economic policy research topics

134 Economics Thesis Topics: Ideas for Outstanding Writing

Writing a thesis is not an easy task. For most of the students, it can be even intimidating, especially when you do not know where to start your research.

Here, we have provided an economics thesis topics list. After all, everyone knows that choosing the right idea is crucial when writing an academic paper. In economics, it can combine history, math, social studies, politics, and numerous other subjects. You should also have solid foundations and a sound factual basis for a thesis. Without these elements, you won’t be able to master your research paper.

The issue is:

It is not always clear what could be seen as an excellent economics thesis topic. Our experts can assist you with this challenge. This list contains some outstanding examples to get you started.

• ⭐ Thesis in Economics
• 🔥 Supreme Thesis Topics
• 👍 Bachelor’s Thesis
• 😲 Master’s Thesis

📊 Microeconomics

📈 macroeconomics.

• 🤔 Developmental
• 👨‍💼 Behavioral
• 💼 Financial
• 🌱 Agricultural
• 🤝‍ Sociology
• 📚 Ph.D. Topics
• 📝 How to Pick a Topic

⭐ What Does a Thesis in Economics Look Like?

A good thesis in economics is a blend between an empirical paper and a theoretical one. One of the essential steps in choosing a topic in economics is to decide which one you will write.

You may write, research, analyze statistical data and other information. Or build and study a specific economic model.

Or why not both!

Here are some questions you can ask when deciding what topic to choose:

• What has already been written on this topic?
• What economic variables will my paper study?
• Where should I look for the data?
• What econometrics techniques should I use?
• What type of model will I study?

The best way to understand what type of research you have to do is to write a thesis proposal. You will most probably be required to submit it anyway. Your thesis supervisor will examine your ideas, methods, list of secondary and primary sources. At some universities, the proposal will be graded.

After you get the initial feedback, you will have a clear idea of what to adjust before writing your thesis. Only then, you’ll be able to start.

🔥 Supreme Economics Thesis Topics List

• Fast fashion in India.
• The UK housing prices.
• Brexit and European trade.
• Behavioral economics.
• Healthcare macroeconomics.
• COVID-19’s economic impact.
• Global gender wage gap.
• Commodity dependence in Africa.
• International trade – developing countries.
• Climate change and business development.

👍 Economics Bachelor’s Thesis Topics

At the U.S. Universities, an undergraduate thesis is very uncommon. However, it depends on the Department Policy.

The biggest challenge with the Bachelor’s Thesis in economics concerns its originality. Even though you are not required to conduct entirely unique research, you have to lack redundant ideas.

You can easily avoid making this mistake by simply choosing one of these topics. Also, consider visiting IvyPanda essays database. It’s a perfect palce to conduct a brainstorming session and come up with fresh ideas for a paper, as well as get tons of inspiration.

• The impact of the oil industry on the economic development of Nigeria. The oil industry is vital for the economic development of Nigeria. In this thesis, students can discuss the notion of the resource curse. Analyze the reasons why general people are not benefiting from the oil industry. Why did it produce very little change in the social and economic growth of the country?
• Sports Marketing and Advertising: the impact it has on the consumers.
• Economic opportunities and challenges of investing in Kenya .
• Economic Development in the Tourism Industry in Africa. Since the early 1990s, tourism significantly contributed to the economic growth of African countries. In this thesis, students can talk about the characteristics of the tourist sector in Africa. Or elaborate on specific countries and how their national development plans look like.
• Globalization and its significance to business worldwide .
• Economic risks connected to investing in Turkey .
• The decline in employment rates as the biggest American economy challenge .
• The economics of alcohol abuse problems. In this thesis, students can develop several essential issues. First, they can examine how poverty is connected to alcohol abuse. Second, they can see the link between alcohol consumption and productivity. To sum up, students can elaborate on the economic costs of alcohol abuse.
• Causes and solutions for unemployment in Great Britain.
• Parallel perspective on Global Economic Order: China and America. This thesis can bring a comparative analysis of the economies to a new level. China and The US are the world’s two largest economies. These two countries have a significant impact on the global economic order. So, looking at the set of institutions, policies, rules can be constructive.
• The new international economic order after COVID-19
• Financial stability of the banking sector in China.
• New Electronic Payment Services in Russia.
• The influence of culture on different entrepreneurial behaviors.
• The impact of natural cultural practices on entrepreneurial activity.
• The relationships between national culture and individual behavior.
• The main reasons for salary inequalities in different parts of the U.S.

