KimMarie Goldrick’s chapter in this Handbook .

An alternative approach would be to run a seminar or tutorial-based module, in which students are required to provide critical evaluation of recent research, probably through the vehicle of appropriate journal articles. This sort of exercise can also provide students with the opportunity to develop their presentation skills, and could be part of a module that also includes sessions on aspects of research in economics. Such presentations could be given in a quasi-conference setting, if the number of students permits.

A well-organised dissertation can be the most rewarding part of the student experience. However, this may require careful thought and planning if it is not to turn into a nightmare. Here are some key points to remember as the dissertation life-cycle unfolds:

  • Think about how research training will be provided
  • Ensure that students are guided towards a feasible topic
  • Be aware of the legislative context
  • Give early rules on word length
  • Manage student and supervisor expectations of the supervisory process
  • Look for a coherent way of allocating students to supervisors
  • Set intermediate targets to prevent students leaving too much to the last minute
  • Be aware of data issues
  • Provide guidance in terms of how to structure a dissertation
  • Offer clear guidelines for the assessment process, so that students know what is expected of them
  • Be unambiguous in setting deadlines and the rules for extensions
  • Explain academic integrity and monitor adherence

Students can benefit greatly from undertaking a dissertation. The process can capture their interest and give them confidence to engage in independent work. The finished product can be used to sell their abilities to potential employers, by showcasing their skills. Supervisors can add to the experience by making sure that students are aware of these benefits. Furthermore, students often enjoy their dissertation work.

Greenlaw, S. A. (2006) Doing Economics: A guide to carrying out economic research. Boston: Houghton Miffin. ISBN 9780618379835

Neugeboren, R. (2005) The Student’s Guide to Writing Economics. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415701235

"Doing a dissertation" in the 'Studying economics' section of the Economics Network website.

If you Google 'dissertations in economics' you will find many websites that claim to provide help and guidance. Some of these will be helpful to students e.g. the guide by Paul Dudenhefer ; other links take you to guides provided by various Universities for their students. However, care is needed here, as students may also find offers from tutors prepared to write their dissertations at a price...

Other chapters in the Handbook for Economics Lecturers augment this guide. In particular:

KimMarie McGoldrick, Undergraduate Research in Economics

Jeremy B. Williams, Plagiarism: Deterrence, Detection and Prevention

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Topics for master's theses

Topics for master's theses.

The Department of Economics would like to present the following ideas for topics:

  • Department of Economics
  • MSC in Economics and Business Administration
  • Master's thesis
  • Apply for master's thesis supervisor

Behavioural Economics

Do you feel lucky, punk.

Background:

High-achieving persons often attribute part of their success to luck – that is, exogenous events outside their own control. Random events have been shown to play a decisive role in shaping people’s life trajectories. However, people may also differ in what they infer from the same objective outcome, which could have repercussions for their long-term financial success. In this master thesis, students will get the chance to conduct an economic experiment to shed light out on why some people feel lucky: is it because they are overly optimistic about the frequency of lucky events, or because they neglect unlucky events? The thesis will then explore how these personal traits correlate with basic economic preferences, personal characteristics, and real investment behavior.

Key references: 

Kaufman (2018), “The Role of Luck in Life Success Is Far Greater Than We Realized”, Scientific American

Profile: ECN, ECO, BUS, FIN, STR

Supervisor: Mathias Ekström

Paying with money or paying with personal data

During the last years concerns have been raised regarding the business model of several tech companies, which base their revenues on advertisements from third parties in exchange of customers’ personal data. From a consumers’ perspective, an important question behind this growing debate is how to quantify a price on personal data. Do consumers attach the same value to their personal data as they do to money? Is it even possible to put a price on your personal data? Previous literature has found a mismatch between willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to accept (WTA) the sharing of personal information, but understanding behind this gap has not been fully explored. This master thesis project should conduct experiments to study a trade-off between paying with money and paying with personal data. In particular, it should explore potential explanations that could explain the mismatch between WTP and WTA of privacy.

Key references:

Acquisti, Alessandro, Leslie K. John, and George Loewenstein (2013). “What is privacy worth?.” The Journal of Legal Studies 42.2, 249-274.

Winegar, A. G. and C. R. Sunstein (2019). “How much is data privacy worth? A preliminary investigation.” Journal of Consumer Policy 42(3), 425–440.

Brynjolfsson, E. and Collis, A. (2019). “How Should We Measure the Digital Economy?”

Harvard Business Review, 97(6): 140-48. doi: 10.1257/aer.20170491

Collect your own data either by conducting an experiment on the online labor market Amazon Mechanical Turk or by doing a survey experiment.

Supervisors: Researchers from FAIR and Telenor Research.

UNDERSTANDING PATERNALISM

The extent to which it is acceptable to restrict the freedom of individuals in order to promote their own best interest is at the core of much political debate about the relationship between the state and its citizens: Should the state institute mandatory retirement savings, require motorcyclists to wear helmets or refuse to enforce certain types of contracts? Questions about the legitimate role of paternalism are also important in many interpersonal relationships, in particular between parents and their children, and people’s views on these matters may be of great importance for understanding their willingness to accept inequality in society. The master thesis project should conduct experiments to study a person’s willingness to reduce another individual’s freedom in order to promote that individual’s best interests. For example by studying how the willingness to act paternalistically depends on the characteristics of the individuals whose freedom is being restricted, such as how well informed they are, their competence, and their age.

Julian Le Grand & Bill New (2015): Government Paternalism: Nanny State or Helpful Friend? Princeton University Press, 2015

Suitable for profiles:   ECO, ECN, STR, INB, ENE

Supervisor: Alexander W. Cappelen

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL PREFERENCES: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FROM INTERNATIONAL PILOTS

We are seeking master students who would like to write their master thesis as part of a project on the development of fairness preferences. The project is a collaboration between FAIR professors Alexander W. Cappelen and Bertil Tungodden.

We have recruited children from kindergartens and schools in Bergen to take part in a lab experiment we are implementing in September 2018. We have also collected comparable data for adults from Norway and Shanghai as well as for children from kindergartens and schools in Shanghai.

Almås, Cappelen, Sørensen and Tungodden (2010): “Fairness and the Development of Inequality Acceptance”, Science 328(5982): 1176–1178. (2) Almås, Cappelen, Salvanes, Sørensen and Tungodden (2017): “Fairness and family background”, Philosophy, Politics and Economics 16(2) 117-131. (3) Cappelen, List, Samek and Tungodden (2016): “The Effect of Early Education on Social Preferences”, NBER Working Paper No. 22898.

Suitable for:

NHH master students who are interested in helping to implement pilot experiments internationally during the fall and in writing their master thesis as part of the project are welcome to send an e-mail to Adriana Condarco-Quesada. It should include your name, your CV and a short note on why you would like to write your master thesis on this subject. Please also send any questions you might have regarding the project to Adriana.

Supervisor:   Bertil Tungodden

The role of the telco industry towards screen addiction

In the context of conducting fair business practices, a relevant question in the telecommunication industry is whether telco companies should allow and push for unlimited internet data usage. The particular issue at stake is whether providing unlimited data package would push consumers into increasing their social media use and their phone in general, and consequently increasing screen addiction. Telco companies obviously gain by costumers using more their phones. However, this issue raises ethical considerations regarding overdose and potential addiction consequences, which may eventually backfire on the companies’ long term profitability. The master thesis project should conduct experiments or surveys to gather information about people’s perspective on the role of telco companies towards screen use. In particular, it should focus on understanding the view on companies’ interventions when the consumer lacks the will power and/or intrinsic motivation to reduce his/her data consumption.

Alter, A. (2017). “Irresistible: The rise of addictive technology and the business of keeping us hooked”. Penguin.

Supervisors:  Researchers from  FAIR and Telenor Research.

WHAT DRIVES CONSUMERS TO CHANGE ELECTRICITY PROVIDER?

In markets characterized by subscription services, such as electricity, banking and telecommunications, we often find that consumers change providers or plans to a very low extent despite considerable price differences between seemingly similar (or even homogenous) products. There are many potential explanations for this phenomenon, e.g., lack of information, costs of switching, and strong preferences for particular providers. Understanding the sources of passive consumer behavior is important for both regulation, business planning, government policy and market design. We find clear signs of consumer passivity also in the Norwegian electricity retail market, and data sources available to this supervisor can allow a talented student to shed light on some of the potential channels.

von der Fehr and Hansen (2010): "Electricity Retailing in Norway", The Energy Journal 31: 25-45 (Basic reference); Hortacsu et al (2015): "Power to Choose? An Analysis of Consumer Inertia in the Residential Electricity Market", NBER Working Paper No. 20988 (Advanced reference)

Data:  Monthly data on number of subscriptions and sales (kWh) for the largest retailers within local areas will be provided by the supervisor, as well as weekly contract prices and monthly visitor statistics for the contract comparison website of the Competition Authority. Wholesale electricity prices and other useful market statistics can be gathered from Nordpool.

Suitable for profiles:  ECO, ECN, ENE, BUS, FIE, INB

Supervisor:   Morten Sæthre

Energy efficiency and electricity consumption: Drivers of green technology adoption

(Note: Theses under this topic can be eligible for an  Equinor scholarship for master theses .)

Description:

Assessments of potential savings from energy efficiency investments have suggested the existence of an "Energy Efficiency Gap"; that consumers do not undertake energy efficiency investments with even large positive returns. Though the conclusion has been hotly debated in the academic literature, we still lack a solid understanding of drivers and barriers to energy efficiency adoption, which is necessary for designing appropriate policies. Currently, most countries employ some combination of regulation and subsidies to increase energy efficiency, e.g., 100-300 mNOK in yearly Enova subsidies for households in Norway.

Under this topic, you will contribute to our understanding of green technology adoption under the supervision of one or more experienced researchers with competences targeted to different approaches and research questions. Examples of specific projects are "Inattention and green technology: Do temporary shocks to electricity prices spur adoption?", "Does increased electricity demand lead to energy efficiency investment: Evidence from electric vehicle take-up", and "Are green technology subsidies regressive?", "Constrained wallets or constrained minds: The role of mental budgeting and relative thinking in green technology investment", or "Green loans vs investment subsidies: The optimal mix". The examples are far from an exhaustive list, and we encourage you to contact us if you could see yourself writing your master thesis within this topic and want to learn more.

Hunt Allcott and Michael Greenstone (2012) "Is There an Energy Efficiency Gap", Journal of Economic Perspectives 26, pp. 3-28

Hunt Allcott (2016) "Paternalism and Energy Efficiency: An Overview", Annual Review of Economics 8, pp. 145-176

Anna Sahari (2019) "Electricity prices and consumers' long-term technology choices: Evidence from heating investments", European Economic Review 114, pp. 19-53

Electricity prices and consumption data from Nordpool and Statistics Norway, Enova subsidies, statistics on sales of efficient heating systems. It might be possible to gain access to household data given availability and project needs.

Suitable for profiles:  BUS, ECN, ECO, ENE, FIN

(Tentative) supervisor:  Samuel D. Hirshman , Harim Kim,  Eirik G. Kristiansen ,  Mateusz Mysliwski  and/or  Morten Sæthre

Development Economics

Bulk buying and poverty.

Buying in bulk is a common way that consumers use to obtain lower prices on their purchases. There is now some evidence that low income consumers are not exploiting this strategy well, despite the large potential gains. The thesis will review the issue, and use an innovative detailed dataset from India to investigate it in a new setting.

Key References:

Brian Dillon, Joachim De Weerdt, Ted O’Donoghue, Paying More for Less: Why Don’t Households in Tanzania Take Advantage of Bulk Discounts?, The World Bank Economic Review , Volume 35, Issue 1, February 2021, Pages 148–179.

Suitable for profiles:  ECN, ECO

Supervisor:  Vincent Somville

High Frequency Poverty

Poverty is typically measured at annual level. High frequency data reveals that potentially many households cross the poverty line for significant periods even if they are not poor on average on an annual basis. The thesis will investigate transitory poverty using weekly financial diaries from India.

Jonathan Morduch. Rethinking Poverty, Household Finance, and Microfinance. Forthcoming in Handbook of Microfinance, Financial Inclusion, and Development, edited by Robert Cull and Valentina Hartarska. Forthcoming.

Supervisor: Bertil Tungodden

What effect daugthers have, globally?

There is some evidence from western countries that fathering daughters changes men’s attitudes towards women in general, and can also affect the household structure.

The students will use a global data base covering dozens of countries to investigate the global effects of daughters, and how they affect the economics of families.

Washington, Ebonya L. 2008. "Female Socialization: How Daughters Affect Their Legislator Fathers." American Economic Review , 98 (1): 311-32 .

Jan Kabátek, David C Ribar, Daughters and Divorce, The Economic Journal , Volume 131, Issue 637, July 2021, Pages 2144–2170.

Economic History

Bergen as a maritime capital.

The Norwegian consultancy group Menon publishes an annual list of “The leading maritime capitals of the world”. Bergen is not included in the list of 15 cities evaluated in the report, but has been included in a longlist of 30 nominated cities that are benchmarked according to a set of 24 indicators. The aim of the thesis would be to analyze a) the basis for the ranking; and b) measures that would make Bergen a leading maritime capital.

Key literature: Menon report

Data: developed together with the supervisor

Suitable for profiles: STR, INB, BUS

Supervisor: Stig Tenold

BERGEN AS A MARITIME SERVICE PROVIDER

Bergen plays a key role as one of the leading maritime cities internationally. Bergen shipping companies have dominant positions in several markets (chemical tanker transport, open hatch bulk shipping), and there are also world-class companies in auxiliary services (in particular ship finance, insurance, ship registry). Combining historical perspectives and economic theory, the aim of the thesis would be to analyze to which extent the success of these auxiliary services is based on linkages to the local industry, and to which extent it is a result of the international orientation of the service providers themselves.

