# data[].attributes.body
Economics is a broad discipline that covers a range of topics and sub-fields. Here are some additional topics you can read up on.

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, you will find 7 sections with curated resources on Economics:

1. Introduction to Economics

2. Microeconomics

3. Macroeconomics

4. Economics Research

5. Environmental Economics

6. Producer Theory

7. Other Topics

# data[].attributes.body
In this section you will learn about Economics as a social science discipline and its relevance in today's world.

# data[].attributes.body
Is Economics about money? This short video introduces the nature of Economics as a Social Science discipline and briefly talks about the 2 main branches of Economics: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

For a more in-depth video of what constitutes Economics, you can refer to this video:

What is Economics?

# data[].attributes.body
This video explains the significance of studying Economics and its relevance to the world.

# data[].attributes.body
This short video explains what is Microeconomics, which is the study of the behaviour of individual economic units such as households and firms, and how they make choices.

For a detailed introduction to Microeconomics, you can refer to this video: Introduction to Microeconomics

# data[].attributes.body
This brief video explains what is Macroeconomics, which is the study of the economy as a whole, such as economic growth, inflation and unemployment rates.

For a detailed introduction to Macroeconomics, you can refer to this video: Introduction to Macroeconomics

# data[].attributes.body
In this section, you will learn how to conduct economics research and write a research paper.

# data[].attributes.headline
3.1 The Process of Writing an Economics Research Paper 

# data[].attributes.subject
3.1 The Process of Writing an Economics Research Paper 

# data[].attributes.body
What is an economics paper? This guide lists some key characteristics and basic structure of an economics research paper, namely:

1. Introduction

2. Literature Review

3. Data

4. Methodology/Model

5. Results

6. Framework

Check out the guide for more information on each step.

# data[].attributes.body
There are many research areas and topics in economics, ranging from environmental economics to labour economics. However, to write an impactful and constructive economics research paper, you will need to define the scope of your topic. This guide provides some advice on how you can narrow your scope and have a more feasible research topic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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.

Browse our course listings for economics Master's degrees

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.

Suggested Opportunities

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.

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.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
research thesis research academic master's

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How To Pick A Topic For Your Economics Research Project Or Master's Thesis | INOMICS

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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.

# data[].attributes.body
A literature review is an essential component of any research paper to demonstrate your understanding of your topic, identify knowledge gaps and inspire research. This guide explains how you can write your literature review.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Literature Reviews – The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This handout will explain what literature reviews are and offer insights into the form and construction literature reviews.

# data[].attributes.headline
3.4 How to Find Academic Materials For Your Research Paper?

# data[].attributes.subject
3.4 How to Find Academic Materials For Your Research Paper?

# data[].attributes.body
The Singapore National Library Board (NLB) gives you access to various academic and newspaper databases. Watch this video to learn how you can access these databases and find academic materials for your research paper.

For economics research, you can also access some of the following statistical databases:

1) Singapore

https://beta.data.gov.sg/

https://www.singstat.gov.sg/

2) Asia

https://data.adb.org/

https://statistics.apec.org/

3) Global

https://data.worldbank.org/

https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/SPROLLs/world-economic-outlook-databases#sort=%40imfdate%20descending

# data[].attributes.headline
3.6 Additional Tips For Writing an Economics Research Paper 

# data[].attributes.subject
3.6 Additional Tips For Writing an Economics Research Paper 

# data[].attributes.body
For more useful tips on writing an economics research paper, you can also read this article.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Pomona College in Claremont, California - Pomona College

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Attributes of Writing Economics

The discourse is often mathematical, with lots of formulas, lemmas, and proofs.

Writing styles vary widely. Some authors are very dry and technical while a few are quite eloquent.

Economics writing is different from many other types of writing. It is essentially technical, and the primary goal is to achieve clarity. A clear presentation will allow the strength of your underlying analysis and the quality of your research to shine through.

Unlike prose writing in other disciplines, economics research takes time. Successful papers are not cranked out the night before a due date.

General Guidelines for Quality Research

Getting Started

The hardest part of any writing assignment is starting. Economics research usually begins with a strong understanding of literature, and papers require a section that summarizes and applies previous literature to what the paper at hand. This is the best way to start.

Your writing will demonstrate that you understand the findings that relate to the topic.

Structure

Economists use the first few paragraphs to set up research questions and the model and data they use to think about it. Sure, it can be dry, but this format ensures the write and reader have strong grasp on the subject and structure of the work that follows.