😲 Economics Master’s Thesis Topics

Student life can be fascinating, but it comes with its challenges. One of which is selecting your Master’s thesis topic.

Here is a list of topics for a Master’s thesis in economics. Are you pursuing MPhil in Economics and writing a thesis? Use the following ideas as an inspiration for that. They can also be helpful if you are working on a Master’s thesis in financial economics.

• The impact of visual aid in teaching home economics.
• The effect of income changes in consumer behaviors in America.
• Forces behind socio-economic inequalities in the United States. This thesis can explore three critical factors for socio-economic differences in the United States. In the past 30 years, social disparities increased in the United States. Some of the main reasons are technology, trade, and institutions.
• The relationships between economic growth and international development.
• Technological innovations and their influence on green and environmental products.
• The economics of non-solar renewable energy .

• The economic consequences of terrorism . Terrorism not only takes away lives and destroys property but also widely affects the economy. It creates uncertainty in the market, increases insurance claims, slows down investment projects, and tourism. This thesis can address all of the ways in which terrorism can affect economies.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation in the Oil and Gas Industry in Africa.
• Use of incentives in behavioral economics.
• Economic opportunities and challenges of sustainable communities .
• Economics of nuclear power plants.
• Aid and financial help for emerging markets. This topic is very versatile. Students can look at both the positive and the adverse effects that funding has on the development. There are plenty of excellent examples. Besides, some theories call international help a form of neocolonialism.
• Multinational firms impact on economic growth in America .
• The effect of natural disasters on economic development in Asia.
• The influence of globalization on emerging markets and economic development.

📑 More Economics Thesis Topics: Theme

For some students, it makes more sense to center their search around a certain subject. Sometimes you have an econ area that interests you. You may have an idea about what you want to write, but you did not decide what it will be.

If that’s the case with you, then these economics thesis topics ideas are for you.

• An analysis of the energy market in Russia.
• The impact of game theory on economic development.
• The connection between minimum wage and market equilibrium.
• Gender differences in the labor market in the United States. This topic can shed light on gender differences in the labor market in the United States. In the past years, the overall inequality in labor in the markets decreased. However, there is still a lot of work that can be done.
• Economic reasons that influence the prices of oil .
• Relationship between the Lorenz curve and the Gini coefficient.
• Challenges of small businesses in the market economy.
• The changes in oil prices: causes and solutions . Universal economic principles do not always apply to the sale and purchase of the oil. The same happens with its cost. In the thesis, talk about what affects the prices. What are the solutions that can be implemented?
• The economic analysis of the impact of immigration on the American economy.

• Economic inequality as a result of globalization . Economic inequality becomes even more apparent on the global level. There is a common belief that globalization is the cause of that. Discuss what can be the solutions to these problems. This topic is vital to minimize the gap between the rich and the poor.
• The economic explanation of political dishonesty .
• Effect of Increasing Interest rates costs in Africa .
• The connection between game theory and microeconomics.
• Marketing uses in microeconomics.
• Financial liability in human-made environmental disasters.
• Banks and their role in the economy. Banks are crucial elements of any economy, and this topic covers why. You can explain how banks allow the goods and services to be exchanged. Talk about why banks are so essential for economic growth and stability.
• Inflation in the US and ways to reduce its impact.
• The connection between politics and economics.
• Income Dynamics and demographic economics.
• US Market Liquidity and macroeconomics.
• Macroeconomics and self-correction of the economy .
• The American economy, monetary policy, and monopolies .
• The importance of control in macroeconomics. One of the central topics in macroeconomics is grouped around the issue of control. It is quite reasonable that control over money and resources should become a topic of discussion.
• Analysis of Africa’s macroeconomics and its performance.
• Economics of education in developing markets.
• Problems and possible solutions for Japan macroeconomics .
• Comparative analysis of British macroeconomics concerning the US .
• Public policies and socio-economic disparities.
• The world problems through macroeconomic analysis. Indeed, macroeconomics is very complicated. There are many influences, details, and intricacies in it. However, it allows economists to use this complex set of tools to examine the world’s leading problems today.

• The connection between employment interest and money.