Data: Veritas, surveys developed together with the supervisor

Innovation and the patent system

Intellectual property rights are usually associated with the patent system – patents and patent laws. The relationship between patents and innovations has been studied extensively, for example how patent laws create incentives to invent, promote innovation and encourage economic growth. Historical or modern data analysis do, however, give no clear answers, and there is a potential for research that addresses several questions: Does the existence of strong patent laws encourage innovation?  What proportion of innovations is patented? Is this share constant across industries? How does patenting and licensing affect the diffusion of knowledge? Such questions have only to a limited extent been studied in a Norwegian context.

Key reference:

P. Moser, ‘Patents and Innovation: Evidence from Economic History’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 27 (1), 2013.

Patent and innovation statistics from the Norwegian Research Council (NFR) and Patentstyret. Norwegian policy documents, company annual reports.

Suitable for profiles: ECO, ECN, STR, INB, BUS

Supervisor: Bjørn L. Basberg

The gender wage gap

How large is the gender wage gap and why do we observe a gender wage gap. These are important questions that occupy economists, business operations and politicians. Students can address this question empirically by documenting the gender wage gap with international data (e.g. OECD, Eurostat, ILO) or national data sets. An interesting focus is to look at young adults or young adults in the NEET (not in education and employment) group.  It could be interesting to compare the measure across data sources and discuss differences and explanations.

There is also a new data source made available for research for young adults in developing countries which could be explored in this thesis (see Bandiera et al. (2022). Other macro-data sources that could be explored and compared across countries, demographic groups and time are found on the webpages of the OECD, Eurostat and ILO. Students could also use historical data for a thesis on this topic.

Key References: 

Bandiera, Oriana, Ahmed Elsayed, Andrea Smurra, and Céline Zipfel. 2022. "Young Adults and Labor Markets in Africa."  Journal of Economic Perspectives , 36 (1): 81-100.

Kunze, A. (2018). The gender wage gap in developed countries.  The Oxford handbook of women and the economy , 369-394.

Fields: economics, labour markets, developing countries, developed countries, empirical, econometrics

Profile: ECON

Supervisor: Astrid Kunze

Environmental & Resource Economics

Climate change in the arctic and economic activities.

The climate change is evident in the Arctic in the way of increased temperatures, decreasing ice and consequently increased accessibility. Maritime transport, fisheries and resource exploitation (mineral oil in particular) are industries that already are pushing the frontiers further north. Since the Arctic Ocean is surrounded by several national states (Canada, the United States, Russia, Norway and Denmark / Greenland), the political tension in the region has increased in a classic ‘race for property rights’ that has historic parallels. Other non-Arctic nations, China in particular, shows increased interest in the region.

There are many potential issues and questions that could be analyzed in an economic framework. What have been the recent trends, and how do businesses and stakeholders view the future? How does the government-business interaction play out in different countries involved? The climate change involves changes in both costs and benefits. How could this be modelled and analyzed?

A.S. Crépin et.al., ‘Arctic Climate Change, Economy and Society (ACCESS): Integrated Perspectives’, Ambio, Dec. (46) 2017, 341-354 and G. Eskeland and L.S. Flottorp, ‘Climate Change in the Arctic: A Discussion of the Impact on Economic Activity’, in Glomsrød et.al. (eds.), The Economy of the North, SSB, 2006.

Data: Climate change reports, government papers and statistics, business prospects.

Suitable for profiles: ECN, STR, INB, BUS.

COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES IN THE ANTARCTIC REGION

The Antarctic region has a long history of resource exploitation (sealing, whaling). Today, human activity in the region is dominated by science, but there are also industries like fisheries, tourism and bio-prospecting. Such industries have to a small extent been analyzed in an economic context and several questions are interesting to pursue. What is the economic scale of these operations? What is the economic and financial importance for the companies involved? Are management and regulatory systems sufficient?

B.L. Basberg, ‘Perspectives on the Economic History of the Antarctic Region’, International Journal of Maritime History, VO. XVIII (2), 2006,

Data: Economics and business statistics on tourism from the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and on fisheries from the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES ON TOURISM IN THE POLAR REGIONS

Polar tourism, especially ship born cruise tourism both in the Arctic and in the Antarctic has increased for many years. Business prospects and plans seem to indicate that this will continue.

There are, however, serious challenges ahead. The climate change involves increased accessibility, but also alters the unique experience that constitutes the rationale for the industry. Concerns about long travels is also a factor that creates uncertainties about future demand for such travels.

Several questions could be analyzed about this industry in an economic context. Is it possible, within a traditional business model, to create an environmental and social sustainable industry? There seems to be large future uncertainties connected both to the supply and the demand side in this market. How could that be modelled and analyzed?

M. Lamers and B. Amelung, ‘Climate Change and its Impact for Cruise Tourism’ in M. Lück et. al. (eds), Cruise Tourism in Polar Regions. Promoting Environmental and Social Sustainability? London 2010, p. 147-165.

Data:  Climate change reports, statistics and reports from the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), tour operator plans and annual reports.

Suitable for profiles: ECN, STR, INB, BUS

Reflections of climate change: suffering and regret

With increasing consumption and production of many goods and services, the humanmade effects on climate change are getting bigger and bigger. For some activities the potential effects are well-known, such as plastic taking at least 400 years to dissolve completely in the nature. For some other activities the effects can be ambiguous and unknown to the consumers, such as the impact of an e-mail box size on the environment. When there is ambiguity about the consequences of their actions, people may suffer from both the direct effects of climate change and the regret from contributing this. The master thesis project should investigate regret and regret aversion when making decisions have potential consequences for the climate. Treatment variation could be driven by using manipulated regret lotteries for consumption (or digital) decisions.

Imas, A., Lam´e, D., Wilson, A. J. (2020). Reversals between one-shot and repeated decisions in incentive design: the case of regret. Mimeo

Robinson, P. J., Botzen, W. J. (2018). The impact of regret and worry on the threshold level of concern for flood insurance demand: Evidence from Dutch homeowners. Judgment and Decision Making , 13(3), 237-245.

Volpp, K. G., John, L. K., Troxel, A. B., Norton, L., Fassbender, J., Loewenstein, G.

(2008). Financial incentive–based approaches for weight loss: a randomized trial. Jama , 300(22), 2631-2637.

Zeelenberg, M., Pieters, R. (2007). A theory of regret regulation 1.0. Journal of Consumer Psychology , 17(1), 3-18.

Collect your own data either through a survey experiment or by conducting an online experiment on a crowdsourcing platform.

Firms & Ethics

Diversity in firms, top leadership, financial and technology sector.

Societies and firms increasingly become diverse in terms of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, language background, age. Gender imbalances are particularly pronounced when we look at top leadership, but also sectors such as the financial and technology sector. But the goal of firms of increasing diversity is not restricted to gender balance, but also other demographic characteristics such as age, ethnic background etc.

Equality is high on the political agenda and more and more firms acknowledge that in order to recruit the best workers they need to make diversity and inclusive worklife part of their strategic goals. Firms increasingly integrate gender equality and business ethics as part of their corporate management strategy.

A masterthesis in this area can be an empirical thesis where students assemble or collect novel data that allow to measure diversity in firms and policies that firms design to increase diversity. Students could measure corporate social responsibility along various dimensions and investigate whether such policies do lead to improved firm performance. Students could also study in their thesis more conceptually why firms care about diversity.

Depending on the study profile of the student this thesis can focus on financial outcomes, socio-economic outcomes, careers or theory and empirical methods.

SNF database merged with other data (for Norway)

Orbis database (for international study)

Suitable for profiles: ECON, STR, BUS, FIN

Do business organisations in Europe use diversity and inclusive worklife policies?

I am looking for master's students who collect data from business organisations in Europe, a sample or as many as possible,  to measure whether business organisations D&I policies (e.g. a webpage) and what policies they have. This thesis can take different forms depending on the interests and skills of the students. The thesis could take a focus on the discussion what D&I are, how to categorize those and then how to measure the outcomes of interest. The collection of the data demands a plan how to collect these data (manually from webpages, scaping, or other methods). The thesis may have the design of the data collection as the main part, hand-collection of data or developing an algorithm. Students may also use the plan if there is time to collect a small sample. The most ambitious plan is to collect a large sample that may be merged with other data. If the latter part is the main part, the literature overview of D&I and the more conceptual discussion may be shorter. Instead there could be some empirical descriptive analysis part of the thesis. This thesis leaves a lot of space for the students to find their own focus matching with their interests.

References:

Hospido, L., Laeven, L., & Lamo, A. (2019). The gender promotion gap: evidence from central banking.  The Review of Economics and Statistics , 1-45.

Kalev, A., Dobbin, F., & Kelly, E. (2006). Best practices or best guesses? Assessing the efficacy of corporate affirmative action and diversity policies.  American sociological review ,  71 (4), 589-617.

Fields: organisations, labour markets, equality, diversity in firms, empirical

Profiles: ECON, STR, FOR

Do universities in Europe have diversity and inclusive worklife policies

I am looking for master's students who collect data from universities in Europe, a sample or as many as possible,  to measure whether universities and economic faculties in Europe have D&I policies (e.g. a webpage) and what policies they have. This thesis can take different forms depending on the interests and skills of the students. The thesis could take a focus on the discussion what D&I are, how to categorize those and then how to measure the outcomes of interest. The collection of the data demands a plan how to collect these data (manually from webpages, scaping, or other methods). The thesis may have the design of the data collection as the main part. Students may also use the plan if there is time to collect a small sample. The most ambitious plan is to collect a large sample  that may be merged with other data on representation of women among Professors in Economics. If the latter part is the main part, the literature overview of D&I and the more conceptual discussion may be shorter. Students could collect data on universities overall, or focus on departments of Economics, or Engineering or other fields. This thesis leaves a lot of space for the students to find their own focus matching with their interests.

Auriol, E., Friebel, G., Weinberger, A., & Wilhelm, S. (2022). Underrepresentation of women in the economics profession more pronounced in the United States compared to heterogeneous Europe.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ,  119 (16), e2118853119.

Profiles : ECON, STR, FOR

Supervisor : Astrid Kunze

Firm behaviour, recruitment and personnel policies

I am looking for masterstudents who are interested to work together with a firm and evaluate certain firm policies and personnel data. The thesis may require designing a survey, preparing confidential data, analysing data collected by the firm. Topics may be on performance evaluation, recruitment, careers, firm performance, accounting. The students could also come with their own ideas.

If students have interest or an idea please get in touch early in the process of planning the masterthesis.

Data: They will be prepared together with the supervisor.

Suitable for profiles:  ECON, BUS, ECN, FIN, STR

Supervisor:   Astrid Kunze

Who should get internet?

Background: 

Access to broadband internet has been found to increase employment and wages, labour productivity, financial technology and banking, education, among other things. A question that still needs to be answered is how to evaluate the expansion of broadband internet in developed countries, where penetration rates are already very high. For example, in Norway 11% of the population does still not have access to internet broadband. A recent public debate has raised the issue on whether the Norwegian government should step in and extend the coverage to the entire population. The master thesis project should investigate people’s perspectives on broadband expansion in Norway. It should, for example, elicit the willingness to pay for (fast) broadband and evaluate different scenarios in a cost and benefit analysis of a potential public investment. Moreover, based on previous evidence that connectivity can enable higher economic productivity, the project could explore whether resources for the broadband expansion should be allocated to all the uncovered areas or whether they should only focus on the most productive areas with more growth potential.

Akerman, Anders, Ingvil Gaarder, and Magne Mogstad (2015). ”The skill complementarity of broadband internet.” The Quarterly Journal of Economics 130.4 : 1781-1824.

M. Bhuller, T. Havnes, E. Leuven and M. Mogstad (2013). “Broadband Internet: An Information Superhighway to Sex Crime?” Review of Economic Studies , 80, 1237-1266.

International Trade & Globalization

How are global value chains affected by the pandemic and recent geopolitical events.

An important aspect of the trends towards more globalisation since the turn of the century, has been the increasing importance of ever more complex (global) supply chains in many industries. The unprecedented technological development in information and communication technology (ICT), combined with more integrated markets and reduced transportation and transaction costs, have made it both technically feasible and economically profitable to split the production process and produce parts and components in various parts of the world. This is often called global value chains (GVC).

From the beginning of the corona pandemic, spring 2020, it became clear that many of these supply chains are very vulnerable to market disruptions, be it in production in various regions or in transportation and international infrastructure. Supply shortages and long delivery times for key components and products have had a significant negative impact on firms and industries in all parts of the world, and many firms have had to reconsider their global value chains.

The present geopolitical situation adds to the pressure on supply chains and exposes the vulnerability of relying on certain sources of raw material and key parts and components in various industries.

Possible approaches:

Given the general picture above, several master thesis topics are possible, depending on the interests of the students. Here are some suggestions:

  • Choose an industry (or a firm) and study how the global supply chains in that industry developed before the pandemic and how they have changed recently.  Assess how the pandemic and the geopolitical situation have affected the situation and what the future development might be.
  • Choose several industries and compare their development over time both before and during the pandemic.  
  • There could also be room for a more theoretical thesis, perhaps with examples from various industries, in which the basis for growing GVC-trade over a long period is analysed, followed by a discussion of why and how the recent events have had such a negative impact in GVCs, and what the future development may be. 

Possible majors:   ECN, ECO, BUS, STR (depending on the focus of the thesis)

Possible supervisors:   Linda Orvedal , Jan I. Haaland or other faculty members from the Department of Economics

How will BREXIT and the new trade agreements affect Norway and Norwegian industry?

The UK decision to leave the EU (BREXIT) will have implications not only for the UK and the EU, but also for other countries.  After a long period of debate and negotiations, the UK and the EU agreed on the new “Trade and Cooperation Agreement” on the 24 th December 2020.  The agreement has been in place since 1 st January 2021, although parts of it is still debated.  In June 2021 Norway, together with the other EEA countries (Iceland and Liechtenstein), agreed on a free-trade agreement with the UK.

Both the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU and the new free-trade agreement between the UK and the EEA countries will have profound implications for trade between the UK and Norway, for many reasons.  First, the UK is an important trading partner for Norway, for goods and services, as well as when it comes to investments and mobility of labour.  All of this have been affected by Brexit, even if new agreements are in place. Secondly, through the European Economic Area (EEA) Norway is part of the EU single market, but not part of the EU Customs Union. Hence, the UK’s departure from the EU customs union will have implications for Norway’s trade both with the EU and the UK.  And thirdly, Brexit has initiated a new discussion about the EEA (EØS) agreement in Norway; hence the implications may be even more serious. 

