Can someone help me think of a topic for school?

[Nik+Heather 121]

What about the effect of the foreign countries offering tax vacations to entice companies to move manufacturing overseas, you could look at the difference in wages, the countering costs of quality, and added logistical costs.

I heard (but can't confirm - it's your research paper!) that some companies had determined a rate of outsourcing at which they only received diminishing returns - maybe 20%? (It is a WAG).

Or, the effect of outsourcing more and more highly skilled labor, and the cost/benefit of training up workers in "emerging" or "developing" markets who then take their new found training and go across the street to work for <1% more money at the drop of a hat.

[slim 1,530]

What if the EPA bans plastic shopping bags?

Import/export business will change considerably along with tariffs/trade agreements and also manufacturing both at home and abroad.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Microsoft vs the EU is always a good one. Plenty of material for that one.

[웃 910]

So far the winner goes to Slim. The other suggestions are good but seem harder to research. I have until Wednesday to decide. Can anyone beat this:

What if the EPA bans plastic shopping bags?

Import/export business will change considerably along with tariffs/trade agreements and also manufacturing both at home and abroad.

[Darnell 8,479]

oh - my fav.

Unrealized MicroSoft licensing fees for all of China, vs the amount of US T-Bills and T-Notes that China Holds.

It's been equal for the last 4 years - would China 'balance the books' simply by paying MicroSoft ?

[slim 1,530]

oh - my fav.

Unrealized MicroSoft licensing fees for all of China, vs the amount of US T-Bills and T-Notes that China Holds.

It's been equal for the last 4 years - would China 'balance the books' simply by paying MicroSoft ?

I like that one too. And the really cool thing if they do that is now the US can hit Microsoft with anti-trust suits and "balance the books" back to $0. So sorry, Mr. Gates!

Seriously though, what if Microsoft was now the principle shareholder in the US Government? OMG LOL!

[웃 910]

Anyone else have any simple ideas. A topic for someone that dreads writing papers. Something very broad. I need to talk about what kind of academic research has been published on the topic and I could barely find 2 on the banning of plastic bags....

Help!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

How about "why econ sucks"?

[웃 910]

How about "why econ sucks"?

I could write extensively on that one!

[twowls 217]

Anyone else have any simple ideas. A topic for someone that dreads writing papers. Something very broad. I need to talk about what kind of academic research has been published on the topic and I could barely find 2 on the banning of plastic bags....

Help!

You need to pick something that you are marginally interested by, otherwise the drudgery will be harder and the product...not stellar. Is there ANYTHING Economics-related that is interesting to you? That you write about something you slightly care about is paramount in terms of quality output. Don't skip that part--best advice I can give you, especially if you hate writing papers.

Brainstorm and throw out a vague idea or two, then people here will help clarify your thesis. Or I will, as an editor and writing center advisor bee.

[웃 910]

You need to pick something that you are marginally interested by, otherwise the drudgery will be harder and the product...not stellar. Is there ANYTHING Economics-related that is interesting to you? That you write about something you slightly care about is paramount in terms of quality output. Don't skip that part--best advice I can give you, especially if you hate writing papers.

Brainstorm and throw out a vague idea or two, then people here will help clarify your thesis. Or I will, as an editor and writing center advisor bee.

N. Korea is interesting. Can somebody help me come up with an interesting topic on N. Korea??

U.S. economic sanctions are imposed against North Korea for four primary

reasons: (1) North Korea is seen as posing a threat to U.S. national security; (2)

North Korea is designated by the Secretary of State as a state sponsor or supporter of

international terrorism; (3) North Korea is a Marxist-Leninist state, with a

Communist government; and (4) North Korea has been found by the State

Department to have engaged in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In

accordance with U.S. law, the United States limits some trade, denies trade in dual-

use goods and services, limits foreign aid, and opposes entry into or support from

international financial institutions.

Economy of N. Korea*

GDP (2008 estimate): $24.8 billion; 46.2% in industry, 32.2% in services, 21.6% in agriculture and fisheries.

Per capita GDP (2008): $1,800.

Agriculture: Products--rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, cattle, pigs, pork, and eggs.

Mining and manufacturing: Types--military products; machine building; chemicals; mining (gold, coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, etc.); metallurgy; textiles; food processing; tourism.

Trade (2008): Exports--$ 2.06 billion (South Korean Trade and Investment Promotion Agency): minerals, non-ferrous metals, garments, chemicals/plastics, machinery/electric and electronic products, animal products, wood products, vegetable products, and precious metals. The D.P.R.K. is also thought to earn hundreds of millions of dollars from the unreported sale of missiles, narcotics, and counterfeit cigarettes and currency, and other illicit activities. Imports--$3.58 billion: minerals, petroleum, machinery/electronics, vegetable products, textiles, chemicals, non-ferrous metals, plastics, vehicles, and animal products.

Major trading partners (2008): (1) China, (2) R.O.K., (3) Singapore, (4) India, and (5) Russia.

*In most cases, the figures used above are estimates based upon incomplete data and projections.

Edited September 18, 2010 by Lord Infamous

[twowls 217]

N. Korea is interesting. Can somebody help me come up with an interesting topic on N. Korea??

How complex does it have to be? I would be interested to know what impact our sanctions have on them. Do they even care? Leads me to...how effective are sanctions? What criteria would have to be in place for sanctions to be an effective measure? Do the ends justify the means? What do we lose by refusal to deal with a particular country? Keep asking questions til you find a core inquiry.

[웃 910]

Quote from my prof. regarding the topic on N. Korea. I think he either doesn't like the topic or he wants me to narrow my focus...

How sanctions against N. Korea are not helping the country achieve economic stability suggest that you believe sanctions do not work, then I will ask how do you know that? Plus not all sanctions are related to trade restrictions. It's hard to get any reliable data, past research might be limited.

I would recommend to think a little bit more on the issue...

[Peikko 1,575]

Quote from my prof. regarding the topic on N. Korea. I think he either doesn't like the topic or he wants me to narrow my focus...

He seems to be telling you that your topic title assumes an unsubstantiated premise, ie, you have already concluded that sanctions are not working and your thesis will simply iterate that they are not rather than examining if sanctions are working and exploring from there. He is also saying that in his opinion there is not enough reliable source material on this topic for you to be able to argue the merits of it objectively and effectively.

Edited September 18, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[웃 910]

He seems to be telling you that your topic title assumes an unsubstantiated premise, ie, you have already concluded that sanctions are not working and your thesis will simply iterate that they are not rather than examining if sanctions are working and exploring from there. He is also saying that in his opinion there is not enough reliable source material on this topic for you to be able to argue the merits of it objectively and effectively.

So what is a better thesis?