🤔 Development Economics

• Economics of development . This topic is very rich in content. First, explain what it is. Then pay particular attention to domestic and international policies that affect development, income distribution, and economic growth.
• The relation between development and incentive for migration.
• The impact of natural disasters on the economy and political stability of emerging markets.
• The economic consequences of population growth in developing countries.
• The role of industrialization in developing countries . The industrialization has been connected with the development. It promotes capital formation and catalyzes economic growth in emerging markets. In this thesis, you can talk about this correlation.
• Latin American economic development.
• Gender inequality and socio-economic development .
• Problems of tax and taxation in connection with economic growth.
• The economic impact of terrorism on developing markets.
• Religious decline as a key to economic development. Not everyone knows, but a lot of research has been done in the past years on the topic. It argues that decreased religious activity is connected with increased economic growth. This topic is quite controversial. Students who decide to write about it should be extra careful and polite.

👨‍💼 Behavioral Economics

• Risk Preferences in Rural South Africa.
• Behavioral Economics and Finance .
• Applied behavioral economics in marketing strategies. If you want to focus your attention on marketing, this topic is for you. Behavioral economics provides a peculiar lens to look at marketing strategies. It allows marketers to identify common behaviors and adapt their marketing strategies.
• The impact of behavioral finance on investment decisions.
• Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs in North Texas.
• Guidelines for Behavioral Economics in Healthcare Sector.
• Cognitive and behavioral theories in economics .
• Cross-cultural consumer behavior and marketing communication. Consumers are not only affected by personal characteristics, but also by the culture they are living in. This topic focuses on the extent it should determine marketing strategy and communication.
• Behavior implications of wealth and inequality.

• Optimism and pessimism for future behavior.

💼 Financial Economics

• Financial Economics for Infrastructure and Fiscal Policy .
• The use of the economic concept of human capital. Students can focus on the dichotomy between human and nonhuman capital. Many economists believe that human capital is the most crucial of all. Some approach this issue differently. Therefore, students should do their research and find where they stand on this issue.
• The analysis of the global financial crisis of 2020s. Share your thoughts, predictions, ideas. Analyze the economic situation that affects almost everyone in the world. This thesis topic will be fresh and original. It can help to start a good and fruitful conversation.
• The big data economic challenges for Volvo car.
• The connection between finance, economics, and accounting.
• Financial economics: Banks competition in the UK .
• Risk-Taking by mutual funds as a response to incentives.
• Managerial economics and financial accounting as a basis for business decisions.
• Stock market overreaction.

🌱 Agricultural Economics

• Agricultural economics and agribusiness.
• The vulnerability of agricultural business in African countries.
• Agricultural economics and environmental considerations of biofuels .
• Farmer’s contribution to agricultural social capital.
• Agricultural and resource economics. Agricultural and resource economics plays a huge role in development. They are subdivided into four main characteristics which in this topic, students can talk about: – mineral and energy resources; – soil resources, water resources; – biological resources. One or even all of them can be a focus of the thesis.
• Water as an economic good in irrigated agriculture.
• Agriculture in the economic development of Iran.
• The US Agricultural Food Policy and Production .
• Pesticides usage on agricultural products in California.

• An analysis of economic efficiency in agriculture. A lot of research has been done on the question of economic efficiency in agriculture. However, it does not mean there is no place for your study. You have to read a lot of secondary sources to see where your arguments can fit.

🤝‍Economic Sociology

• Theory, approach, and method in economics sociology.
• Economic sociology of capitalism. While economists believe in the positive effect capitalism has on the economy, the social effect is quite different. The “economic” part of the issue has been studied a lot. However, the sociology of it has been not. This thesis can be very intriguing to read.
• Political Economy and Economic Sociology.
• Gender and economic sociology .
• Progress, sociology, and economics.
• Data analysis in economics, sociology, environment .
• Economic sociology as a way to understand the human mind.
• Economic sociology of money.
• Economics, sociology, and psychology of security.
• Major principles of economic sociology. In the past decade, economic sociology became an increasingly popular field. Mainly due to it giving a new view on economics, human mind, and behavior. Besides, it explores relationships between politics, law, culture, and gender.

📚 The List of Ph.D. Topics in Economics

If you decide to go to grad school to do your Masters, you will likely end up getting a Ph.D. as well. So, with this plan in mind, think about a field that interests you enough during your Masters. Working with the same topic for both graduate degrees is easier and more effective.

This list of Ph.D. Topics in Economics can help you identify the areas you can work on.

• Occupational injuries in Pakistan and its effect on the economy. Injuries are the leading cause of the global burden of disability. Globally, Pakistan was ranked 9th populated country with a large number of unskilled workers. In this dissertation, consider the link between occupational injuries and their effects on the economy.
• The study of the Philippines’ economic development.

