Economics 195

Final Paper

Your final paper assignment is to write up a detailed position paper for the incoming president. The topic of the paper is of your own choosing, but it has to be about some economic policy. You can choose any policy you want, but it needs to be fairly detailed. Don’t just choose environmental policy, for example. It needs to be about some specific environmental issue. And of course you need to focus on the economics of the issue.

Your paper should discuss the issue and explain why it is important. Then you should lay out some of the different ways to solve the problem and come up with a recommendation to the president as to the best way to solve it. I expect your analysis to be based on sound economic theory and to be supported by economic theory, logical economic arguments, and supporting data (which must include either using tables, charts, or graphs integrated into your paper). If you choose a topic that we have covered in part in class, then you should not just rehash what we have gone over in class. You should focus on one specific issue and examine it in depth.

For ideas, go to any of the economic think tanks listed in the syllabus.

Time line:

Paper proposal due November 6 (or earlier): 1 page with an idea of what you want to do and at least two sources of information and/or data that you will use.

Paper due Tuesday December 11 at 4:30 pm. Late papers will be penalized for each day late.

Paper format: Typed, 12 point font, 1 inch margins, 7-10 pages. Your paper must include some use of data that you have collected.

Feel free to talk to me about any ideas or topics.