Approach:  

There could be many interesting ways of approaching the question of how BREXIT may affect Norway and Norwegian industry. One approach could be to take a general national view and discuss possible implications of BREXIT and the new trade agreements for overall trade and economic interactions between the UK and Norway. Another approach could be to select a particular industry and study the possible implications for that industry. And a third option could be to focus on the implications of a possible future change in the trade relations between the EU and Norway. All three approaches would need a good combination of theoretical understanding of trade agreements and possible future trade regimes, and empirical observations and analysis of the actual trade relations between the two countries.

Standard international economics textbooks for the understanding of trade policies and trade agreements.  www.wto.org for more specific information about the multilateral trade system and regional trade agreements. For BREXIT the literature is evolving constantly.  A good source is UK Trade Policy Observatory ( https://blogs.sussex.ac.uk/uktpo/ ) with many blogs and reports on recent developments.  When it comes to the new trade agreement between Norway and the UK, there are so far few independent analyses of possible consequences, but official information about the agreement is given on the governments’ webpages: Norwegian Government: https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/inngar-historisk-frihandelsavtale-med-storbritannia/id2857147/   UK Government’s: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/united-kingdom-signs-free-trade-deal-with-norway-iceland-and-liechtenstein

Data: Industrial characteristics and trade data.

Possible majors: ECN, INB

Possible supervisors: Jan I. Haaland and Linda Orvedal

Sustainability and global value chains

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) cover a number of areas of great importance for both national and multinational companies, and many companies use the SDGs both in their strategies and in marketing as something they will contribute to.  Areas like decent work and economic growth (SDG8), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG9), responsible consumption and production (SDG12), climate action (SDG13) all have direct links to companies, but the same is true for most of the SDGs. For some key areas, like human rights and labour conditions, there are also more specific international agreements and rules that companies are obliged to adhere to.

A key feature of international business today, is the reliance on global value chains (GVC for short, also called global supply chains), where the final products are made up of parts and components produced by a number of suppliers and sub-suppliers in different parts of the world.  Some of these GVCs are very complex, and it is not easy for the companies to keep track of the whole supply chain.  Yet, the companies’ responsibility to adhere to national and international rules, as well as their commitment to contribute to the SDGs, cover not only their own parts of the production process, but the whole supply chain.

How do multinationals go about to keep track of their GVC and to ensure that their obligations and commitments to e.g. human rights, labour conditions and/or environment issues are fulfilled throughout the supply chain?

There could be several approaches to this research question, depending on the students’ interest.  One possibility is to choose an industry or a firm and try to map the situation for that industry/firm.   Another possibility could be to start out with international rules and regulations in one or a few areas (e.g. human rights, or climate emissions) and to study how various industries relate to the regulations and how this affects their global value chains.   

Possible majors:   ECN, ENE, BUS, STR (depending on approach)

The war in Ukraine – implications for key markets in Europe and globally

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has affected the European and world economy in many ways. Energy and food markets have been disrupted with huge implications for both Europe and the rest of the world, but other markets have also seen significant changes due to the war. The market implications follow directly from the fact that the war prevents Ukraine from producing and exporting many products, as well as from the economic sanctions towards Russia and the Russian reactions.  Although the immediate and short-term effects have been huge, it is still too early to say what the longer-term effects may be.

Two possible approaches: 

  • Choose an industry/product, study how the war has affected the international markets for that industry so far, and try to assess how the future development may be.
  • Look at the broader picture and assess how various international markets have been affected and what the future development may by. 

Possible majors:   ECN, ECO, ENE (depending on approach)

Labour Economics

Do flexible pay schemes explain the rise of wage inequality.

In most developed countries, wage inequality has increased in the last decades. A popular explanation is that it is increasingly common to have pay set at the worker rather than at the sectoral level. This leaves more room for wage negotiations, potentially driving labor market inequality. This master thesis aims to assess the role of flexible pay setting in developing wage inequality using unique data on workers’ pay components (e.g., overtime, bonuses). You will have access to microdata for 25 European countries (SES data) to implement your analysis. 

Lemieux, Thomas, MacLeod, W Bentley and Parent, Daniel. 2009. "Performance Pay and Wage Inequality" The Quarterly Journal of Economics , 124 (1): 1-49.

Profile:  ECON

Supervisor: Antoine Bertheau

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LABOUR MARKETS

Despite the fact that great gender convergence in employment is observed in labour markets, large gender differences remain. Women earn 16 per cent on average less in terms of hourly wages than men in the EU. Women also work in very different occupation and industries than men. True, if we compare men and women in the same job and in the same firm, we find very small wage differences; however, very few men and women work in the same job in the same firm. There are many more differences in labour markets between men and women which invites to important research questions suitable for a masterthesis. You could look for questions related to graduates in economics and business administration (use data from NHH. e.g.). You could study questions at the national level for Norway or another country, or internationally. International evidence is very important to learn and valuable to your career if you work, for example, in a company that does trade with EU and the world. Germany is a country important to learn about, since it is one of the main trading partners of Norway, followed by the UK etc.

•   SIAB (German register data, employer-employee matched panel, 1975-2015

•   SOEP (Socio Economic Panel for Germany, 1984-2016)

  • Mikrodata.no at NSD provides access to the Norwegian register data

•    NHH annual graduate survey

Suitable for profiles:  ECN, FIN, STR

HOW DID THE INTERNET CHANGE THE CHANNELS OF JOB SEARCH?

People that search for a job have several options to find it: read newspapers, go to employment agencies, browse the web and mobilize their local networks of friends and relatives. Networking has increasingly become important for job search. Social networks are an important source of information in the labor market and many workers find jobs through friends and relatives. On the other hand, an increasing number of people use the Internet to look for new jobs. One reason online job search has become so popular is that it has changed the search process considerably. Employment websites allow job seekers to access thousands of job offers and use intelligent filter mechanisms to find suitable vacancies.

Key references: Kuhn, P. J. and M. Skuterud (2004): “Internet Job Search and Unemployment Durations," The American Economic Review, 94, 218-232.

Data: Norwegian Labor Force Survey

Suitable for profiles:   ECO, ECN, STR, INB, BUS

Supervisor: Aline Bütikofer

Human capital, apprenticeship training, aspirations to success, early career, youth unemployment and youth labour markets

Some research has debunked the argument that job-hopping can propel a person onward and upward more rapidly than would be possible by staying in one place. In this thesis students can study and quantify mobility during the early career after first entry into the labaour market and after completion of education.  How do high achievers perform during the early career who eventually will fill top positions. Students could also analyse how women versus men’s early career looks like. Is it important to be mobile, or how long is it optimal to stay in the first job?

The thesis can focus more on firms and careers and strategic human capital or take a more labour economics and empirical methods direction.

See an example of a paper here:

Bonet, R., Cappeli, P.,  Hamori, M.  (2020). “Gender differences in speed of advancement: an empirical examination of top executives in the fortune 100 firms”.  Strategic Management Journal , Vol. 41 (4): 708-737

This project requires individual panel data on employment and wage histories.

•  SIAB (German register data, employer-employee matched panel, 1975-2015)

•  SOEP (Socio Economic Panel for Germany, 1984-2016)

•  Mikrodata.no at NSD provides access to the Norwegian register data

Suitable for profiles: ECON, BUS, ECN, FIN, STR

Labour markets, gender differences and family policy

Despite the fact that great gender convergence in employment is observed in labour markets, large gender differences remain. Women earn 16 per cent on average less in terms of hourly wages than men in the EU. Women also work in very different occupation and industries than men. True, if we compare men and women in the same job and in the same firm, we find very small wage differences; however, very few men and women work in the same job in the same firm. In addition, differentials build up over careers and these may not be reflected in cross-sectional differentials.

There is a great need for studies focusing on occupations, industries, and selected groups. Students could look for questions related to graduates in economics and business administration using data from NHH surveys.). Students could study questions on labour markets and policies fighting unfair differences at the national level for Norway or another country, or internationally (EIGE database).

International evidence on labour markets is very important to learn and valuable to your career if you work, for example, in a company that does trade with EU and the world. Labour is the main input factor to the firm. Germany is a country important to learn about, since it is one of the main trading partners of Norway, followed by the UK etc.

  • EIGE database, ILO
  • SIAB (German register data, employer-employee matched panel, 1975-2015
  • SOEP (Socio Economic Panel for Germany, 1984-2016)
  • NHH annual graduate survey

Macroeconomics

Assessing the norwegian macroeconomic policy framework.

The design of monetary and fiscal policy has moved towards a rule based framework, exemplified by the so-called Taylor rule or the “Handlingsreglene” governing the management of the oil fund in Norway. How does monetary and/or fiscal policy respond  to shocks affecting the Norwegian economy? Are the responses of macroeconomic policy stable over time. How did the economy and financial markets respond to the introduction of these rules?

Clarida, R., J. Gali and M. Gertler. (1999). The Science of Monetary Policy: A New Keynesian Perspective, Journal of Economic Literature 37(4): 1661-1707. J. Taylor (2000). Reassessing Discretionary Fiscal Policy. Journal of Economic Perspectives 14(3): 21-36.

Suitable for profiles:   ECN, ECO, FIE

Supervisor: Gernot Doppelhofer

Business Cycles and Gender

Men and women work in different sectors, which are differently susceptible to business cycle fluctuations. In the US, the stereotype is that men work in the construction sector, which is highly business cycle sensitive, while women work in the education sector, in which hours worked do not fluctuate much over the business cycle. There are also differences in the aggregate behavior of hours worked in the group of people living in one-person households and those living in couple households. Are the same patterns true in Norway as well? What could the reason be for why / why not?

Albanesi, S. and A. Şahin (2018). The Gender Unemployment Gap. Review of Economic Dynamics 30, 47–67. Olsson, J. Singles, Couples, and Their Labor Supply: Long-run Trends and Short-run Fluctuations. Working paper.

Suitable for profiles:   ECN, ECO

Supervisor: Jonna Olsson

Economic growth and the input factor labor

How much does the input factor labor account for in the national product in Norway? A Norwegian minister once said in public: Women are more worth than oil in Norway. Is that true and how can we measure the contribution over time? In this thesis students can conceptionally think about a growth model and how to measure the contribution of labour to growth and the level of production in an economy. This could include a literature survey and an overview of estimates for different countries and time periods. Then they can take the model to Norwegian data or other data to estimate the contribution. For the empirical estimations the students could explore Norwegian register data accessible on microdata at NHH. This is a sketch of the idea and the students can develop their own ideas.

Fields: macro-economics, labour economics, empirical, econometrics

Profiles: ECON

Supervisors: Astrid Kunze

How Prevalent is Downward Rigidity in Nominal Wages in Norway?

Since Keynes, macroeconomists typically assume that wages are rigid, i.e., cannot be adjusted downward. However, the empirical evidence is still scant. In Norway, we now have good data to test this assumption empirically. The master thesis would aim to assess the degree of wage rigidity using rich Norwegian administrative datasets (on firms and their employees). 

Elsby, Michael W. L, Solon, Gary (2019) How Prevalent is Downward Rigidity in Nominal Wages? International Evidence from Payroll Records and Pay Slips, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 185-201.

Suitable for profiles: ECN

Is there a Beveridge curve in the Norwegian housing market?

Originally, the Beveridge curve measures the relationship between the number of vacant positions and the number of unemployed people in the labour market. It gives expression to the existence of search frictions in this market. But the housing market is also characterised by such frictions: it takes time for a buyer to find a suitable house and for a seller to get in touch with a buyer. 

This project would consist in (i) collecting monthly data about the number of buyers searching for a house, e.g., based on data about visits during house showings, (ii) collecting data about the number of houses for sale, and (iii) estimating the relationship between both variables during the business cycle. Focus can be on the housing market for one of the larger cities in Norway.

Genvose and Han (2012) Search and matching in the housing market. Journal of Urban Economics.

Gabrovski and Ortego-Marti (2019) The cyclical behavior of the Beveridge curve in the housing market.

Gabrovski and Ortego-Marti (2022) On the slope of the Beveridge curve in the housing market.

Data: Data from eiendomnorge.no, real estate agencies

Suitable for profiles: ECN, ECO, FIN, BAN

Supervisor: Fred Schroyen

NOWCASTING AND PREDICTING THE NORWEGIAN ECONOMY

A large number of indicators have been proposed to predict the current and future state of the economy. Many macroeconomic or financial data are being reported at different points in time and some are subject to revisions. The measurement of current and future economic conditions is essential for the conduct  of macroeconomic policy, dating of business cycles and household or financial decision making . What are important factors predicting current and future economic activity and financial variables, such as exchange rates, stock prices, …?

Stock, J. and M. Watson. (1999). Forecasting Inflation. Journal of Monetary Economics v44(2): 293-335

Price changes among manufacturing firms

To understand how prices are adjusted, and why, is very important, for both consumers, firm-owners and -managers, regulators and macro economists. The typical IO question; How does a firm set the price or quantity in relation to other market participants? Macro economists: Monetary policy has only a real effect if prices (and wages) are sticky (think of the IS-LM or AD-AS models). Price adjustment costs and their nature are central for industrial organization and the macro economy. What do we know empirically about the micro behaviour of firms? Do we see some patterns in firms’ price setting? Do we observe immediate responses to demand-, technology-, and cost-shocks?

Based on survey information from Statistics Norway about product prices in the manufacturing industry, merged with register data on firms’ revenues, costs, investments, and labour demand there are several topics for empirical master theses on pricing behaviour, either seen through the lenses of an IO scholar, or a macro economist.

Data: 

As the data include highly sensitive information, it is necessary to apply for access to the data.

Suitable for profiles:  ECN

Supervisor:  Prof. Øivind A. Nilsen

The price development on the real estate market in a non-Scandinavian country

In many European countries, the housing market is characterized by soaring prices.  Is this price evolution reflecting a development in the underlying fundamentals for this market, or are actual prices and fundamentals little connected, thereby possibly indicating a price bubble?  Using quarterly data on real estate prices, this project would estimate a model for the housing market allowing for both fundamentals and error-corrections mechanisms.

