The Big Project (As given to the library by Dr. Brusoe October 2021)
1. You will want to pick an industry that you want to examine.
2. You will want to frame a focused research question exploring the economic implications within the industry. There is a good resource from George Mason University on how to frame a good research question. https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/how-to-write-a-research-question
A good research question is going to ask the question of “How” and “why” and avoid telling us straight facts but more an argument.
3. What does an “economic implication” mean? This has a fairly broad range on how you want to look at it. It could be related to how a firm or an industry provides services. It could be based on comparing or contrasting two different business models. It could be looking at impact on personal income. It could take a policy and look at implementation of it. It could be domestic or foreign.
Some types of questions: For example, “How has the Clean Water Rule impacted the ability of the textile industry to produce goods?”
Or “How did New York City Taxis respond to higher MPG requirements proposed in 2009?”
Or “How has the increasing temperatures impacted the production of wine in Northern California?”
Or “FedEx and UPS provide delivery of packages, with changing MPG standards how has that impacted their ability to compete?”
Or: “London and New York City both experimented with congestion taxes, what lessons do both cities provide on this policy issue?”
Or: “The Anacostia Watershed society shifted approach in cleaning up wetlands from confronting government to working with government. What lessons do we learn?”
Or: “Shifting from wood to natural gas has implications for the American consumer. How has this shift generated income differences?”
Or: “Do unionized companies score better on their environmental scores?”
Or: “The Automotive Industry has attempted to increase fuel efficiency over the years. What has driven this development the most? Consumer demand, regulation, or some other factor?” Basically, you’re looking for something to do with money, resources, labor, outputs, exports, taxes, something financially based and a person, industry, or company.
If you have an idea, come and talk to me and we’ll find a way to make it work.
