Economics Assignment | homework help websites

Instructions for Final Paper

Econ 337

Your final paper should run about 8-12 pages and is due on the last day of class.  You should also be prepared to give a brief presentation on your paper during the last week of classes.

Structure

This is a traditional research paper.  You should begin with a question or series of questions, your account of research and the state of debate on your question and a conclusion based on your research.

Topics

The topic must be related to the theme of the course – the development and current state of the economies of Asia.  Note:  I do not want any papers on either Abenomics or the financial crisis in East Asia, though you could write a paper on a country’s performance since the crisis.  Other possible topics may include:

• To what extent have the major economies of Asia relied on state-led development?
• What has been the role of export-led growth in Asia (or in a particular country)?
• How important has the use of capital and exchange controls been in countries that have used them (India, China, Malaysia)?
• What has been the role of the IMF in Asia?
• Are the growth rates of India and/or another country or group of countries sustainable?
• What is the role of trade with China and Japan in the development of other economies in Asia?
• What kind of development path has a particular country pursued? (Any Asian country)
• To what extent has the development of the smaller economies of Asia (or a particular country) been driven by FDI from other countries?
• To what extent has the development of Asian economies (or a particular country) been driven by low wages?
• What do social indicators tell us about the state of human development in Asia (or in a particular country)?
• How have economic reforms in, for example, India, China and Vietnam affected living standards and social indicators?
• What is the status of women in a country or countries?

You may also choose a historical topic, like weather conditions improved for working people under Maoism in China, whether India’s five-year plans were successful in alleviating poverty.

These are just ideas.  You may choose to write on any relevant topic.  A case study of a country we didn’t cover or from a region we didn’t cover (like central Asia) might be interesting. You may want to run your topic by me to make sure it’s manageable and related to the course.

Grading

Grades will be based on:

• The specificity of your question and overall topic.
• Good use of sources and quotations to support points and show the current state of discussion/debate on your topic.
• Quality of writing.
• Structure of argument in answering your question and deriving a conclusion.
• Good use of data to support conclusions.

Sources

The best sources of information can be found in JSTOR or Academic Search Complete on the library’s website.  There are a number of very good journals specializing in Asian economies that are not too technical.  You may also use non-academic sources like the Asian Wall Street Journal, Financial Times or Economist Magazine, New York Times or, if you speak an Asian language, publications from your own country.  Apec.org and ASEAN.org are good sources of information, as are the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, IMF and government sources in any of the countries you are researching.  Many Asian governments publish economic data in English.

You must use at least four sources outside of the assigned readings.  You should also include at least one table or chart using data to support points.