Bergman and Sørensen (2021) The interaction of actual and fundamental house prices: a general model with an application to Sweden, Journal of Housing Economics 54 .

Data:  Real estate price statistics, housing stock statistics, national account data

Suitable for profiles:  ECN, ECO,FIN.

Supervisor:  Fred Schroyen

Corporate sustainability, firm performance and economic growth

Firms, consumers, investors and stakeholders more generally are increasingly informing their decisions based on  environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials. 

Policies are put in place fostering ESG reporting. Governments are implementing regulations requiring organisations to increase transparency in areas such as diversity, equal pay, carbon emissions and complying with responsible working conditions. On the 21st of April 2021, the EU commission announced the adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in line with the commitment made under the European Green Deal. The proposed directive will also entail a dramatic increase in the number of companies subject to the EU sustainability reporting requirements across the EU countries.

The hypothesis or claim is that sustainable growth is the only way to build a successful business and have a lasting impact on our environment and society. More empirical research is needed in this area and this topic area offers opportunities for mastertheses in, for example,  macroeconomics, public economics, management, finance, and resource economics.

Examples of research questions for masterthesis:

Collect data on how many firms report on ESG and make reports publicly available in Norway or the EU. Here students can focus on one aspect or a subset.

What is the quality of ESG reporting and are firms pursuing the attempted goals? E.g. what is the quality of firms’ reports on gender equality and gender diversity consistent with national statistics? Students can collect their own data for a subset of Norwegian firms and compare these to Norwegian micro-statistics or indicators based on firm-level data.

Consultancies are providing guidance and software to help firms report on ESG. An interesting thesis could contain collecting data on these and organise an overview of the work of consultancies in this area, e.g. on equality and gender diversity or environment. This material could then be critically assessed comparing it to main indicators and challenges in terms of equality and D&I.

Students interested in macroeconomics could quantify the contribution of human capital to growth and discuss the expected chances coming from ESG reporting and the transition of the economy.

Data sources and methods:

  • Firm level data collected by the students (could use hand collection, text analysis, scaping, or other methods)
  • Firm level data: SNF database, BoardEx Data
  • Regression analysis (programs STATA or R)
  • OECD data, EIGE data (on equality, wages, education, job titles)

Gillan, S. L., Koch, A., & Starks, L. T. (2021). Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance.  Journal of Corporate Finance ,  66 , 101889.

Post, C., & Byron, K. (2015). Women on boards and firm financial performance: A meta-analysis.  Academy of management Journal ,  58 (5), 1546-1571.

Miller, A. R. (2018). Women and leadership in Averett, S., & Hoffman, S. D. (Eds.). (2018).  The Oxford handbook of women and the economy . Oxford University Press.

Kunze, A. (2020): Kjønnsmessig mangfold i ledelsen" (Gender diversity in top management), Magma, No. 320, Årgang 23, 3/2020.

Fields: macroeconomics, public economics, management, finance, and resource economics

If you are interested please get in touch with Prof. Astrid Kunze, Assoc. Prof. Krisztina Molnar, or Antoine Bertheau

Microeconomics & Industrial Organization

Competition and pricing in the european airline industry.

The airline industry is comprised of large, capital-intensive firms competing on prices, availability and prices, making decisions over prices, routes to operate and fleet. Important features of competition is price discrimination, use of loyalty programs and entry in or exit from specific routes, in the face of potentially tough competition and volatile demand over the business cycle. The European and Norwegian airline industry has changed dramatically over the years, with changing technologies, travel habits, regulations, taxation and industry structure. The rise of low-cost carriers from the late 90s and early 2000s and the strategic responses of flag carriers, for instance by reducing prices in response to even merely the threat of entry has been important for the development of the industry we see today, in addition to the growing domestic, regional and international policy debates on how to handle the carbon footprint of the sector in later years.

There are many possible directions for a thesis on this topic, for instance:

  • What factors determine how an incumbent airline responds to increased threat of entry on a route?
  • How would carbon taxation influence fleet choices and competition in the industry?
  • What is the effect of loyalty programs on demand and competition?
  • Differences in price discrimination across routes and carriers: What are the main drivers?
  • Aircraft investment and the business cycle: A recipe for hysteresis?

Key literature:

Goolsbee, A. and Syverson, C. (2008) "How Do Incumbents Respond to the Threat of Entry? Evidence from the Major Airlines", Quarterly Journal of Economics, 123, pp. 1611–1633

Borenstein, S. and Rose, N. L. (1994) "Competition and Price Dispersion in the U.S. Airline Industry", Journal of Political Economy, 102, pp. 653–683

"Aviation Industry Leaders Report 2022: Recovery through Resilience", KPMG, edited by Victoria Tozer-Pennington 

Data: Data on number of passengers and prices for separate routes, airlines and ticket classes can be made available by supervisors.

Suitable for profiles: BAN, BUS, ECN, ECO, ENE, FIN

Possible supervisors: Lars Sørgard , Mateusz Mysliwski , Morten Sæthre

DO ECONOMIC BOOMS AND BUSTS AFFECT SLEEPING PATTERNS AND THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES?

Although health is usually thought to worsen when the economy weakens, substantial recent research suggests that mortality actually declines during such periods. Could this decline in mortality be explained by people enjoying more free time and more sleep during recession?

Christopher J. Ruhm (2000): “Are Recessions Good for Your Health?” The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 115 (2): 617-650.

Data: Norwegian time use survey 1971-2010

DO SMOKING POLICIES AFFECT SMOKING BEHAVIOR AND DO BETTER-EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS REACT FASTER TO POLICY CHANGES?

The strong correlation between education and health, even after controlling for income, has been recognized as a robust empirical observation in the social sciences and economic literature (Deaton and Paxson 2003; Lleras-Muney 2004). The decision to smoke or not to smoke is a conscious choice that directly affects the health status and ultimately the mortality of individuals. It therefore provides an interesting opportunity to investigate how education, by influencing behaviors, affects health outcomes.

Damien de Walque (2010): “Education, Information, and Smoking Decisions: Evidence from Smoking Histories in the United States, 1940–2000” Journal of Human Resources, 45:682-717.

Data: Norwegian smoking habit survey from 1973-2011

Suitable for profiles:   ECO, ECN, (STR, INB, BUS)

(Note: Theses under this topic can be eligible for an Equinor scholarship for master theses .)

Suitable for profiles: BUS, ECN, ECO, ENE, FIN

(Tentative) supervisor:  Samuel D. Hirshman , Harim Kim, Eirik G. Kristiansen , Mateusz Mysliwski and/or Morten Sæthre

HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN CEO PAY?

There is a widespread suspicion that top managers and other key person are overpaid. They are frequently lavishly rewarded when the firm is lucky and not penalized when the firm is unlucky. Some receive discretionary severance pay that the firms are not committed to pay. Pay structure and level seem to depend on the owner structure. There are a large set of observations that are puzzling if you believe that owners should provide cost efficient incentives to managers. The project might examine pay structure in a particular industry or across countries and compare observations with empirical predictions from analytical models.

Bebchuk, L. A. and J. M. Fried (2004) Pay without performance: The unfulfilled promise of executive compensation, Harvard University Press

Suitable for profiles: ECO, ECN, FIN

Supervisor: Eirik Gaard Kristiansen

How should we pay for drugs? Is Netflix a model?

Health plans negotiate rebates on list prices with drug companies. If the net price is sufficiently low, the health plan may decide to include the drug in their plan so that the drug is reimbursed and available for patients. The current model is that health plans pay a uniform net price per unit purchased from the drug company. Recently, there has been proposed a different payment regime – called the Netflix model. Instead of paying a uniform price, proponents of the Netflix model argue that health plans should instead pay a fixed (subscription) fee to the drug company for getting access to the drug at marginal costs (or zero costs). The argument is that two-part tariffs is more efficient given the high innovation costs and low production costs. Opponents argue that the Netflix model will extract more consumer surplus and lead to higher costs for health plans. Some countries and health plans are now testing the Netflix model, which also seems to be relevant for the new covid-19 vaccine.

Barros, P. and X. Martinez-Giralt (2012) Health economics: an industrial organization perspective. Routledge. Chapter 17

The Economist (2019): The antibiotic industry is broken. Take inspiration from the entertainment industry. Leader.

Suitable for profiles: ECN, ECO, BUS, STR

Supervisor: Kurt R. Brekke

Data:  Data from eiendomnorge.no, real estate agencies

Suitable for profiles:  ECN, ECO, FIN, BAN

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND FIRMS

We know very little about the management practices in Norway. International data have shown that great differences exist between family businesses, multinationals and that the public sector has relatively worse management practices. Questions related to measurement and comparison of management practices invite to a great number of research ideas for a master thesis. You can explore  existing data sets, and create extended data by merging additional firm level information.

Corecon. Empirical Project 6: Measuring Management Practices

Data:  World Management Survey

Suitable for profiles:  ECN, FIN, STR.

Maximum likelihood estimation of a demand system

The almost ideal demand (AID) system was developed by Deaton and Muellbauer (1980).  It specifies a household’s set of demand functions for different goods and services.  The AID system combines flexibility and consistency with theoretical properties with a specification for the demand equations that allows for tractable estimation.

However, one of the weaknesses of the AID system is that the crucial property of negativity (that compensated demand functions should always slope downwards—the “law of demand”) cannot be imposed under estimation without giving up the flexibility of the system.

To remedy this weakness, Moschini (1998) suggested incorporating the negativity property “at the mean data point”, i.e., to make sure that if the household has the average income level and faces the average prices in the dataset, then its behavior respects the “law of demand”.  While not solving the problem completely, this is a big step forward.

The purpose of the thesis would be to write a maximum likelihood estimation programme in Stata that incorporates Moschini’s restriction, and use it on household budget survey data for Norway to obtain estimates for income and price elasticities.  

Deaton A and J Muellbauer (1980) An almost ideal demand system, American Economic Review 70 , 312-336.

Moschini (1998) The semi-flexible almost ideal demand system, European Economic Review 42 , 349-364.

Data: Household budget survey data collected by Statistics Norway (SSBs Forbruksundersøkelsen 1999-2012 )

Suitable for profiles : ECO, ECN

Merger remedies: Is the cure effective in restoring competition?

Mergers that restrict competition should be stopped by competition authorities. However companies may propose remedies that reduce or eliminate the competitive harm to get the merger cleared. Such remedies can be structural or behavioral. Structural remedies imply usually that competing activity are divested to a new or existing company in the market. Behavioral remedies are usually commitments to abstain from various forms of anti-competitive behavior for a given period after the merger. Merger remedies can be a win-win in the sense that the harm to competition can be solved and otherwise profitable mergers can be carried out. However recent studies show that this instrument in merger control is inefficient in restoring competition and that mergers that are cleared with remedies tend to result in price increases after the merger. Why is that? Is the problem mainly related to behavioral remedies? Are there inherent incentive or information problems? How can merger control be improved? This project should combine theory and data. Data can be made available upon request.

Kwoka, J. (2015): Mergers, merger control and remedies: a retrospective analysis of US policy. The MIT Press.

Supervisor: Lars Sørgard

The market for gift cards

In Norway, and in many other countries, gift cards have become popular. Both firms, organisations, and private persons buy gift cards as presents during the Christmas season or on occasions like birthdays. Like money, gift cards give the recipient a wider variety of things to choose from.  At the same time, gift cards are more memorable than an envelope with cash. But gift cards come with restrictions. They can only be used in certain stores/chains of stores, and they expire after a well-defined period. For these reasons, a second-hand market for gift cards has developed. You can buy gift cards on finn.no or Ebay at a discount of their nominal value.

Offenberg, Jennifer Pate (2007) "Markets: Gift Cards", Journal of Economic Perspectives, 21, pp. 227-238. 

Data:  Data from Finn.no, "Bygavekort" Bergen

Suitable for profiles: ECN, ECO

Possible supervisors: Fred Schroyen

THE PEAK-END-RULE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The peak-end-rule says that the most memorable parts of an experience is the peak (i.e the most enjoyable period) and the end. Daniel Kahneman and co-authors have for example shown that you can make patients better off by simply extending a painful medical treatment with a more joyful period at the end. The idea of this thesis proposal is to test the peak-end theory in a relevant, high-stake, real-world environment. In particular, the aim is to combine data from e.g. the Premier League in England  with regional data on domestic violence and other offensive behavior, and test whether football fans are more upset, and therefore make more criminal acts, when their team lost because of a goal occurring in the final minutes of the game as opposed to the same nominal loss, but were the score was determined earlier in the game. The thesis will also include a replication of the paper by Card and Dahl (2011) on prospect theory and violence

Key reference: 

Card and Dahl (2011), Family Violence and Football: The Effect of Unexpected Emotional Cues on Violent Behavior, Quarterly Journal of Economics

The use of budget survey data to estimate demand functions

In many countries, the statistical office regularly carries out a household budget survey.  Such a survey documents how households allocate their budget over different commodity and service groups.  The same statistical office also constructs price indices for different consumption categories.  Using these two data sources, the project would consist in estimating a system of demand functions that describes the price and income sensitivity of the different consumption categories, and in testing the microeconomic properties of such functions.  Estimation can be carried out with existing user friendly Stata programmes.

Banks J, R Blundell and A Lewbell (1997) Quadratic Engel Curves and Consumer Demand, Review of Economics and Statistics 79 , 527-539

Data:  Household budget survey data and price indices for your country

Suitable for profiles:  ECN, ECO.

Public Economics

Four topics on challenges in the electricity markets.

There is a dramatic transition taking place in energy markets, where renewable energy is about to replace energy based on fossil fuels. In Europe coal, gas and oil is about to be replaced by renewable energy such as solar power and wind power. One challenge, though, is that the renewable energy is intermittent. For example, wind power produces for full capacity in some time periods, and have zero production in other time periods. This irregularity may lead to increased volatility in electricity prices, with very low prices when the wind is blowing and very high prices else.

