Can someone help me think of a topic for school?

[Peikko 1,575]

So what is a better thesis?

Based on N.Korea or on the idea of sanctions and N.Korea? I'd avoid the sanctions topic if your prof is correct in saying that source material will be limited tbh, although I agree it sounds interesting.

[웃 910]

Based on N.Korea or on the idea of sanctions and N.Korea? I'd avoid the sanctions topic if your prof is correct in saying that source material will be limited tbh, although I agree it sounds interesting.

What about examining the effect of sanctions on N. Korea vs. a country with no sanctions (Laos), both communist countries, and to draw a conclusion on whether sanctions are helping or hurting the average North Korean. Here is some data. Or can somebody help come up with a thesis or draw a conclusion from this data:

Laos:

Labor force:

2.1 million (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.61 billion (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,100 (2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.179 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:

$1.104 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - partners:

Thailand 35.5%, Vietnam 15.5%, China 8.5% (2008)

Imports:

$1.308 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - partners:

Thailand 68.5%, China 10.5%, Vietnam 5.8% (2008)

North Korea:

Labor force:

20 million

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$40 billion (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate:

N/A

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,900 (2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$12.5 billion (2001 est.)

Exports:

$2.062 billion (2008)

Exports - partners:

China 42%, South Korea 38%, India 5% (2008)

Imports:

$3.574 billion (2008)

Imports - partners:

China 57%, South Korea 25%, Russia 3%, Singapore 3% (2008)

[웃 910]

I ran these ideas across my professor and he didn't seem to care for any of them.

So after spending $72 for 1 hour of tutoring services (with a guy who is working on his pHd in economics) I was able to get an idea out of him. He suggested the following topic:

"What is the impact of Fair Trade Coffee cooperatives on exports from 3rd world coffee-producing countries?"

Sent it to my professor and he liked it as well. What do you guys think?

[slim 1,530]

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

Yes. Although, thusfar you've been going about it all wrong. You don't need to discuss N. Korea vs. Laos or N. Korea with this or that sanction..... what you need is =

What happens to S. Korea's economy after the two Koreas are reunified? What if Kim Jong-Il gives up on his deathbed and/or after his death the two Koreas become one? S. Korea, which is usually pretty close to the top 10 in world economy, would face an economic shift unparalleled in modern times. It's even been widely whispered that this is the one true reason they haven't been reunified yet.

That plays nicely into how we'd be effected here in the U.S. through such brands as Samsung, Hyundai, Kia, and several others. Could those brands survive internationally? Would the thrive domestically? Would the U.S. ease tariffs and import taxes in order to stimulate trade with the newly unified penninsula?

There's a sh!t-ton of research out there on the South's economy and what effect the North crumbling or reunifying would have on it. The older Koreans want to see it rejoined in their life, but they're smart enough to realize it's going to bankrupt their country to do so. The youngsters like it in principle, but they've been raised with a strong sense of Southern pride and realize they're never going to be rich if Uncle Park and Grandpa Kim get to see each other again.

[slim 1,530]

"What is the impact of Fair Trade Coffee cooperatives on exports from 3rd world coffee-producing countries?"

Sounds to me like selling out. It's almost like when I worked in the plastic factory and we'd print "manufactured from 5% post-consumer recyclables" on our brand new Starbucks bags.

[웃 910]

Yes. Although, thusfar you've been going about it all wrong. You don't need to discuss N. Korea vs. Laos or N. Korea with this or that sanction..... what you need is =

What happens to S. Korea's economy after the two Koreas are reunified? What if Kim Jong-Il gives up on his deathbed and/or after his death the two Koreas become one? S. Korea, which is usually pretty close to the top 10 in world economy, would face an economic shift unparalleled in modern times. It's even been widely whispered that this is the one true reason they haven't been reunified yet.

That plays nicely into how we'd be effected here in the U.S. through such brands as Samsung, Hyundai, Kia, and several others. Could those brands survive internationally? Would the thrive domestically? Would the U.S. ease tariffs and import taxes in order to stimulate trade with the newly unified penninsula?

There's a sh!t-ton of research out there on the South's economy and what effect the North crumbling or reunifying would have on it. The older Koreans want to see it rejoined in their life, but they're smart enough to realize it's going to bankrupt their country to do so. The youngsters like it in principle, but they've been raised with a strong sense of Southern pride and realize they're never going to be rich if Uncle Park and Grandpa Kim get to see each other again.

Slim, you are a fvcking genius. That would make the best topic!!! Brilliant!

I wrote my prof. the following:

So this topic would be ok: What is the impact of Fair Trade Coffee cooperatives on exports from 3rd world coffee-producing countries?

I thought of another that I wanted to run by you. Topic would be:

If the reunification of North and South Korea occurs, what kind of economic impact would follow? Would the Korea's become a key world player in the global economy? Would the US ease tariffs and import taxes to stimulate trade with the newly unified penninsula? K (for Korea) would be a beautiful addition to the B.R.I.C.<K.> countries...

There have been a lot of talks on this topic in recent months:

(Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Sunday proposed a "reunification tax" to help fund the expected $1 trillion bill when the two Koreas eventually rejoin, but maintained his tough stance against the North:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67E08K20100815

8/19/10: South Korea talks of unification: http://www.economist.com/node/16847156?story_id=16847156&fsrc=rss

I know I would have to zoom in on my focus, but do you like this topic?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I would do a paper on the effects of the unionization of people and its effects on the worlds economy.

[slim 1,530]

Slim, you are a fvcking genius.

I keep telling my wife but she just doesn't believe me. I'll PM you my PayPal info for consultation fee.

Good luck! (And seriously, when you're done, I'll PM you my info so you can send me a copy. I'd love to read it.)

[웃 910]

I keep telling my wife but she just doesn't believe me. I'll PM you my PayPal info for consultation fee.

Good luck! (And seriously, when you're done, I'll PM you my info so you can send me a copy. I'd love to read it.)

Ran it by the prof. and here is his response:

I like the coffee idea better. Korean study would only be a speculation since we wont be able to what would happen? We are more interested in testing hypothesis than making predictions about the future in this class...

So back to square uno!! Good news is I spent a half hour looking for academic journal articles on the FTC (Fair Trade Coffee) topic and there are a lot of articles. :dance:I saved roughly 18 PDFs so I should have plenty of material to work off. Bad news is it will be a very boring paper.

Edited September 22, 2010 by Lord Infamous

[slim 1,530]

Ran it by the prof. and here is his response:

So back to square uno!! Good news is I spent a half hour looking for academic journal articles on the FTC (Fair Trade Coffee) topic and there are a lot of articles. :dance:I saved roughly 18 PDFs so I should have plenty of material to work off. Bad news is it will be a very boring paper.

So much for basing it on two variables.