Clear and Concise Work

Clarity is hard to achieve, but revising and reworking a paper ensures it is easy to read

Organize your ideas into an argument with the help of an outline.

Define the important terms you will use

State your hypothesis and proceed deductively to reach your conclusions

Avoid excess verbiage

Edit yourself, remove what is not needed, and keep revising until you get down to a simple, efficient way of communicating

Use the active voice

Put statements in positive form

Omit needless words (concise writing is clear writing)

In summaries, generally stick to one tense

Time Management

Poor time management can wreck the best-planned papers. Deadlines are key to successful research papers.

Start the project by finding your topic

Begin your research

Start and outline

Write a draft

Revise and polish

The Language of Economic Analysis

Economic theory has become very mathematical. Most PhD students are mathematicians, not simply economics majors. This means most quality economic research requires a strong use of mathematical language. Economic analysis is characterized by the use of models, simplified representations of how economic phenomena work. A model's predictions about the future or the past are essentially empirical hypotheses. Since economics is not easily tested in controlled experiments, research requires data from the real world (census reports, balance sheets), and statistical methods (regressions and econometrics) to test the predictive power of models and hypotheses based on those models.

The Writing Process

Finding a Topic

There are a million ways to find a topic. It may be that you are writing for a specific subfield of economics, so topics are limited and thus easier to pick. However, must research starts organically, from passive reading or striking news articles. Make sure to find something that interests you. Be sure to find a niche and make a contribution to the subfield.

You will also need a project that can be done within the parameters of the assignment (length, due date, access to research materials). A profoundly interesting topic may not be manageable given the time and other constraints you face. The key is to just be practical.

Be sure to start your research as soon as possible. Your topic will evolve along the way, and the question you begin with may become less interesting as new information draws you in other directions. It is perfectly fine to shape your topic based on available data, but don't get caught up in endlessly revising topics.

Finding and Using Sources

There are two types of economic sources: empirical data (information that is or can be easily translated into numerical form), and academic literature (books and articles that help you organize your ideas).

Economic data is compiled into a number of useful secondary sources:

Economic Report of the President

Statistical Abstract of the United States

National Longitudinal Survey

Census data

Academic journals

The Outline

A good outline acts as an agenda for the things you want to accomplish:

Introduction: Pose an interesting question or problem

Literature Review: Survey the literature on your topic

Methods/Data: Formulate your hypothesis and describe your data

Results: Present your results with the help of graphs and charts

Discussion: Critique your method and/or discuss any policy implications

Conclusions: Summarize what you have done; pose questions for further research

Writing a Literature Review

The literature review demonstrates your familiarity with scholarly work on your topic and lays the foundations for your paper. The particular issues you intent to raise, the terms you will employ, and the approach you will take should be defined with reference to previous scholarly works.

Presenting a Hypothesis

Formulate a question, problem or conjecture, and describe the approach you will take to answer, solve, or test it. In presenting your hypothesis, you need to discuss the data set you are using and the type of regression you will run. You should say where you found the data, and use a table, graph, or simple statistics to summarize them. In term papers, it may not be possible to reach conclusive results. Don't be afraid to state this clearly and accurately. It is okay to have an inconclusive paper, but it is not okay to make overly broad and unsupported statements.

Presenting Results

There are essentially two decisions to make: (1) How many empirical results should be presented, and (2) How should these results be described in the text?

Focus only on what is important and be as clear as possible. Both smart and dumb readers will appreciate you pointing things out directly and clearly.

Less is usually more: Reporting a small group of relevant results is better than covering every possible statistical analysis that could be made on the data.

Clearly and precisely describe your tables, graphs, and figures in the text of your results section. The first and last sentence in a paragraph describing a result should be "big picture" statements, describing how the results in the table, graph or figure fit into the overall theme of the paper.

Discussing Results

The key to discussing results is to stay clear of making value judgments, and rely instead on economic facts and analyses. It is not the job of an economist to draw policy conclusions, even if the research supports strong evidence in a particular direction.