In the Norwegian electricity market more than 90 % of its production of electricity comes from hydro power. In contrast to renewable energy such a wind power, hydro power is flexible since water can be stored in reservoirs. Such a flexibility is valuable, since one can reallocate production such that it produces when it is most needed. On the other hand, the total supply of energy in a hydro power system during a year is dependent on the weather. In a wet year with a lot of rain, the total production in Norway is approximately 30 % higher than the domestic consumption. However, in a dry year the domestic supply is lower than the domestic demand.

Due to a move from fossil fuels to electricity, the domestic demand is expected to increase the next years in Norway (and other countries). Unless Norway expands production substantially in the coming years, which is unlikely given the (lack of) decisions that have been made concerning new power plants, the next ten years the periods with excess supply in the Norwegian electricity market will be fewer than before.

The present crisis, with gas being decisive for the prices in the electricity market for the whole of Europe, adds to the challenges Europe is facing with the transition to renewable energy. There is at present an ongoing debate in Europe whether there is a need for a structural reform of the market design of the electricity market. Some question the coordinated system of export or imports of electricity, while others question the model where the producer with the highest costs sets the price (the so called merit order system).

  • Describe the present market design for electricity, and discuss pros and cons of the system that is used today. In particular, discuss how suitable such a system is for a future situation with much more intermittent electricity production (especially wind and solar power).
  • Consider the situation for Norway, with mostly hydro power. Discuss how Norway can gain from trade with the rest of Europe. In particular, what are the pros and cons of building more transmission lines (or scrapping some existing ones) between Norway and surrounding countries.
  • In Norway there is a rather high seller concentration in situations with bottlenecks on the transmission lines, and then markets becoming national or even smaller than that. Discuss how a producer with market power can behave in such a system, and whether there are any structural reforms that can curb any potential harmful exploitation of market power.
  • There are some large producers in the Norwegian electricity market, with water reservoirs that makes it possible to store water even from one year to another. Discuss how such a player should allocate its sales of water in order to maximize profits, and relate your predictions from theory to what you observe in this market.

Possible majors: ECN, ECO, BUS, STR (depending on the focus of the thesis)

Possible supervisors: Depending on the approach you choose, but Lars Sørgard or other faculty members from the Department of Economics

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THE NORWEGIAN INCENTIVE SCHEMES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES?

Several countries, including U.S.A., Canada and Norway, have introduced incentives to encourage the sale of electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. There is a debate over the effectiveness of these policies in achieving the desired policy goals, such as reductions in CO2 emissions. The Norwegian incentive scheme is notable for high subsidies as well as other extensive benefits, including exemption from the registration tax, free toll roads, free parking, and programs for building charging stations. More detailed knowledge about the effects of specific parts of the incentive scheme would be helpful, both to inform possible improvements of the incentive schemes, but also for planning purposes in businesses and local governments. There are several open questions regarding the effect of the rich incentive scheme. One question regards how much the different policies contribute to increasing electric vehicle sales. A related question is whether they have differential impact on which modes of transportation consumers substitute away from, e.g., whether consumers substitute away from regular cars, public transport and biking, both at the intensive and the extensive margin. A master thesis on this topic could focus on one or several specific policies and subquestions.

Fearnley et al (2015): "E-vehicle policies and incentives - assessment and recommendations", TØI report 1421/2015; Chandra et al (2010): "Green drivers or free riders? An analysis of tax rebates for hybrids vehicles", Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 60: 78-93; Holtsmark (2012): "Elbilpolitikken - virker den etter hensikten?", Samfunnsøkonomen 5: 4-11

Data: Detailed data about car ownership including some usage measures per vehicle can be provided by the supervisor, in addition to data on tollroads and charging stations.

Suitable for profiles: ECO, ECN, ENE, BUS, FIE, INB

Supervisor: Morten Sæthre

REGULATION OF FINANCIAL MARKETS: HOW CAN THE POLITICAL PROCESS PRODUCE VERY DIFFERENT REGULATIONS ACROSS COUNTRIES?

Improved financial market regulation ensure that information is widely spread and investors can trust information and contracts. However, not all parties benefit from better regulation. For example, some established firms dislike that new entrants obtain financing, demand for labour may increase which again will increase wages.  In an influential book, Rajan and Zingales describe how financial regulation across countries can be explained by political forces in favour and against better regulation. A possible project would be to discuss how strong labour unions, industry structure, openness to trade and other institutional characteristics can explain the current regulation in Norway. The project might combine insights from analytical approaches discussed in Tirole with the empirical literature discussed in the book by Rajan and Zingales.

Rajan R. G. and L. Zingales (2003), Saving capitalism from the capitalists Princeton University Press.

Tirole, J (2006) The theory of Corporate Finance, see chapter 16 on Institutions, Public Policy and the Political Economy of Finance, Princeton University Press.

TECHNOLOGY MARKETS: HOW TO (NOT) SELL TECHNOLOGIES?

The best innovators are often not the best producers. Many patented technologies with different owners need to be used together in order to produce a valuable product. Consequently, there should be a vivid market for technology transactions. However, many claim that the market is smaller than expected and not working very well. Knowhow is not easy to sell: None are willing to buy something before they have seen it, and when they have seen it (and can use it) why should they pay for it? Will the patent system solve the problem or can patenting prevent investments in new technologies. You might use Apple (or another firm) as a motivating example for a study of how firms might organize sales and purchases of technologies?

Bessen, J. and M.J. Meurer, (2008) Patent failure: How judges, bureaucrats, and lawyers put innovation at risk, Princeton University Press.

Jaffe, A. B. and J. Lerner (2004): Innovation and its Discontents: How our broken patent system is endangering innovation and progress, and what to do about it, Princeton University Press

Suitable for profiles: ECO, ECN, FIN, STR

The death of Queen Elizabeth II.-a Monetary policy shock

Queen Elizabeth II. died on 8 September 2022. The queen liked to "keep calm, and carry on" whatever happened. In contrast to this spirit, the next day Bank of England announced delaying their upcoming pre-scheduled monetary policy meeting from 15 to 22 September. The rescheduling was unexpected, i.e., an exogenous monetary policy shock. This time it was not an unexpected decision but an unexpected `lack of.` Financial markets expected a new interest rate hike. However, for a further week, interest rates stayed the same.

The thesis investigates the effect of this unexpected delay of MPC decisions on financial markets. Our method to isolate this story from other news events is to use high-frequency data in a narrow window around the announcement.

Nakamura, Emi, and Jón Steinsson. Forth- coming. “High Frequency Identification of Monetary Non-Neutrality: The Information Effect.” Quarterly Journal of Economics

Supervisors:   Markus Karlman and Krisztina Molnar  

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Economics Dissertation Topics

Microeconomics.

  • To what extent does the concentration in the industry determine individual firm profitability?
  • How does competition in the market determine corporate strategies for growth?
  • Impact of the covid pandemic on the market entry modes practised by corporations.
  • How do models of funding of non-profit organisations affect their sustainability?
  • Privatization of Public Enterprises and its implications on economic policy and development
  • Fraud and Abuse in Non-profit Organizations
  • Antitrust Practices and Market Power in the UK
  • Effect of antitrust regulations on the performance of the IT sphere in the UK
  • Antitrust regulation of horizontal mergers
  • Challenges for the industry from digitalisation
  • How changes in industrial structure affected economic growth in China?
  • How can Brexit change industrial policies in the UK?
  • Effect of covid on the entertainment industry
  • Perspectives of the alternative energy industry over the world
  • Contribution of smart materials to the development of the construction industry
  • Transformation of consumer tastes over the last two decades
  • How do local culture and mentality affect entrepreneurial behaviour and inclination to running a business?
  • How does the behaviour of single-person households differ from the behaviour of couple-based households?
  • Product life cycle in the era of digitalisation
  • Influence of IT on product development
  • Crowd funding as a driver of product development
  • How did Covid-19 affect economic inequality?
  • Dynamics of the Gini index as an indicator of income distribution
  • Forces behind income inequality in the UK
  • Is economic equilibrium attainable in the modern world?
  • How will equilibrium change after the covid-19 pandemic
  • The effect of trade liberalisation on general economic equilibrium
  • Impact of the informal sector of the economy on welfare
  • Potential consequences of the unconditional income introduction
  • Effect of covid-19 on income distribution in the UK
  • Collective decision-making in social networks
  • Collective decision making on mergers and acquisitions
  • Analysis of decision making on tourism destinations
  • How uncertainty affects decision making?
  • Career perspectives in the knowledge economy
  • The effect of covid on uncertainty in a particular market
  • Job search from the perspective of behavioural economics
  • The role of emotions in personal investing strategies
  • What drives customers to change mobile operators?

Macroeconomics

  • How do demand and supply control market forces in the UK?
  • Should the neoclassical growth model be revised in conditions of the modern world?
  • How does covid affect aggregate spending in the UK?
  • Do interest rates affect consumption in the UK?
  • Does consumption depend on the country’s currency exchange rate?
  • What industries were hit by covid most of all in terms of production?
  • Do consumer prices move synchronously in EU countries under the regime of inflation targeting?
  • What counter-cyclical measures can help to mitigate economic turmoil?
  • How do oil prices affect business activities in oil importing and oil-exporting countries?
  • How do interest rates affect investment activities?
  • Analysis of money supply in developing and developed economies
  • Is interest rates an effective instrument of inflation control in developing countries?
  • Forward Guidance as an Instrument of Monetary Policy: Experiences and Prospects
  • Does money supply influence rates of economic growth?
  • Is austerity an appropriate instrument of reducing national debt?
  • Influence of political situation on macroeconomic regulation in the UK.
  • How do macroeconomic policies affect capital structure of firms?
  • How do recommendations of international organisations (WB, WTO, IMF) affect macroeconomic policies of developing countries?
  • The use of big data in behavioural economics at the macrolevel
  • Public policy formulation through the lens of behavioural economics
  • How to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of behavioural macroeconomics?

International Economy

  • International trade as a factor of growth of developing economies
  • The effect of IT on restructuring international trade
  • How IT progress changed international value chains
  • How did covid affect international business activities?
  • The most prospective developing markets for international business
  • Tendencies in international factor movements over the last decade
  • Are there preconditions for creating new currency unions anywhere in the world?
  • Latest tendencies in international finance: liberalisation or restrictions?
  • Is the current global financial system viable?
  • The most prospective regional trade unions
  • What are the most attractive destinations for FDI right now?
  • The impact of FDI on economic growth in developing countries
  • How will the inauguration of Joe Biden change the US-China relations?
  • Macroeconomic drivers of local armed conflicts
  • Comparison of macroeconomic structure of the US and China
  • The impact of globalisation on poverty
  • Does IT affect poverty in the global scale?
  • How does globalisation influence corruption in the global scale?

Financial Economics

  • Reaction of financial markets to covid-19
  • How mutual funds change their risk-taking strategies depending on different incentives
  • How did financial markets react to the Biden win?
  • How FinTech companies affect the sphere of financial services
  • The latest accomplishments in the sphere of financial engineering
  • How IT changes competition in the sphere of financial services
  • Has covid changed corporate governance practices in the UK?
  • The effect of corporate governance procedures on capital structure in developing countries
  • Does IT progress influence companies’ investment in R&D?
  • Behavioural finance and its influence on investing decisions
  • Is behavioural finance able to completely explain investment decisions?
  • How personal characteristics of an investor explain their investment decisions
  • Patterns in spending of single-person households and couple households
  • Has covid changed inclination to saving among households?
  • The role of mediators in the mortgage market

Labour and Demographic Economics

  • Economic effects of changes in demographic structure
  • The relationship between the number of children and family wellbeing in developing countries
  • Does the child-free movement have a real impact on demographic situation in the UK?
  • Does Affirmative Action Reduce Gender Discrimination in the Labor Market? Recent Evidence for Developing Countries
  • Has covid changed the demand for labour in the EU?
  • Digitalisation and changes in labour market
  • The influence of marital status on income
  • How does marital status impacts labour force structure?
  • What are the reasons behind regional wage inequality in the EU.
  • Influence of uberisation on labour force structure.
  • The demand for refugee labour force in the EU.
  • Benefits and disadvantages of being self-employed
  • Strategic HR management and trade unions
  • A critical analysis of collective bargaining in the context of the UK
  • Do all participants of the single market have the same collective bargaining conditions?
  • The influence of regional disparity of income on labour mobility
  • How has covid changed unemployment patterns in the UK?
  • What is the contribution of immigrant workers to GDP of the UK?
  • Differences in labour standards between top-5 European football leagues
  • An overview of labour laws in the tourist sector across EU countries
  • UK labour regulations: drawbacks to be amended in the future

Development Economics and Innovation

  • What are the most relevant indicators of economic development?
  • The influence of population growth on developing economies: case study of India.
  • Exploring the relationship between migration and economic development
  • How do land regulations affect the pace of development in developing countries?
  • Ecovillages: regulation and development prospects
  • What are the residential location preferences of the new generation of millennials?
  • Instruments of funding innovations
  • Issues of protecting intellectual property rights of start-ups
  • Impact of technological change on productivity in the manufacturing industry
  • How does trade openness affects aggregate productivity of the economy? On the sample of Australia
  • What affects productivity in the long run?
  • The impact of structural change on productivity in developing economies
  • Economic development in Russia: effects of privatisation
  • Economic implications of climate change in developing countries
  • Economy wide effect of free trade agreements: the case of developing countries

Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics, Environmental and Ecological Economics

  • The effect of technology on productivity of the agricultural sector in developing countries.
  • How do labour force flows affect agricultural sector performance in an emerging economy?
  • Managing livestock farm as a business: issues and benefits
  • Sustainable management practices in fish industry
  • Benefits and methods of energy conservation
  • Influence of renewable energy sources: economic, social and environmental aspects
  • Management of non-renewable sources in the context of Germany.
  • How does depletion of resources affect the UK economy?
  • Methods of monitoring and control of non-renewable resources
  • What is the potential of the solar energy in the world market of energy?
  • Opportunities, benefits and drawbacks of alternative energy sources
  • What are the main sources of risk in the sphere of renewable energy?
  • Water management and conservation policies: A comparative study of the UK and Malaysia.
  • The influence of climate policies on economic development.
  • How can innovations contribute to the development of an eco-friendly economy?