• Financial derivatives and climate change .
• Econometric Analysis of Financial Markets.
• Islamic Banking and Financial Markets .
• Health economics and policy in the UK.
• Health insurance: rationale and economic justification. In this dissertation, students can find different ways to explain and justify health insurance. Starting to philosophical to purely economic grounds. In the past years, there was a lot of discussion regarding the healthcare system for all. What are some of the economic benefits of that?
• Colombian economy, economic growth, and inequality.
• Benefits of mergers and acquisitions in agribusiness.
• Methods to measure financial risks when investing in Africa.
• The significance of financial economics in understanding the relationship between a country’s GDP and NDP.
• Network effects in cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies are not new anymore. However, it is still an original subject for a dissertation. Students can decide to choose several crypto coins and evaluate the importance of the network effect. This effect is particularly significant for Bitcoin. Explain why.
• The comparison of the Chinese growth model with the American growth model.
• An economic justification versus political expediency.
• Pollution Externalities Role in Management Economics .

📝 How to Select an Economics Thesis Topic

As your academic journey is coming to an end, it’s time to pick the right topic for your thesis. The whole academic life you were preparing to undertake this challenge.

Here is the list of six points that will help you to select an economics thesis topic:

• Make sure it is something you are genuinely interested in. It is incredibly challenging to write something engaging if you are not interested in the topic. So, choose wisely and chose what excites you.
• Draw inspiration from the previous student’s projects. A great place to start is by looking at what the previous students wrote. You can find some fresh ideas and a general direction.
• Ask your thesis advisor for his feedback. Most probably, your thesis advisor supervised many students before. They can be a great help too because they know how to assess papers. Before meeting with your professor, do some basic research, and understand what topic is about.
• Be original, but not too much. You do not want to spend your time writing about a project that many people wrote about. Your readers will not be interested in reading it, but your professors as well. However, make sure you do not pick anything too obscure. It will leave you with no secondary sources.
• Choose a narrow and specific topic. Not only will it allow you to be more original, but also to master a topic. When the issue is too broad, there is just too much information to cover in one thesis.
• Go interdisciplinary. If you find yourself interested in history, philosophy, or any other related topic, it can help you write an exceptional thesis in economics. Most of your peers may work on pure economics. Then, the interdisciplinary approach can help you to stand out among them.

Thank you for reading the article to the end! We hope this list of economics thesis topics ideas could help you to gather your thoughts and get inspired. Share it with those who may find it useful. Let us know what you think about it in the comment section below.

🔗 References

• Economics Thesis Topics List: Seminars Only
• How To Pick A Topic For Your Economics Research Project Or Master’s Thesis: INOMICS, The Site for Economists
• What Do Theses and Dissertations Look Like: KU Writing Center, the University of Kansas
• Writing Economics: Robert Neugeboren with Mireille Jacobson, University of Harvard
• Economics Ph.D. Theses: Department of Economics, University of Sussex Business School, IDEAS_RePEc
• World Economic Situation and Prospects 2018: United Nations
• Undergraduate Honors Theses: Department of Economics, University of California, Berkeley
• Economics Department Dissertations Collection: Economics Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Topics for Master Theses: Department of Economics, NHH, Norwegian School of Economics
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The dilemma I faced in getting Thesis proposal for my M Phil programme is taken away. Your article would be a useful guide to many more students.Thank you for your guidance.

Thanks for the feedback, John! Your opinion is very important for us!

I wants it for msc thesis

These are very helpful and concise research topics which I have spent days surfing the internet to get all this while. Thanks for making research life experience easier for me. Keep this good work up.

Thank you, Idris!

Glad to hear that! Thank you for your feedback, Idris!

Excellent research

For research

A very well written, clear and easy-to-read article. It was highly helpful. Thank you!

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Home » 500+ Economics Research Topics

500+ Economics Research Topics

Economics is a vast and fascinating field that explores how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions about the allocation of resources. As such, it provides a wealth of research opportunities for those interested in understanding and analyzing the complexities of modern society. From macroeconomic issues such as globalization and monetary policy, to microeconomic topics such as consumer behavior and market competition, there are numerous research topics that economists can investigate. In this post, we will explore some of the most interesting and relevant economics research topics that are shaping our world today.

