Honors Research In Economics

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Honors Research In Economics

• Projects
• in Progress

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Honors Research

• Honors and other students in high standing may
• Develop research techniques,
• Pursue issues in depth,
• Apply tools of economic analysis to selected
  topics in economic theory and national and
  international economic policy,
• Apply the economic way of thinking to problem
  solving.
• The honors seminar provides a jumping off point
  for seniors to write an honors thesis. During the
  course of the quarter, students will
• Identify a research interest,
• Learn about their subject, and
• Define a focused thesis topic, which can be
  completed during the following quarter.

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The Honors Research Seminar

• The first three weeks of the quarter are directed
  to choosing a research topic.
• During the second three weeks, students write a
  survey and critique,
• Describing background information,
• Surveying relevant articles,
• Defining their own research interest, and
• Showing how economic analysis and economic tools
  can be used to shed light on their research
  question.
• During the last three weeks, refine and present
  your thesis proposal.

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Elements in the Process of Independent Research
My Academic Curriculum Vita

• What are my academic strengths?
• What substantive knowledge do I have from courses
  and personal experience?
• What research tools do I have, including
  empirical, econometric tools?
• What are my career goals?
• What research skills would complement my long-run
  goals?
• What research topics would help me to explore my
  goals?
• What research questions or research areas matter
  to me?
• Baffling intellectual puzzles
• Policy issues that matter

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Choose a Topic Area

• Find recent surveys of major policy issues
• Journal of Economic Perspectives
• Journal of Economic Literature
• Copenhagen Consensus of Global Problems
• U.S. Government Changing America, Poverty in
  America
• Talk with faculty mentors

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Survey a Topic Area

• Choose two or three strong, analytical papers
  addressing important empirical questions using
  economic tools appropriate for your own
  background.
• Prepare a critical review. What do they show?
• Find a small, focused, analytical question that
  you would like to explore in the second research
  quarter

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Define a Research Question

• Choose and consult with a faculty research mentor
• Define a small, focused research task that may be
  completed in one quarter
• Set down a realistic schedule of
  activities/output that can be accomplished in one
  quarter
• If your topic is empirical, assure that you have
  the needed data
• If your topic is empirical, define your
  econometric approach
• Next quarter, undertake research with your
  faculty mentor

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Examples of Recent Research Projects

• Paul Vronsky, Higher Education Subsidies in
  Washington State
• Tom Coatsworth, Spot Markets and Market Power
  Enron in California
• Jon Frost, The Economics of Open Source
  Software
• Ariela De Funis, An Economic History of the
  Origins of American Jazz
• Ron Kamara, Emissions Banking and Investment in
  Abatement Technology
• Anna Franz, The Impact of Discount Rate on
  Damage Assessment in Global Warming
• Irene Botosaru, How Efficient Are Eastern
  European Stock Markets?

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Examples of Recent Research Projects

• Stephanie Price, Determinants of Enterprise
  Investment in Transition Economies Using World
  Bank Enterprise Data
• Alison Johnston, Assessing Potential
  Macroeconomic Consequences of Joining the EMU for
  Denmark and Sweden
• Ben Fissel, Sovereign Risk Premium and Access to
  Investment in Highly Indebted Countries
• Cecelia Wathne, The Relationship Between an
  Income Tax and State Spending the Washington
  State Case
• Daniel Stoops, Estimation of Productivity of
  Resource Stocks
• Grace Vela, Agricultural Productivity in
  Zimbabwe
• Christina Chan, Local Government Financing of
  Education in China