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A senior honors thesis is a chance to investigate an idea, theoretical issue, policy problem, or historical situation of keen economic interest. All economics senior thesis writers are required to take an ECON 985 Senior Thesis Seminar.  Attention Thesis-Interested Seniors: See the  Ec Thesis Canvas page for a recording of the spring Thesis Interest meeting and other key details! If you're not yet enrolled in an Ec 985 Thesis Seminar , check the Canvas page for important info!

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170 Original Thesis Topics and Ideas For Your Winning Paper

thesis topics

Throughout your college and graduate school career, you will be required to write hundreds of academic papers across myriad subjects. Choosing good thesis topics is just one of the major factors necessary to achieve academic excellence. This article does not tell you how to write a good thesis but focuses on the process of developing great senior thesis topics that are challenging yet don’t leave you feeling overwhelmed.

  • How to Develop and Choose Great Thesis Paper Topics?

Computer Science Thesis Topics

Psychology thesis topics, art history thesis topics, sociology thesis topics, economics thesis topics, psychology dissertation topics, architecture thesis topics, criminal justice thesis topics, philosophy thesis topics, history thesis topics, ms thesis topics, where you can find thesis writing help for your topics.

Our list of 170 free thesis statement topics is broken into 12 of the most popular subjects. These are only suggestions and you’re certainly encouraged to modify them as you deem appropriate. Keep in mind that good dissertation topics should aim to push the envelope of academic research while answering important scholarly questions within the field. Don’t feel constrained by what these thesis topics attempt to explore – what inspires your curiosity is the most important aspect of writing a thesis that warrants readership and appreciation.

How to Develop and Choose Great Thesis Topics?

Your thesis statement should be interesting.

You’ve likely heard over and over that the best master thesis topics should always be on something interesting – but does not take this to mean that it only applies to what a reader thinks is interesting. You should genuinely be curious about the topic you want to explore. This will invariably lead to more effective research, writing, and presentation of the chosen topic.

Make Sure You Can Find Enough Resources

Time is limited, and so too are resources. If your topic is too narrow you may not have access to all the resources you need to adequately answer the questions you seek. Ask the resource librarian for some dissertation topic examples to get a sense of the number of resources you will need to include in the bibliography and then triple that number. This is the average amount of research materials you will need to locate in your study.

Meet with Your Advisor to Discuss Options

Finally, you will need to meet with your academic advisor throughout the process of finishing your capstone project, so you will benefit from meeting with him or her as you consider your topics to discuss options. If, for instance, you are going over art history thesis topics , an advisor can point you to previous studies, research, resources, and more. You may find early that your topic may not be doable – and save yourself time by choosing altogether different.

Our List of Great Thesis Ideas On Any Subject

  • How have different methodologies changed the way comp-science is used in business?
  • How has the user interface changed the way society interacts with one another?
  • What are the advances in encryption and decryption we need to fight cybercrime?
  • In what ways have computer viruses altered international finance rules & regulations?
  • How do biometric systems affect the way data is recognized across financial industries?
  • Will artificial intelligence make human labor a thing of the past or will it only be a burden?
  • What are the best defense strategies companies should consider fighting cyber-attacks?
  • How will quantum computers change the way mainstream data is factored into primes?
  • A survey of how different technologies and algorithms can be used for parsing and indexing.
  • Technique to use when visualizing text categorization that has complex hierarchical structures and machine learning.
  • Different tools and techniques in the software required can be used to understand the UK.
  • How to have dependable and secure computing.
  • Definition and explanation of context-aware computing.
  • Top 5 challenges in database design and the information of system development?
  • What are the multiple dimensions or states of high-functioning schizophrenia in adults?
  • How effective is the DSM-IV in categorizing abnormal symptoms in young adults?
  • In what ways does a leader’s presence affect the way his sports teammates perform?
  • How does culture affect the way teaching programs are instituted around the world?
  • In what ways does chemotherapy affect the way patients get attention from family?
  • Is anger an emotion that can be controlled for the benefit of a person’s mental health?
  • What did the 9/11 attacks have on the general psychology of U.S. citizens toward immigrants?
  • How are LGBTQ teens likely to cope with pressures and how does it link to issues of depression?
  • Explain the social identity theory of Tajfel and Turner.
  • What are the REM phase and the continuous sleep disruption?
  • Defining how a brain functions when a person is in love.
  • How do the different forms of amnesia damage your brain activities?
  • What is the significance of a strong self-perception?
  • Is it possible for PTSD to lead to Alzheimer’s disease?
  • How do people respond to the world’s most famous art pieces in an age of social media?
  • In what ways is music considered to be a form of art when there are no actual tangible forms?
  • Are the building styles of the ancient world legitimate representations of artistic work?
  • Do you believe anyone will ever be able to have as much impact as the Renaissance greats?
  • In what ways has the value of art diminished in the last 25 years in terms of investment?
  • How does art affect the way humans develop creatively in terms of their communication?
  • What motivates people to invest in modern art despite there being such a high risk?
  • How does a modern artist make enough income in the days of technology and digital art?
  • Analyze the Monalisa painting and why it is popular.
  • What is the origin of the traditional Chinese and Japanese costumes?
  • What are the most popular pies of Mesopotamian art, and what made them popular?
  • How did Hinduism influence the early Indian Act?
  • Research on the construction of the Great Wall of China.
  • What is the origin of the Greek theatre?
  • How much influence do parents have on their children’s educational and social engagement?
  • In what ways do cross-cultural relationships change the way children think about the world?
  • What are the most important aspects of gender inequality at work and how is it fixed?
  • How much do food cultures link to anticipated health and welfare in American adults?
  • What is the relationship between ethnicity and the levels of completed education in children?
  • What are the biggest factors leading certain populations to alcohol or drug addiction?
  • How is media affecting the way youth view their images as a result of how they are represented?
  • In what ways has social media impacted the way America’s youth interacts with the world?
  • Impacts of Alcohol among the youths.
  • Adaption and the consequences of adopting a child.
  • Diffusion and innovation in European culture and what it means for the features of these countries.
  • How would people react if organ transplant gets completely banned?
  • What are the challenges that working women face in today’s society?
  • What are the impacts of life sentences, and should this be changed
  • What are the five major principles of global economics and how do they affect international law?
  • In what ways are developing countries in Asia affected by short and long-term econ policies?
  • How important is it for the average American investor to know about global economics?
  • In what ways should a person’s wealth be distributed to more philanthropic or charitable activities?
  • What do international economics offer the average American in terms of financial happiness?
  • How has the alcohol industry changed over the last century across different parts of Europe?
  • In what ways has big data mining affected the way global economics and financing have changed?
  • What are the main reasons why the Trump presidency has negatively affected international trade?
  • What is fiscal policy, and what should people know about it?
  • Define and explain three opportunity costs.
  • How do banks set the exchange rate?
  • What is the reason why some resources are rare?
  • What does economic forecasting entail?
  • What are the pros and cons of privatization?
  • What are the connections between employee satisfaction and how they perform at work?
  • How are women affected by misogynistic language in the workplace that emphasizes inequality?
  • In what ways does the formation of negative habits make it harder for people to learn new things?
  • What role does anxiety have in the way students score on standardized high school level tests?
  • How does jealousy determine how long or successful a marriage can be in today’s age of the web?
  • What effect does a person’s amount of time that is spent on social media impact his/her satisfaction?
  • Are humans becoming far more dependent on instant information and less likely to learn the truth?
  • What are some of the negative assumptions about women suffering from postpartum depression?
  • Some eating and personality disorder
  • What is the importance of communication in a relationship?
  • What are the social and psychological effects of virtue networks?
  • What role does a medium play in provoking aggression?
  • How does cognitive behavior therapy help in dealing with depressed adolescents?
  • How can depression and its risk factor be prevented?
  • In what ways did ancient architecture from Greece and Rome influence modern government buildings?
  • What impact did Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural style have on Los Angeles’ urban planning?
  • Why do historians believe the Egyptian Pyramids were created to their exact shape and scale?
  • How did Roman aqueducts impact the way communities evolved as a result of improved canals?
  • What dangers do the Venice canal systems face as a result of increasing temperatures and water levels?
  • How will architecture in major metropolitan areas change as a result of rising populations in the world?
  • Is architecture considered a science or an art and how does this affect the way we study it today?
  • What is parametric architecture and what other forms blend appropriately with it aesthetically?
  • Explain the construction of Time conception in the Architectural Realm.
  • Waterfront development- the process of beach convention and exhibition centers.
  • What is the design of ruled surfaces?
  • An analytic study of the design potential kinetic Architecture.
  • A survey of China from an archeologist’s point of view.
  • A look at Russian fairy-tale-style houses and huts.
  • How is jury selection affected by how politicians are perceived on social media?
  • Is it accurate to say that minorities receive a fair and unbiased trial in today’s political climate?
  • How do President Trump’s policies and comments targeting minorities affect their rights in court?
  • What challenges does cyber-crime present for lawmakers who have to put corporations on trial?
  • Should large corporations face larger crimes as a result of the amount of money they make publicly?
  • Why aren’t CEOs of multi-billion dollar companies held to the same criminal standards as the public?
  • Should human trafficking face larger penalties as a result of the dark web and ease of communication?
  • Does the internet perpetuate certain crimes as a result of its widespread and virtual anonymity?
  • The relationship between the police and people from different backgrounds.
  • What is the reliability of an eye-witness testimony?
  • What methods can be used to help prevent international drug trafficking?
  • Why does the crime rate increase during emergencies?
  • Why are men more likely to get death penalties?
  • In what ways does the drug court assist or hurt people with addiction?

Thesis Topics in Education

  • What are the biggest evolutionary changes to the major approaches in education throughout the world?
  • How have China’s educational methods changed in the last half-century to position them as world leaders?
  • Can educational programs in South America help those countries combat poverty in their communities?
  • Should core subjects be re-evaluated in light of the quickly changing needs of today’s modern world?
  • Should the United States make bigger investments in bringing tech tools to poorer school districts?
  • Can teachers continue to use traditional methods for grading when class size continues to increase?
  • Why do people lose the desire to learn new subjects in their adult years? How can this be addressed?
  • Should more parents be involved in schools’ educational policies and curriculum development?
  • Do graduate programs in education adequately prepare tomorrow’s teachers for the business world?
  • Are there any career development programs in Elementary schools?
  • What are the character development programs in elementary schools?
  • Should the use of the pass-fail grading be limited?
  • What is the impact of promoting parent volunteering in schools?
  • Teaching children with speech-language pathology.
  • How does the efficiency of classroom management help to reduce stress?
  • Is abortion a philosophical or political question? Should ethics be removed from this conversation?
  • Is it a must to lead an ethical life to achieve true human happiness in today’s competitive world?
  • What does it mean to support ethical farming practices in light of the world’s hunger problems?
  • Should parents have the ability to manipulate their children’s genetics and characteristics to an ideal?
  • How does genetic modification in animals affect our understanding of what we can do for humans?
  • In what ways do religious ethics and philosophy ethics contradict each other when it comes to crimes?
  • How does humanity’s history to commit evil acts affect the way we view our place in the world?
  • Is it morally ethical to love someone who is legally unattainable? (E.g., someone who is married).
  • Are contemporary philosophical theories inclusive of different societies or limiting to specific nations?
  • What can truly upset you, and in what ways can you deal with it?
  • Would you live your life more than once?
  • What do the beauty standards change often?
  • Are there situations where it is better to lie than tell the truth?
  • Some people think that love only lasts for three years. Is it true?
  • What is a perfect life? What prevents you from living it?
  • How has the rise and fall of famous and influential dictators changed throughout history?
  • How have the events leading to the 1980s conflicts in Afghanistan caused the turmoil we see today?
  • In what ways have border wars in South America led to increased asylum seekers fleeing those countries?
  • How did the North Atlantic Trade Agreement impact the way Europe has sought trade deals with China?
  • What impact did the Mormons have in shaping the American city landscape during the 19th century?
  • What role did Mormons have in further expelling Native Americans from their ancestral lands?
  • Why did the Southern States resist the freeing of slaves for so long? What economic factors were there?
  • What impact did pirates have on the development of Caribbean culture in Central America?
  • How have 21st-century marketing strategies affected how we value cultural history in the U.S.A?
  • Trends of migration through the years.
  • What is the history of immigration in the USA?
  • What causes the significant waves of migration in Syria?
  • How were women treated in the Soviet zone during WWII?
  • How did the fall of Hitler and the Nazis affect Germany?
  • The Spanish Inquisition- What is the truth behind its moral justification?
  • How do supercomputers and data mining affect political policy in today’s first-world governments?
  • In what ways have the roles of mediators changed in the world of globalized financial institutions?
  • How important is cultural awareness for large corporations? How is this different in small businesses?
  • Should politicians be allowed to maintain investments that can influence their political decisions?
  • Why are blind trusts necessary for anyone running for public office in today’s global economy?
  • What are the effects of bringing more technology into the home to automate day-to-day activities?
  • In what ways does automation keep people from controlling the same systems we want to be safe?
  • How does cyber activity affect how governments contribute to international economies?
  • How can we learn from past cultures to develop new societies where there is no poverty or hunger?
  • What was the correlation between political climate and literature during the eighteenth century?
  • What is the connection between religious conviction and rational thinking?
  • A comprehensive analysis of gun violence in the US.
  • Case study of Australia and how cyberbullying might result in suicides.
  • Civil war is the greatest inspiration for art. Discuss this concept.
  • Women empowerment in Saudi Arabia in the 2000s.

For more information on how to write a thesis or for more thesis ideas, check out what a professional writing site has to offer. On top of hundreds of free resources, you can pay to have a custom master’s thesis sample made from scratch or can have your work reviewed, edited, and proofread by an academic expert from our thesis writing services , whose job is to stay up-to-date on all educational requirements for capstone projects.