Economics Research Topics

Economics Research Topics are as follows:

• The impact of technological change on income inequality.
• An analysis of the relationship between exchange rates and foreign direct investment.
• The effects of tax incentives on small business growth and development.
• The determinants of economic growth in developing countries.
• The impact of globalization on economic growth and development.
• An analysis of the effects of the minimum wage on employment and poverty.
• The role of central banks in managing inflation and economic stability.
• An investigation into the factors influencing consumer behavior and spending.
• An analysis of the impact of trade liberalization on economic growth.
• The effects of income inequality on social welfare and economic stability.
• The role of international trade in economic development.
• An investigation into the relationship between education and economic growth.
• An analysis of the effects of corruption on economic growth and development.
• The impact of the gig economy on employment and wages.
• An investigation into the causes and consequences of financial crises.
• The role of innovation in economic growth and development.
• An analysis of the impact of government spending on economic growth.
• The effects of globalization on the environment.
• The impact of climate change on economic growth and development.
• An investigation into the determinants of poverty and inequality.
• The role of entrepreneurship in economic growth and development.
• An analysis of the effects of monetary policy on economic growth and stability.
• The impact of immigration on labor markets and economic growth.
• An investigation into the factors influencing international trade flows.
• An analysis of the effects of foreign aid on economic development.
• The role of financial intermediaries in economic development.
• An investigation into the causes and consequences of income inequality.
• The impact of trade agreements on economic growth and development.
• An analysis of the effects of government regulation on business and economic growth.
• The role of technology transfer in economic development.
• An investigation into the effects of economic sanctions on trade and economic growth.
• The impact of population growth on economic development.
• An analysis of the effects of infrastructure investment on economic growth.
• The role of natural resources in economic development.
• An investigation into the effects of labor market policies on economic growth and employment.
• The impact of financial innovation on economic growth and stability.
• An analysis of the effects of income tax policy on economic growth and income distribution.
• The role of social capital in economic development.
• An investigation into the impact of economic policies on international trade.
• The effects of financial liberalization on economic growth and stability.
• The impact of urbanization on economic development.
• An analysis of the effects of international migration on labor markets and economic growth.
• The role of institutions in economic development.
• An investigation into the effects of exchange rate volatility on international trade.
• The impact of demographic change on economic growth and development.
• An analysis of the effects of government debt on economic growth and stability.
• The role of foreign investment in economic development.
• An investigation into the effects of labor market flexibility on economic growth and employment.
• The impact of intellectual property rights on innovation and economic growth.
• An analysis of the effects of economic inequality on social mobility and economic growth.
• The impact of COVID-19 on the global economy.
• The role of financial markets in economic growth.
• The effectiveness of monetary policy in stabilizing the economy.
• The relationship between income inequality and economic growth.
• The impact of government regulations on business activity.
• The role of technology in shaping the future of the economy.
• The effect of globalization on the labor market.
• The impact of trade policy on economic growth.
• The relationship between education and economic growth.
• The effectiveness of fiscal policy in stimulating economic growth.
• The impact of immigration on the labor market.
• The effect of tax policy on economic growth.
• The role of entrepreneurship in economic development.
• The impact of environmental regulations on economic growth.
• The effect of international capital flows on the economy.
• The relationship between innovation and economic growth.
• The impact of demographic changes on the economy.
• The role of infrastructure investment in economic growth.
• The effect of monetary policy on income inequality.
• The impact of government debt on economic growth.
• The relationship between corruption and economic growth.
• The effect of globalization on income inequality.
• The impact of education on income inequality.
• The role of social welfare programs in reducing poverty.
• The effect of minimum wage laws on the labor market.
• The impact of health care policy on economic growth.
• The relationship between energy prices and economic growth.
• The effect of government subsidies on business activity.
• The impact of exchange rate fluctuations on trade.
• The role of financial innovation in economic development.
• The effect of social media on consumer behavior.
• The impact of consumer confidence on economic growth.
• The relationship between economic growth and political stability.
• The effect of demographic changes on income inequality.
• The impact of government spending on economic growth.
• The role of labor unions in the labor market.
• The effect of natural disasters on the economy.
• The relationship between economic growth and environmental sustainability.
• The effect of corporate social responsibility on business activity.
• The impact of intellectual property rights on innovation.
• The effect of cultural differences on business activity.
• The impact of financial crises on the economy.
• The relationship between economic growth and health outcomes.
• The effect of government corruption on economic growth.
• The impact of demographic changes on the labor market.
• The effect of foreign aid on economic growth.
• The impact of technological change on the labor market.
• The effect of monetary policy on income distribution.
• The impact of trade agreements on economic growth
• The effect of corruption on economic development
• The relationship between financial development and economic growth
• The impact of foreign aid on economic growth in developing countries
• The role of innovation in promoting economic growth
• The impact of globalization on income inequality
• The relationship between inflation and economic growth
• The role of natural resources in economic development
• The impact of government expenditure on economic growth
• The relationship between income distribution and economic growth
• The impact of monetary policy on economic growth
• The role of education in promoting economic growth
