INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

EC 410
Term Paper

In order to assist you in learning the concepts taught in this class, part of your assignment is to write a term paper, in which you will be asked to perform an in-depth study of a current issue from the field of International Economics.

Formal requirements All the material turned in at any stage has to be typed. The final paper should be at least 12 pages long (Times New Roman, font size 12, a line-and-a-half spacing, one inch margins). While I want you to adhere to these guidelines, please keep in mind that the contents of your work will matter much more than its volume. Due to the unusually large class size, work on term papers will be done in teams of three students. I am leaving the task of forming the teams to you. The only constraint is that a team cannot consist of only international students. Upon completion of the project, you will be asked to assess the contribution of each member of your team, including yourself Work on the project is to be done in several phases, described below in more detail. Every deadline listed below is strictly enforced (except the cases when I officially amend it). In order to help ensure the timely completion of the intermediate project phases, they will be rewarded by points in the Homework category. The exact number of points will be announced later. If you miss a deadline, you are still required to turn your work in, but some points will be deducted. If I find that the material submitted to me at any stage does not meet the expectations outlined below, you may be asked to revise and resubmit it. Failure to submit the final paper will not allow you to receive anything better than a ‘D’ in this class.

Phase 1. Forming a team and choosing a topic

Any topic dealing with real-world events related to the field of International Economics is acceptable as long as it is both current and interesting. I will do my best to make sure writing this paper results in about the same amount of work for everyone. Therefore, there is no such thing as an “easy topic”. The best way to make the choice is to look for a topic you are interested in, or maybe the one you are more informed about. This will make your work on the paper more enjoyable and will make it easier for you to write a great paper. The Peterson Institute for International Economics website, http://www.iie.com/ contains a nice overview of today’s ‘hot’ topics in international economics and is overall good source of information and ideas. Another option is to do a study on the economy of a country or a group of countries you are interested in. Yet another option is to do an adaptation of a scholarly article that goes beyond the issues we will discuss in class. If you decide to explore such an opportunity, I will consult you on the article selection. As it happens, the majority of the topics in this field are controversial. Please keep in mind that in the final version of the paper I expect to see not just a compilation of quotes from the media, but – and that is the important part – your analysis of the conflicting opinions on the issue. Even more importantly, I want your personal educated opinion on the issue supported by references to material you will have learned in this course. A topic can be chosen by one team only, no exceptions. Topics are assigned on the first come first serve basis. You can discuss your choice with me in person or via email.
The deadline for completion of Phase 1 – September 5.

Phase 2. Writing a paper proposal

After the topic is chosen (or, even better, while you are in the process of choosing a topic), you need to search mass media, Washburn libraries collection, and the Internet for the background material you may use while writing the paper. (In some cases, I may be able to help.) After you get a somewhat clear idea of what your paper will be about, you have to submit a proposal, which must contain: - a tentative title; - a brief outline of the topic, - prevailing viewpoints on the issue(s), - references found so far (books, articles and URL’s), - outline of work that you think needs to be done in order to complete the project.
The proposal has to be at least a page long, not counting the bibliography, which at this stage has to include no less than six cited sources. I will review the proposal and return it to you with my comments. The deadline for completion of Phase 2 – September 12.

Phase 3. Writing a draft of the paper

The first draft of the paper should have the same structure as the future paper (to the best of your knowledge) but some sections may be no more than a paragraph long for the time being. The draft has to be no less than five pages long, not counting the bibliography page. The deadline for completion of Phase 3 – October 3.

Phase 4. Second draft Ideally, the structure and contents of this draft should be as close to the final paper as possible. I am going to use this as the last opportunity to amend the paper and give you my advice. Ideally, at this point we will have agreed on the structure and contents of the paper so that my feedback can focus on exposition and writing style. The deadline for completion of Phase 4 – October 29.

Phase 5. Final version of the paper

By the time you finish writing your paper, I expect the number of references used and cited to go up to at least twelve or fifteen. As for the size of the paper itself, ten to twelve to fifteen pages seems like the right range to me (this includes figures), but, as I said above, I will pay much more attention to the contents of the paper than to its volume. Needless to say, the paper has to meet all the requirements for a scholarly paper. It has to be logical, written in a cohesive manner, and all the arguments have to be presented properly. I am going to grade not only the contents but the writing style as well. The deadline for completion of Phase 5 - Final paper due – November 19.

Phase 6. Presentations
The last four class periods will be reserved for presentations. Each team will be asked to make a fifteen-minute Power Point presentation of their paper highlighting its most important points. Your presentation score will be partially based on peer evaluations. Within each class period, three papers will be presented, with discussion to follow. While making the presentation, you are allowed to refer to your notes, but not allowed to read them.

Keep in mind that I may include some of the issues discussed in the presentations as questions on the final exam.

A sample of term paper topics from past years:

2002:
History of trade wars between the United States and Japan
Argentinian crisis of 2001: Causes and Consequences
Economic reforms in China and Chinese trade policy
Agricultural Subsidies: Fair Practice or Bullying?
2004:
African Growth and Opportunity Act
History of Trade Wars between the U.S. and Europe
Economic Effects of the War in Iraq
Cheap Pharmaceuticals from Canada: Why the Controversy?
2006:
The finite supply of water and its effect on the world economy
Growing pains: questionable benefits of the EU expansion
The Ripple Effect on Outsourcing U.S. Jobs, Near and Far
Economic sanctions on Cuba

2008:
Return to Power: Russia’s Political and Economic Involvement in the Middle East
Reform of China's Exchange Rate Regime
Medical Tourism
Illegal Immigration and its Effects on Unemployment

2010:
The Greek Fiscal Crisis- Causes and Consequences
Can the RMB become an international currency?
Economies of Nigeria and Brazil: A Comparative Analysis
Sources of economic growth in Hong Kong
2012:
Recent evidence on changes in capital mobility: The Feldstein-Horioka approach
Historical analysis of the euro-to-dollar exchange rates fluctuations
Analysis of MERCOSUR – The Common Market of the South
No longer “Made in China”?

The following are the criteria on which your papers will be graded and the maximum number of points you can earn in each category. You may want to keep them (especially those in bold) in mind as you sta rt writing.

The paper is well structured – 1.5

The narrative flows nicely and is easy to read. The writing style is adequate – 2.5

The graphical material (tables, charts, etc.) is sufficient to illustrate the main point(s) of the paper – 2

Arguments and facts are presented clearly and logically. Any opinions are appropriately tested against facts – 2.5

The contribution of the author(s) is evident – 1.5

The choice of the topic and its relevance are justified in the introduction – 1

The main findings of the paper are summarized in the concluding section – 1

The length of the paper is adequate for the topic chosen – 1

The number of referenced sources is sufficient. The sources are properly cited – 1.5

The paper is free of grammatical and typographical errors – 1.5

The presentation was clear and focused on the most important points. The use of visual aids was effective – 4

Maximum possible overall score – 20 points