Referencing Sources

As with any research paper, source referencing depends on the will of a professor a discourse community. However, economists generally use soft references in the literature review section and then cite sources in conventional formats at the end of papers.
This guide was made possible by the excellent work of Robert Neugeboren and Mireille Jacobson of Harvard University and Paul Dudenhefer of Duke University.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Young Economist's Short Guide to Writing Economic Research | Pomona College in Claremont, California - Pomona College

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Attributes of Writing Economics The discourse is often mathematical, with lots of formulas, lemmas, and proofs. Writing styles vary widely. Some authors are very dry and technical while a few are quite eloquent. Economics writing is different from many other types of writing. It is essentially technical, and the primary goal is to achieve clarity.

# data[].attributes.headline
3.5 Econometrics and Statistical Methods 

# data[].attributes.subject
3.5 Econometrics and Statistical Methods 

# data[].attributes.body
Econometrics is the application of statistical methods to economic data in order to give empirical content to economic relationships and concepts. For a typical economics research paper, the use of econometrics and statistical analysis is crucial to quantify your data and provide reliability to your research.

This video provides a brief description of econometrics and some of the relevant concepts and statistical knowledge.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is Econometrics? | Econometrics 101: Lesson 1 | Think Econ

# data[].attributes.body
After learning about economics concepts and research, we will now dive into a sub-field of Economics: Environmental Economics.

# data[].attributes.body
Environmental economics is a sub-field of economics concerned with environmental issues associated with resource exploitation, the problem of externalities and the evaluation of environmental policies through cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact assessments.

Here is another video introducing the key ideas of Environmental Economics: What is environmental economics?

# data[].attributes.body
After an introduction to the discipline, we will now dive into the first big branch of economics: Microeconomics. This section will introduce a few key concepts that guide microeconomic issues.

# data[].attributes.body
This video introduces the concept of scarcity, which is one of the most basic economic problems we face, and how we balance unlimited wants with limited resources.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scarcity | Basic economics concepts | Economics | Khan Academy

# data[].attributes.body
After learning about microeconomics, we will now take a look at the other branch of economics: Macroeconomics. This section will explore a few key concepts that guide macroeconomic issues.

# data[].attributes.body
Every decision we make has an opportunity cost due to scarcity. This video describes the concept of opportunity cost, which is whatever that is given up (monetary and non-monetary) when we make a choice. Opportunity cost also measures the value of the next best alternative forgone when we make a decision.

# data[].attributes.body
How do we make a choice? What are the factors that influence our decision? This video explains the cost-benefit analysis process, which is typically used for large-scale evaluation of a decision, project or policy.

# data[].attributes.headline
2.4 Marginal Analysis and Optimal Choice 

# data[].attributes.subject
2.4 Marginal Analysis and Optimal Choice 

# data[].attributes.body
Unlike cost-benefit analysis, marginal analysis is concerned about how much to consume or produce by comparing the marginal benefits and marginal costs. This video explains how consumers maximise their satisfaction level by consuming at their optimal choice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Marginal Analysis and Consumer Choice- Micro Topic 1.6

# data[].attributes.body
What influences the price of goods? This video briefly introduces one of the most fundamental concepts of economics: Demand and Supply.

# data[].attributes.body
This video explains the concept of externalities, which are indirect costs or benefits incurred or received by a third party. This third party is not involved in the consumption or production of the good involved.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Externalities in Economics | Think Econ | Externalities Explained

# data[].attributes.body
Why do consumers and producers react differently during a price or income change? This video describes elasticity, which is how sensitive economic agents are to changes in market conditions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Elasticity Overview and Tips- Micro Topics 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5

# data[].attributes.headline
4.3 Market Failure in Environmental Economics 

# data[].attributes.subject
4.3 Market Failure in Environmental Economics 

# data[].attributes.body
In economics, market failure is a situation when there is an inefficient allocation of goods and services in the free market. This video briefly explains market failure in environmental economics, the various environmental consequences and the factors that lead to market failure.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Environmental Market Failure: (Causes and Analysis)

# data[].attributes.body
Why are there so many bubble tea brands and only a few mobile network companies in Singapore? This video introduces the 4 main types of market structures in economics.

# data[].attributes.body
This video introduces the concept of market failure, a situation in which markets fail to provide a good or service efficiently.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Market Failures, Taxes, and Subsidies: Crash Course Economics #21

# data[].attributes.body
We will now explore another branch of Economics which deals with microeconomic analysis of producer or seller behaviour. This sub-field will cover more in-depth concepts in microeconomics.