• The impact of entrepreneurship on economic development
• The relationship between taxation and economic growth
• The impact of infrastructure on economic growth
• The role of international trade in economic development
• The impact of fiscal policy on economic growth
• The relationship between financial liberalization and economic growth
• The impact of economic integration on economic growth
• The role of institutions in promoting economic development
• The impact of foreign direct investment on economic growth
• The relationship between inequality and economic growth
• The impact of social welfare programs on economic growth
• The role of technology in promoting economic growth
• The impact of political instability on economic growth
• The relationship between corruption and economic growth
• The impact of labor market policies on economic growth
• The role of human capital in promoting economic development
• The impact of health care on economic growth
• The relationship between exchange rates and economic growth
• The impact of foreign trade on income distribution
• The role of entrepreneurship in economic development
• The impact of environmental policies on economic growth
• The relationship between foreign aid and poverty reduction
• The impact of financial sector reforms on economic growth
• The role of social capital in promoting economic development
• The impact of regional integration on economic growth
• The relationship between public investment and economic growth
• The impact of monetary policy on income distribution
• The role of international migration in economic development
• The impact of labor market flexibility on economic growth
• The relationship between trade and technology transfer
• The impact of institutional quality on economic growth
• The role of financial sector development in promoting economic growth
• The impact of regional inequality on economic growth
• The relationship between education and poverty reduction
• The impact of foreign debt on economic growth
• The role of social protection in promoting economic development
• The impact of energy policies on economic growth
• The relationship between foreign trade and environmental sustainability
• The impact of international trade on income inequality.
• The relationship between public debt and economic growth.
• The effect of tax policy on international capital flows.
• The impact of government subsidies on technological innovation.
• The role of financial development in reducing poverty.
• The effect of regulation on market structure.
• The impact of globalization on financial stability.
• The relationship between financial development and income inequality.
• The effect of fiscal policy on long-term economic growth.
• The impact of financial frictions on business cycles.
• The role of international capital flows in financial crises.
• The effect of natural resource abundance on economic growth.
• The impact of fiscal decentralization on economic growth.
• The relationship between institutions and economic growth.
• The effect of financial innovation on market efficiency.
• The impact of international migration on the labor market.
• The role of corporate governance in firm performance.
• The effect of monetary policy on the housing market.
• The impact of environmental policy on the energy sector.
• The effect of competition policy on market outcomes.
• The impact of technology adoption on productivity.
• The effect of regulation on consumer welfare.
• The impact of trade policy on export performance.
• The relationship between social capital and economic growth.
• The effect of labor market institutions on the gender wage gap.
• The impact of financial liberalization on economic growth.
• The role of human capital in technological innovation.
• The effect of trade openness on innovation.
• The impact of natural disasters on economic growth.
• The relationship between inequality and economic growth.
• The effect of exchange rate volatility on international trade.
• The impact of banking regulation on financial stability.
• The role of venture capital in financing innovation.
• The effect of regional trade agreements on economic growth.
• The impact of financial development on economic growth in emerging markets.
• The relationship between government spending and economic growth.
• The effect of monetary policy on credit markets.
• The impact of innovation on firm performance.
• The role of social networks in job search and labor market outcomes.
• The effect of international capital flows on income inequality.
• The impact of natural resource dependence on political instability.
• The relationship between financial development and income mobility.
• The effect of tax competition on fiscal policy.
• The impact of labor market institutions on unemployment.
• The role of infrastructure investment in economic development.
• The effect of monetary policy on financial market volatility.
• The impact of fiscal policy on income redistribution.
• The role of digital currencies in the future of finance.
• The effects of the gig economy on labor markets.
• The impact of artificial intelligence on economic growth.
• The relationship between climate change and economic growth.
• The role of blockchain technology in supply chain management.
• The effects of automation on the labor market.
• The impact of E-commerce on traditional retail industries.
• The relationship between social media and consumer behavior.
• The role of data analytics in business decision-making.
• The effects of globalization on income inequality.
• The impact of digital platforms on the sharing economy.
• The relationship between education and economic growth in the digital age.
• The role of fintech in financial inclusion.
• The effects of trade policies on global supply chains.
• The impact of corporate social responsibility on business performance.
• The relationship between immigration and economic growth.
• The role of venture capital in stimulating innovation and economic growth.
• The effects of the circular economy on sustainable development.
• The impact of cybersecurity threats on the global economy.
• The relationship between gender inequality and economic growth.
• The role of green finance in promoting sustainable development.
• The effects of automation on income inequality.
• The impact of the sharing economy on traditional business models.
• The relationship between human capital and economic growth.
• The role of technology transfer in international trade.
• The effects of regulatory frameworks on innovation.
• The impact of government policies on the growth of start-up companies.
• The role of venture philanthropy in social entrepreneurship.
• The effects of digital disruption on the financial services industry.
• The impact of the circular economy on job creation.
• The relationship between health outcomes and economic growth.
• The role of impact investing in social and environmental sustainability.
• The effects of trade agreements on the global economy.
• The impact of entrepreneurship on economic growth.