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Dissertation Topics

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  • Updated on  
  • Apr 24, 2023

Dissertation Topics

The final step in a PhD or Master’s course is the submission of a dissertation . A dissertation is a research paper that summarises the research conducted and includes findings either on a question or a topic chosen by the student. It is important as it demonstrates a student’s knowledge of the subject and ability to use research methods to define a topic. Students are required to select a dissertation topic of their choice. Choosing a topic can be confusing so this blog helps you understand how to narrow down a dissertation topic and provides a list of dissertation topics in various disciplines.

This Blog Includes:

Empirical dissertation, non-empirical dissertation, different types of research methods for dissertation, how to choose a dissertation topic, list of dissertation topics subject-wise, economics dissertation topics, mba dissertation topics, medical dissertation topics, arts and humanities dissertation topics, law dissertation topics, science dissertation topics, social science dissertation topics, psychology dissertation topics, dissertation topics in education, what makes a good dissertation topic, types of dissertation.

There are mainly two types of dissertations- empirical and non-empirical. The choice of the dissertation depends mainly on your field of study.

An empirical dissertation involves collecting data and researching through methods where conclusions of the study are strictly drawn from concretely empirical evidence, and therefore “verifiable” evidence. It focuses on collecting and analyzing original data. Students can conduct research using qualitative and quantitative research methods like case studies, surveys, observation, laboratory experiments, and interviews.  Empirical research tests hypotheses in order to arrive at valid research outcomes and assumptions are tested.

A non-empirical dissertation involves the use of theoretical data and working with existing research or other texts, presenting original analysis, and argumentation, but there is no original data. It focuses more on theories, methods, and their implications for educational research. Non-empirical research theorizes the logical assumptions of research variables and assumptions are entirely theorized.

Also Read: Dissertation Topic in Finance

Two types of primary research for the dissertation include qualitative and quantitative research methods:

  • Quantitative Research Methods gather information through numerical data. It is used to quantify opinions, behaviors, or other defined variables. It can be used to study a large group of people. The information is gathered by performing statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques. Examples of quantitative research methods include online surveys software , experimental research, correlational research, longitudinal study, cross-sectional, causal-Comparative research, descriptive research, etc
  • Qualitative research methods gather non-numerical data. It is used to find meanings, opinions, or underlying reasons from its subjects.  It is associated with studying human behavior from an informative perspective. It aims at obtaining in-depth details of the problem. Examples of qualitative research methods include case studies, Observational methods, one-on-one interviews, focus groups, text analysis, etc
  • Mixed method research is where quantitative and qualitative methods of research are combined

Also Read: Dissertation vs Thesis

When it comes to choosing a topic for your dissertation, many students find themselves confused. Here are some tips that will help you narrow down a topic for your dissertation:

  • First, check the requirements of your course
  • Since your dissertation and research will take time, probably months, you should select a topic that interests you. 
  • Start by brainstorming and researching your field of study
  • Get inspired by previous students’ work and research
  • Make a list of broad topics you find interesting. Shortlist the one on which you can do research.
  • Narrow down your topic by picking a niche
  • Try to pick something original and a small and specific topic. Remember not to be too vague or too narrow
  • Consider the type of research to want to perform and whether the topic has academic and social relevance
  • Ask your lecturers or supervisor for advice and get your topic approved

Here are all the subject-wise dissertation topics to explore:

  • Comparing the Economies of Developed  vs Developing Countries
  • How Social Networks Contribute to the Growth of the Global Economy
  • Covid-19 Implications on the Economy
  • Consumer Behavior and Eco-Friendly Production
  • Gender Wage Gap: Legislative and Ethical Issues Dealing with Salaries in Developing Countries
  • How China’s Production Influences the Global Economy
  • Micro-financing Institutions and the Level of Poverty in Developing Countries
  • How Oil Consumption Influences Global Economy
  • The impact of local and regional cultures on shaping entrepreneurial economic development.
  • How do habits and routines affect productivity? The case of (an industry).
  • Research to identify the impacts of Coronavirus on banking and the future of banking after the pandemic
  • How Globalization leads to Mergers and International Economic Cooperation
  •  Role of the World Bank in the International Economy
  • Technological innovations and their influence on green and environmental products.
  • Fiscal policy and the global economy: The scope for, and benefits from, international Coordination Fiscal and labor market policies in response to Covid-19 in different countries
  • Is Online Marketing Effective for Technological Startups?
  • How Globalization Impacts Small Business
  • The Specifics of Instagram Marketing and Advertisement Placement
  • Consumer behavior during a recession.
  • Brands Influencing Consumers Buying Behaviors – A Case Study On (Brand/Company)
  • The Influence Of Advertising On Consumer Behavior
  • Evaluation of best HR practices for improving employee commitment
  • Strategies to continually maintain customers’ satisfaction and trust levels in an electronic shopping
  • Surviving political turmoil
  • Digital marketing during the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Recent research and responses of various countries for the treatment of COVID-19.
  • Is it good to take antibiotics during the infection of microbes in the human body?
  • Exploring the ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals during COVID-19: Establishing policies for best practice.
  • Management of Drug Dependency Programs
  • Detailed assessment of the long-term usage of steroids on the overall health conditions of individuals.
  • Communication and Public Health during the Pandemic
  • Implementation of Modern Recovery Programs in Hospital Care System
  • Challenges in recognizing rare infectious diseases
  • Epidemics versus pandemics
  • Sequelae and effective diabetes management
  • How Capitalism Contributed to the Development of Conceptual Art
  • Shift in Gender Roles in Marvel Comic Books in the Last 20 Years
  • Social Networks’ Impact on Slang Language
  • How has Globalization Influenced Cultural Relativism?
  • New Ethics in a Digital Age
  • Economical, Social and Political Causes and Results of the Great Depression
  • Effects of the Industrial Revolution concerning World War I.
  • Body Image and Social Construction of Normality
  • Warfare and Violence in Ancient Times
  • The history of design in various periods of human existence
  • How Gender Roles and Stereotypes Influence the Divorce Process
  • The Rise of Cyber Crimes and Punishments
  • Race Discrimination in Modern Law System
  • A deeper look at the history of the death penalty.
  • Did the US involvement in Iraq provide justice or violate the law?
  • Analyzing the impact of trade unions and their work
  • Assessing the mediating role of corporate social responsibility in companies’ performance.
  • Evaluating the implications of Brexit on the protection of intellectual property rights in the UK.
  • Section 377 and the Dignity of Indian Homosexuals
  • Legal Issue of Child Labor in the Third World Countries
  • Modern Technology that Contributes to Biology Science
  • Effects of Pesticide Use on the Quality of Water
  • The Concept of Uncertainty in Quantum Physics Based on Particle-Wave Duality
  • String Theory and Black Holes
  • Discovery of New Species: Can We Expect More?
  • How to Fight Mercury Contamination in the Environment
  • Could Ebola be Used As a Biological Weapon?
  • Solid-state physics and its modern implication in different fields.
  • The Future of Synthetic Chemistry
  • Nearby Galaxies and Young Stellar Clusters
  • Political Reasons Behind Gender Inequality
  • Tectonic Theory and Forecasting of Earthquakes
  • The role of mass media in the electoral process of a state or a country and how its influence dictates the results of an election.
  • The process of the formation of coral reefs and their use.
  • Effect of Deglaciation on the polar volcanoes
  • Contraction of One’s Identity in Urban Landscape
  • Youth Activism and Social Work
  • Emission profile of a fast-food restaurant
  • Post 9/11 Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and their impact on world politics
  • The gap between ideology and competency of foreign political powers
  • Correlation Between Raise of Social Networks and Anxiety Disorders Among Teenagers
  • Correlation Between Patient’s Immune System and Mental Health
  • Treating Strategies for Patients with PTSD
  • Preparing Patients With Anxiety to Return to the Workplace
  • Media violence and children
  • Relapse in the addictive behaviors
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) From A Neurosciences And Behavioural Approach
  • How does separation between parents cause distress among children
  • The mental health of homeless people
  • Why is there an increase in eating disorders among the youth?
  • Social Anxiety and social depression effects on an introverted child
  •  Workplace Bullying and its Psychological Impact on Employees’ Performance
  • Impact of Covid-19 on mental health
  • childhood trauma and outline its effects
  • A study of long-term psychological effects of divorce on the adult children of divorcees
  • Impact of the Internet on the social life of Students.
  • Educational assessment of students using virtual reality technologies
  • Interaction between students of different ethnicities based on a differentiated approach
  • Harassment Prevention of younger students in School
  • Illegal behavior of students in high-school 
  • Importance of self-studying for students
  • Development of Time management for students
  • Personal development of teachers in educational institutions
  • The role of Sustainability in educational institutions
  • The rising cost of academic education

Something that will allow you to produce “a polished piece of work within a limited amount of time and with a limited amount of cost.” A good dissertation topic seeks to challenge and subdue the existing assumptions and theories. It introduces a new and unique perspective on the status quo. Here are some defining factors of a good dissertation topic:

  • Choose a topic you love to research and unravel
  • A topic that challenges the pre-existing theories in your discipline
  • Seeks practical, philosophical, and social solutions and answers

Hopefully, this blog assisted you in finding out popular dissertation topics. If you require any assistance regarding your application process while enrolling for your further studies, our experts at Leverage Edu are just one click away. Call us anytime at 1800 572 000 for a free counseling session!

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UKnowledge > Theses & Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

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CONSUMER DEMAND FOR FOOD PRODUCTS, PRICE SURGE, AND U.S. PUBLIC POLICY: AN EMPIRICAL ECONOMIC ANALYSIS , Clement Olivier Codjia

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CONSUMERS’ PREFERENCES AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR VALUE-ADDED DAIRY PRODUCTS IN KENTUCKY - CONSIDERING PRICE, PROVENANCE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES , Favour E. Esene

THREE ESSAYS ON HEALTH, FOOD, AND AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS , Saber Feizy

Reclaiming Your Competitive Advantage , Mason T. Hamilton

Gambling on Growth: An Analysis of the Early Impact of Historical Horse Racing on Kentucky’s Thoroughbred Industry , Barrett W. Kerr

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE VALUES: A COMPARISON ACROSS GROUPS , Thomas B. Pierce

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

DEMAND SYSTEM ANALYSIS OF BEER IN THE U.S. MARKET , Laxmi Devi Adhikari

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Spent Hemp as an Animal Feed and Vertical Price Transmission in US Hemp Value-Added Supply Chain , Solomon E. Odiase

Consumer Measures of Local Food System Performance and Shopping Behavior Across COVID , Azita Varziri

DEMAND ANALYSIS OF VIETNAMESE COFFEE IN THE U.S. , Leo Kyaw Zin

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

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EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF PUBLIC POLICIES AND ADDICTION ON PURCHASE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS WITH CAUSAL INFERENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING METHODS , Xueting Deng

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In this blog, you’ll find some of the top macroeconomic research Paper topics for 2024. Grasping macroeconomics enables you to understand the workings of national and global economies. Let’s delve into this subject-oriented essay topic blog to explore what macroeconomics is and why it is crucial for your research.

What is Macroeconomics? Definition and Scope  

Macroeconomics focuses on broad economic factors such as national income, total employment, and aggregate price levels. It explores how different sectors of the economy interact on a large scale. The discussion could be on anything, including government policies, international trade, and global financial systems.

Macroeconomics studies the economy broadly, concentrating on aspects like GDP, inflation rates, and unemployment, whereas microeconomics zeroes in on individual and business decisions. Macroeconomics addresses large-scale economic factors, while microeconomics explores supply and demand, consumer behavior, and pricing more granularly. Macroeconomics centralizes its attention on broader aspects, while microeconomics focuses on specific topics. Both perspectives offer valuable insights but from distinct viewpoints.

3 Primary Objectives of Macroeconomics  

1. Economic Growth: As a primary objective, economic growth aims to increase the output of goods and services in an economy over time. Sustained economic growth improves living standards, creates job opportunities, and boosts national income. It also empowers governments with more resources to invest in public services and infrastructure.

2. Inflation: Inflation control is a key objective in macroeconomics, focusing on maintaining price stability within an economy. By managing inflation, governments and central banks aim to ensure that prices do not rise too quickly, which can erode purchasing power. Effective inflation control supports economic stability and promotes sustainable growth.

3. Unemployment: Reducing unemployment is a central goal. It aims to balance job availability. High employment levels contribute to economic stability and growth by maximizing the productive capacity of the workforce. Policymakers focus on creating job prospects and enhancing skills to address unemployment and support a healthy economy.

Importance of Studying Macroeconomics  

Macroeconomics offers a comprehensive view of economic health and guides effective policy implementation. Understanding these concepts is essential for grasping the complexities of both national and global economies. Studying macroeconomics is crucial for several reasons. See the following to know them:

Informed Policy Making : Understanding macroeconomic principles helps policymakers design effective strategies to manage economic growth, control inflation, and reduce unemployment. This knowledge is vital for creating policies that stabilize and stimulate the economy.

Economic Forecasting : Macroeconomics provides tools for predicting future economic trends and conditions. Accurate forecasts can guide business decisions, investments, and financial planning, helping both individuals and organizations prepare for potential economic changes.

Global Economic Understanding : Macroeconomics analyzes global economic interactions and trade to help understand the impact of international events on national economies. This knowledge is essential for navigating and responding to global economic challenges.

Economic Stability and Growth : Studying macroeconomics helps understand the factors contributing to economic stability and growth. This insight is crucial for developing strategies to effectively promote sustainable economic development and manage economic fluctuations.

How to Select a Good Macroeconomics Research Topic?

Identify areas of interest :.

Begin by considering what aspects of macroeconomics capture your interest. Are you intrigued by the impact of government policies on economic performance, or are you interested in the effects of international trade? Selecting a topic that genuinely excites you will make the research process more enjoyable and engaging. For instance, if you have a passion for environmental issues, you might investigate the economic implications of climate change policies.

Review Current Literature :

Reviewing current literature is crucial for selecting a good macroeconomic research topic. It helps you understand existing research trends, identify gaps in knowledge, and spot areas where further investigation is needed. Reviewing recent studies, theories, and findings helps pinpoint unresolved issues or underexplored areas, aligning your interests and having the potential for impactful research. It ensures your topic is both relevant and original, contributing to the broader field of macroeconomics.