# data[].attributes.body
This video explains the producer theory, which focuses on the decision-making process of firms and producers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Can't talk about profits until I understand costs, and I can't understand costs until I know something about how production works! "Episode 20: Producer Theory" by Dr. Mary J. McGlasson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

# data[].attributes.body
This video introduces the concept of a green economy and why countries should adopt initiatives and work towards sustainable development.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sustainable development: Why we must grow green economies

# data[].attributes.body
After an introduction to the green economy, we will now take a look at how governments and institutions solve environmental problems through various policies to promote a more sustainable economy. This video summarises Singapore's green plan, which aims to combat the challenges of climate change.

Here are some more information on environmental policies around the world:

Singapore

Malaysia

ASEAN

USA

China

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment

# data[].attributes.headline
6.2 Diminishing Returns and Production Function

# data[].attributes.subject
6.2 Diminishing Returns and Production Function

# data[].attributes.body
Why do firms not hirer as many workers as possible? This video further builds on the previous video and highlights the significance of diminishing marginal returns, which is the fall in additional output as the number of inputs (eg. Labour) increases.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Diminishing Returns and the Production Function- Micro Topic 3.1

# data[].attributes.body
A main part of the production process is taking into account the costs of production. This video introduces the various types of costs and how they are calculated.

For additional information on cost curves:

Cost Curve Graphs Part 1

Cost Curve Graphs Part 2

Long Run Costs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Short-Run Costs  (Part 1)- Micro Topic 3.2

# data[].attributes.body
Another main part of the production process is revenue. This video describes the different types of revenue and how their curves are drawn.

# data[].attributes.body
Combining both revenue and cost gives us the profits of a firm. This video introduces the profit-maximising rule, which is one of the main goals of many firms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Maximizing Profit and the Shut Down Rule- Micro Topics 3.5 and 3.6

# data[].attributes.body
Ever wonder why do prices of goods differ for certain consumers? For example, why are movie tickets cheaper for the elderly and students? This video introduces the concept of price discrimination, which is the firm's action of selling the same good at different prices to different buyers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Y2 17) Price Discrimination - First, Second and Third Degree

# data[].attributes.body
We will first learn some of the definitions of key macroeconomic concepts and measurements such as the gross domestic product (GDP), inflation, unemployment and business cycles. This video summarises some of the key macroeconomic indicators of an economy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Macro Unit 2 Summary (New Version)- Measuring the Economy

# data[].attributes.body
Have you wondered where your money goes after you purchase something? This video introduces the circular flow model and explains products, resources, and money flow in a market economy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Circular Flow Matrix- How the economy works

# data[].attributes.body
While microeconomics deal with demand and supply of different markets, macroeconomics is concerned about the general demand and supply of all goods and services in the entire economy. This video introduces the aggregate demand and aggregate supply curves.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Macro Unit 3 Summary- Aggregate Demand/Supply and Fiscal Policy

# data[].attributes.body
In this video, we will learn how the government uses taxes and spending to influence the economy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fiscal Policy and Stimulus: Crash Course Economics #8

# data[].attributes.body
What exactly is money? This video explains the function of money in the context of economics as well as introduces stocks and bonds.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Financial Assets and Money- Macro 4.1 and 4.3

# data[].attributes.body
After learning about fiscal policy, we will take a look at another policy tool used by many governments: Monetary Policy. This video briefly introduces how central banks around the world pursue monetary policy by influencing the interest rate.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What's all the Yellen About? Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve: Crash Course Economics #10

# data[].attributes.body
Lastly, exchange rate policy is also a popular economic policy tool to influence the economy. This video briefly introduces the idea of trade and exchange rates and how they can affect the economy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Imports, Exports, and Exchange Rates: Crash Course Economics #15

# data[].attributes.body
In this video, we learn about a specialised branch of economics, labour economics, which primarily focuses on the labour market and wages.

# data[].attributes.body
Transport economics considers the allocation of resources in the transport sector. This video introduces economic principles and concepts in transport economics, in the Singapore context.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Economics of Land Transport in Singapore - Managing Traffic Congestion in Singapore

# data[].attributes.body
Health economics is concerned about issues related to the efficiency, effectiveness, value and behaviour in the production and consumption of health and healthcare. This video briefly introduces the main concepts and ideas of this sub-field.

# data[].attributes.body
Behavioural economics is a relatively new sub-field of economics which combines psychology with economics to examine the key concept of rationality in economic units. This video introduces this branch of economics which is significantly different from classical economic topics as the assumption of rationality breaks down.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Behavioral Economics: Crash Course Economics #27