Specifics of the Position Paper:

Every student must select one topic and write a position paper 8 pages. The paper must be double spaced. It should have a list of references/bibliography at the end. Please remember that the number of  pages (excluding the cover page and the list of references) should NOT exceed 8 pages under any circumstances. Also, no two students should have the same position on the same topic. These suggested topics do not support any of  the ideas presented in the formulation of the questions/topics raised. They are NOT reflection of your own professor’s belief or ideas. They are supposed to be provocative and you may be totally against them or find support for a number of them.

The important issue in here is to argue against or for and pay attention on how you can support or

reject them with the power of your reasoning. Remember your position can be for, against or a

mixture and conditional support of any of the arguments given below but your grade for the

assignment is based on the strength of your reasoning and nothing else:

 

Some Hints on How to Prepare a Research Paper:

With some differences, most research papers in economics have the following segments:

Formulating the research question (extensive advice will be given by the professor in the first meeting of the class).

An introduction to the topic: Begin the paper by giving reasons for the selection of the topic. It is also useful to indicate the possible uses of the study in its introduction.

Survey of the existing literature: Research in every field is only a link between what exists and what can be further explored; therefore, it is necessary to give a brief account of what others discovered in that particular field of study.

Conduct individual analysis: Here the student should use her/his own methodology and analysis and present the study’s achievements. The major part of the researcher’s contribution appears in this section.

Conclusion and Policy Implications: A study in economics should help in the making of better decisions. Because of this, a researcher is often faced with and should address the question of policy implications in her/his study.