Look for Gaps in Existing Research  

After pinpointing your area of interest, review existing research to identify gaps. Are there unresolved questions or areas with contradictory results? Addressing these gaps can lead to a distinctive and influential research paper. For example, if most studies focus on the impact of fiscal policy on economic growth but overlook its effects during economic downturns, exploring this angle could provide valuable insights.

Consider Practical Relevance, Impact & Timeliness :

A topic with practical relevance addresses real-world economic issues, influencing policy decisions, business strategies, or societal outcomes. Evaluating the impact ensures that your research can contribute meaningful insights or solutions to pressing economic challenges. Timeliness reflects current economic trends, making your research more pertinent to audiences. This approach makes your work academically rigorous, applicable, and influential.  

Evaluate Data and Resource Feasibility:

Ensure you have access to reliable and comprehensive data sources like economic reports, statistical databases, and scholarly articles necessary for your analysis. Consider whether you have the tools and skills required to analyze this data effectively. Assessing the feasibility involves determining if you can realistically obtain and utilize the necessary data within your research timeline and constraints. It ensures that your research is thoroughly and effectively conducted, leading to credible and insightful results.

Define Clear Objectives :

Start by outlining what you aim to discover or prove through your research. This could be anything from understanding the impact of monetary policy on inflation to evaluating the effects of trade tariffs on economic growth. Articulated objectives guide your focus, narrow your topic, and keep your research relevant. This clarity streamlines the research process, enhancing your findings’ quality and coherence. It also facilitates the communication of your findings.

Top Macroeconomics Research Topics in 2024

1. Why Do We Dislike Inflation?- This paper answers Shiller’s (1997) question: Why do we dislike inflation? It explores the primary reasons behind people’s aversion to inflation and includes surveys to learn people’s perceptions of inflation, its impacts, and reactions.

2. Recent Developments in Financial Risk and the Real Economy— In this topic, you can review recent developments in macro and finance. You can also highlight the relationship between financial risk and the real economy through subtopics and surveys.  

3. The Effects of Macroeconomic Policies on Housing Markets— Discuss macroeconomic policies influencing housing markets. You can explain interest rates’ impact on house affordability and changes in demand. Include studies that show how Fiscal policies drive market behavior.

4. Comparative Analysis: Great Depression & Great Recession— You can state how the Great Depression and the Great Recession offer valuable insights into economic crises. It compares these two significant events’ causes, government responses, and recovery processes.  

5. Government Responses to Unemployment— You can discuss diverse employment strategies of Governments to combat unemployment, particularly during economic downturns. Explore the effectiveness of different approaches and analyze case studies for better understanding.

6. Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Economic Growth— Review how FDI influences growth in various sectors. You could analyze relevant case studies to clearly reflect the causes and explain how these have significant impacts on the economic growth of different countries.

7. The Relationship Between GDP and Unemployment— You can discuss the relationship between the Gross Domestic Product and unemployment. Explain why these two are often inversely proportional and how GDP changes influence unemployment rates across different sectors.

8. Pros and Cons of the US Economy— Researching this topic allows students to delve into various facets of the US economy. Students can explain the complex economic system along with its strengths and weaknesses, helping them develop a balanced view of the US economy.   

9. The Impact of Globalization on Modern Economies— This research paper will discuss globalization and its impact on worldwide economics. With case studies, you can support the research related to the transformation of modern economics under the influence of globalization.

10. Comparative Study of Capitalism and Socialism— You can analyze various countries’ fundamental principles, historical implementations, and outcomes to offer insights into Capitalism and Socialism. Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each system with diverse approaches.

11. Historical Analysis of the British Industrial Revolution— Researching it involves exploring the long-term effects of industrialization on economic development in different classes. You can discuss the shift from agrarian economies to industrial ones, the rise of urbanization, and social impacts.

12. Solutions to the Child Labor Problem— Research historical and contemporary efforts to combat this problem. Explore legal frameworks and economic incentives for families. Understanding the causes and effective interventions allows the development of a comprehensive strategy to address the issue.  

13. Supply Chain Constraints and Inflation— You can evaluate how potential supply chain capacity constraints shape inflation. Adding case studies, models, and relevant data explains how this constraint impacts increased demand or capacity reductions related to reasons for inflation.

14. Modern Infectious Diseases: Macroeconomic Impacts and Policy Responses— Discuss standard frameworks for assessing the economic burden of infectious diseases and how to prevent their macroeconomic repercussions. You can also review the health toll and economic impacts of infectious diseases.

15. Foreign Demand Shocks to Production Networks: Firm Responses and Worker Impacts— Explain how firms respond to foreign demand shocks within domestic production networks and assess the impacts on workers. Analyze how specific and overall changes in foreign demand spread through a small open economy, affecting firms and workers.

16. Discrete-Choice Models and Representative Consumer Theory— Explores how individuals make decisions based on limited options and how these choices can be aggregated to reflect market behavior. Delve into the mathematical modeling of individual preferences and the simplification of complex market dynamics into a single representative consumer framework.

17. The Debt Capacity of a Government— Investigate the maximum amount of debt a government can sustain without compromising its financial stability or economic growth. Explore economic indicators, fiscal policies, and external economic conditions to assess the limits of sustainable borrowing.

18. Simulating Endogenous Global Automation— Review the impacts of automation driven by internal economic factors on a global scale. See simulation models to analyze how advancements in automation technology affect labor markets, economic growth, and international trade dynamics.

19. Can Monetary Policy Create Fiscal Capacity?— It explores the relationship between monetary policy actions and a government’s ability to finance its expenditures. You can investigate how central bank policies might enhance a government’s fiscal space and impact economic stability.

20. Welfare and Output with Income Effects and Taste Shocks— Study how changes in income levels and consumer preferences impact overall economic welfare and production. It also analyzes the interplay between economic output, individual well-being, and shifts in consumer tastes, providing insights into the broader effects of economic fluctuations and policy interventions.

21. Market Power in Neoclassical Growth Models— Market power in neoclassical growth models refers to the ability of firms to influence prices and wages due to a lack of perfect competition. Here, I have discussed how this power can lead to deviations from the optimal allocation of resources, potentially affecting long-term economic growth and income distribution within the model.

22. The Macroeconomics of Financial Speculation— This topic reviews how speculative activities in financial markets impact economic variables like investment, consumption, and growth. It explores the potential for speculative bubbles, market volatility, and systemic risks. It analyzes their effects on economic stability and policy responses.

23. The Economics of Walking About and Predicting US Downturns— The economics of walking about involves gathering informal, on-the-ground observations to predict economic downturns in the US. Discuss the traditional economic indicators by capturing real-time business and consumer sentiment, offering early signals of potential recessions.

24. A New Way of Forecasting Recessions— It proposes a new way of displaying and analyzing macroeconomic time series to form recession forecasts. You can use different models & recent data to analyze diverse aspects, including market variables, to predict recessions. 

25. Inclusive Monetary Policy: How Tight Labor Markets Facilitate Broad-Based Employment Growth— Inclusive monetary policy fosters tight labor markets, which help drive broad-based employment growth across diverse demographic groups. We discuss how maintaining low unemployment rates and such policies can reduce disparities in job opportunities and support economic inclusivity.

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Harris' economic plan promises voters affordable groceries and homes. Don't fall for it.

Kamala harris has no problem with an economic agenda that expands government's reach and power and places burdensome restraints on the free market..

thesis topic ideas economics

I know you learned in school that socialism doesn't work. Apparently, Vice President Kamala Harris didn't.

But what do you know? You iPhone-carrying, Starbucks-sipping, freedom-loving American? Haven't you wondered what it would be like if your president gave away things for free? Things like a house? And groceries?

Enter Kamalanomics .

Hold on, it's a ride through utopia.

You get a house! And you get a house!

At a rally Friday in North Carolina, Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, unveiled a home ownership plan as part of her economic agenda, one designed to conveniently garner her the votes she needs to win this election without worrying about annoying details like how to pay the bills in the years ahead.

According to Harris' proposal, qualified homebuyers who have paid their rent on time for at least two years and are looking to buy their first home could be eligible for up to $25,000 in down payment assistance . First-generation home owners could receive even more.

It brings a whole new meaning to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

“The Biden-Harris administration initially proposed providing $25,000 in downpayment assistance only for 400,000 first-generation home buyers – or homebuyers whose parents don’t own a home – and a $10,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers,” a campaign fact sheet said . “Vice President Harris’s plan will simplify and significantly expand that plan by providing on average $25,000 for all eligible first-time home buyers, while ensuring full participation by first-generation home buyers.”

A free down payment? What a deal! But I have a few questions: Where will that money come from? What will it do to home prices? Wouldn't a line of new buyers with $25,000 on hand drive up the price of homes?

No thanks, Oprah. I mean, Kamala.

No tax on tips: What if I told you Kamala Harris' best idea is actually Donald Trump's?

Next up, price controls for groceries

We've all watched as inflation created a nightmare for Americans just trying to feed their families.

From 2017 through 2020, food prices increased by a total of 8.9%. From 2021 until this summer, the cost of groceries rose 21.6%. So $100 of ground beef, eggs, milk and bread, now costs more than $120.

Even after the rate of inflation slows, as it has now, the new, higher prices remain.

Harris has a cure for that: As a part of her economic plan, she would place a federal ban on price gouging for groceries . Her presidential campaign claims that she will set "clear rules of the road to make clear that big corporations can’t unfairly exploit consumers to run up excessive corporate profits on food and groceries .”

When I read that, I laughed. No one with a half-way functioning brain thinks that inflation, which caused high prices, at the local grocer is due to price gouging by corporations.

This is a lie from one of the oldest tricks in the book: Demonize companies for abiding by capitalistic principles and then propose reforms that throttle businesses by placing the government at the helm.

Of course, a federal ban on price gouging won't actually help Americans' finances. It won't slow down inflation or return food prices to what they were before the Biden administration's policies unleashed the surge in prices. Government controls could even lead to shortages or hoarding of some items.

I know Trump is awful. But he's still better for America than Harris.

An opinion headline at The Washington Post quips , "When your opponent calls you 'communist,' maybe don't propose price controls?" Writer Catherine Rampell, who is not exactly a raging conservative, obliterates Harris' policy plan, saying it would be "a sweeping set of government-enforced price controls across every industry, not only food. Supply and demand would no longer determine prices or profit levels. Far-off Washington bureaucrats would."

I think we should pass.

What's wrong with Kamalanomics?

Let's be real: What's wrong with giving a hardworking family who wants to be homeowners money for a down payment? What's wrong with describing inflation as "price gouging" and forcing companies to keep prices at a rate set by Washington? What's wrong with giving a $6,000 tax credit for a family with a newborn ? (I favor some child tax credit scenarios, as long as they don't become welfare programs.)

Most of these are ideas rooted in a socialist approach to economics − one that's been shown over and over again to fail.

Opinion newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter on conservative values, family and religion from columnist Nicole Russell. Get it delievered to your inbox .

Harris' policy ideas stem from thinking that the government, not the people, is the most powerful entity in America. So the vice president has no problem with an economic agenda that expands government's reach and power and places burdensome restraints on the free market.

Voters should reject Harris' economic ideas. Instead, they should embrace ideas that aid the free market, encourage personal responsibility and cut taxes to help more Americans thrive.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids.  Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track , and get it delivered to your inbox .

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page , on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter .

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Democrats on defensive after Kamala Harris’s economic plans poorly received

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IMAGES

  1. 134 Economics Thesis Topics: Ideas for Outstanding Writing

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    Manali Ganguly, Mar 4, 2024. Share it on: The most popular economics dissertation topics in 2024 are economic development, economic policy and planning, impact of globalisation on economy, money and rates of interest, and international finance among others. The economics dissertation topics include impact of globalisation on economy ...

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    Greenlaw, S. A. (2006) Doing Economics: A guide to carrying out economic research. Boston: Houghton Miffin. ISBN 9780618379835. Neugeboren, R. (2005) The Student's Guide to Writing Economics. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415701235 "Doing a dissertation" in the 'Studying economics' section of the Economics Network website.

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    A senior honors thesis is a chance to investigate an idea, theoretical issue, policy problem, or historical situation of keen economic interest. All economics senior thesis writers are required to take an ECON 985 Senior Thesis Seminar. Attention Juniors: See the Ec Thesis Canvas page for a recording of the Ec Senior Thesis Interest meeting and other key details!

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    A dissertation is a research paper that summarises the research conducted and includes findings either on a question or a topic chosen by the student. It is important as it demonstrates a student's knowledge of the subject and ability to use research methods to define a topic. Students are required to select a dissertation topic of their choice.

  26. Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics, University of

    Theses/Dissertations from 2020. PDF. EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF PUBLIC POLICIES AND ADDICTION ON PURCHASE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS WITH CAUSAL INFERENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING METHODS, Xueting Deng. PDF. EVALUATING THE ECONOMIC COSTS AND LAND VALUE IMPLICATIONS OF IMPLEMENTING COVER CROPS IN KENTUCKY, Robert C. Ellis. 1.

  27. Best 25 Macroeconomics Research Paper Topics in 2024

    Discover the top 25 macroeconomics research paper topics for 2024! Find relevant and engaging ideas to boost your academic writing. WhatsApp for any query: +91 9733392546 ... Economic Growth: As a primary objective, economic growth aims to increase the output of goods and services in an economy over time. Sustained economic growth improves ...

  28. Harris price control plan is a heavy dose of bad economics

    From 2017 through 2020, food prices increased by a total of 8.9%. From 2021 until this summer, the cost of groceries rose 21.6%. So $100 of ground beef, eggs, milk and bread, now costs more than $120.

  29. Harris's economic platform: Good policy or good politics?

    Kamala Harris has fired off her first economic policy proposals in recent days, as she tries to ease voter concerns over the cost of living, rather than reimagining the entire economy à la Joe ...

  30. Democrats on defensive after Kamala Harris's economic plans poorly received

    The stories that matter on money and politics in the race for the White House Democrats rushed to defend Kamala Harris's newly unveiled economic plans on Sunday, amid criticism that they ...