• The relationship between innovation and income inequality.
• The role of corporate governance in sustainable business practices.
• The effects of immigration policies on labor market outcomes.
• The impact of international capital flows on economic development.
• The relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance.
• The role of innovation clusters in regional economic development.
• The effects of digitalization on productivity.
• The impact of the sharing economy on urban development.
• The relationship between social entrepreneurship and economic growth.
• The role of government policies in promoting sustainable development.
• The effects of demographic changes on the economy.
• The impact of digitalization on economic development in developing countries.
• The relationship between consumer behavior and sustainability.
• The role of private equity in stimulating economic growth.
• The impact of government spending on economic growth
• The effects of minimum wage laws on employment and poverty rates
• The role of government subsidies in promoting renewable energy adoption
• The impact of trade liberalization on economic growth and income inequality
• The effectiveness of monetary policy in managing inflation and unemployment
• The determinants of foreign direct investment flows in emerging markets
• The role of financial markets in economic development
• The impact of globalization on the labor market
• The effects of tax policies on economic growth and income distribution
• The role of human capital in economic growth and development
• The economics of climate change and the environment
• The effects of population aging on economic growth and social welfare
• The impact of social safety net programs on poverty reduction
• The effects of corruption on economic development and political stability
• The impact of technological innovation on labor market outcomes
• The economics of healthcare policy and healthcare markets
• The determinants of entrepreneurship and small business success
• The effects of income inequality on economic growth and social welfare
• The economics of urbanization and regional development
• The role of foreign aid in promoting economic development
• The impact of fiscal policy on economic growth and government debt
• The effects of financial regulation on economic stability and growth
• The economics of education policy and school choice
• The determinants of consumer behavior and market outcomes
• The role of multinational corporations in the global economy
• The effects of immigration on labor markets and economic growth
• The impact of monetary policy on financial markets and stability
• The economics of natural resource management and conservation
• The determinants of industrial competitiveness and productivity
• The effects of trade policies on economic growth and regional integration
• The role of institutional quality in economic development
• The impact of technological change on income inequality
• The economics of innovation and intellectual property rights
• The effects of financial globalization on emerging markets
• The role of infrastructure investment in promoting economic development
• The impact of exchange rate policies on international trade and investment
• The determinants of consumer credit and debt behavior
• The effects of social media and online platforms on market competition
• The role of international organizations in global economic governance
• The impact of natural disasters on economic development and poverty
• The economics of gender inequality and discrimination
• The effects of government regulation on business behavior and market outcomes
• The role of behavioral economics in understanding market behavior
• The impact of public investment on economic growth and social welfare
• The determinants of household saving and investment behavior
• The economics of renewable energy and clean technology adoption
• The effects of economic sanctions on international trade and investment
• The role of information and communication technologies in economic development
• The impact of globalization on income distribution and poverty
• The economics of international migration and remittances.
• The effects of income inequality on economic development
• An analysis of the efficiency of market structures in different industries
• The role of technology in economic growth and development
• The impact of international trade on economic development
• An investigation into the determinants of inflation
• The effects of labor market regulations on employment and productivity
• An analysis of the relationship between economic growth and environmental sustainability
• The role of institutions in economic development
• The impact of foreign aid on economic development
• The effects of taxation on economic growth
• An investigation into the factors that contribute to economic fluctuations
• The effects of globalization on income distribution
• The impact of education on economic growth and development
• The role of infrastructure in economic development
• The effects of trade liberalization on economic growth
• An analysis of the impact of exchange rates on trade and investment
• The relationship between innovation and economic growth
• The impact of government policies on the agricultural sector
• The effects of corruption on economic development
• An investigation into the effects of demographic changes on economic growth
• The impact of financial crisis on economic growth
• The effects of foreign direct investment on economic growth
• An analysis of the effects of natural resources on economic development
• The impact of healthcare on economic growth
• The effects of international migration on the economy
• The relationship between poverty and economic development
• The role of infrastructure in promoting economic growth
• An investigation into the effects of regional economic integration
• The impact of foreign trade on economic development
• The effects of government regulation on economic growth
• An analysis of the role of technology in improving economic efficiency
• The impact of population growth on economic development
• The effects of government spending on income inequality
• The role of the financial system in economic growth
• The impact of energy policies on economic development
• An investigation into the effects of intellectual property rights on economic growth
• The effects of trade on labor markets
• The role of social capital in economic development
• The effects of regional inequality on economic development
• An analysis of the impact of financial market development on economic growth
• The impact of international trade on technological progress
• The effects of financial regulation on economic growth
• The role of institutions in promoting entrepreneurship
• The impact of healthcare policies on economic growth
• An investigation into the effects of income redistribution on economic growth.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Key economic policy developments in 2022 and what to expect in 2023

Subscribe to the economic studies bulletin, wendy edelberg , wendy edelberg director - the hamilton project , senior fellow - economic studies @wendyedelberg richard g. frank , richard g. frank senior fellow - economic studies , director - center on health policy aaron klein , aaron klein miriam k. carliner chair - economic studies , senior fellow - center on regulation and markets @aarondklein sanjay patnaik , and sanjay patnaik director - center on regulation and markets , bernard l. schwartz chair in economic policy development, senior fellow - economic studies @sanjay_patnaik david wessel david wessel director - the hutchins center on fiscal and monetary policy , senior fellow - economic studies @davidmwessel.

December 21, 2022

• 13 min read

Economic policy leaders and researchers were kept busy in 2022 by high inflation, a volatile labor market, crypto crashes, and major legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act. We asked five Economic Studies scholars about important developments this year in their fields of study and developments that they expect in 2023.

Use the links below to explore their perspectives.

• Health care >>
• Monetary policy >>
• The labor market >>
• Finance >>
• Climate policy >>

Health care

What were the most important developments in health care from the last year?

The past year has seen dramatic developments in both mental health care and drug pricing. Concerns over mental health in the United States have taken center stage. For example, the prevalence of mental illnesses increased over the last decade for the first time since the 1950s. That was largely driven by illness in children that more than doubled from 2010 to 2019. President Biden drew attention to the problem and sketched a vision of how to address it.

The U.S. Congress enacted the Inflation Reduction Act that established the ability of the federal government to negotiate prices for prescription drugs and established catastrophic protection against the costs of prescription drugs. These are historic changes in U.S. policy that will save American consumers and taxpayers tens of billion dollars.

What Brookings work have you done on these issues?

Our work on mental health policy during 2022 has focused on three specific issues: the mental health of children , the system for dealing with mental health crises , and the challenges of integrating behavioral health into general medical care . Some key points made in that work are as follows.

• The growth in mental illnesses in children pre-dates the pandemic and the factors driving that change are not well understood. Nevertheless, there are numerous evidence-based interventions that can prevent and treat mental illnesses in children and adolescents.
• We propose that schools can play a greater role in identifying need and engaging children in treatment. Treatment services can be delivered by a range of providers by integrating behavioral health services into a variety of settings facilitated by improved support from the Medicaid program.

Our work on prescription drugs has focused on two key issues. The first is on claims made regarding the impact of policies that negotiate drug prices on innovation and the supply of “new cures.” Our analyses highlighted several points. We showed that concerns over the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on new cures was exaggerated and that the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of a very modest impact was consistent with existing evidence. In addition, we examined various complementary policy measures that could be taken to promote innovations that would boost the health of Americans including greater investments in the NIH and other science agencies and government seeding of venture investments. The second area focused on regulatory impediments to competition. We offered a series of possible modifications to FDA regulations that would promote greater price competition in prescription drug markets that would generate savings to consumers and taxpayers and invigorate the emerging market for biosimilar products.

How do you see these issues evolving in 2023?

The attention and initial steps towards addressing the complex array of issues related to the American struggle with mental illnesses have provided a general direction for policy. In the coming year the details of the strategies for implementing policies at all levels of government and civil society will need to take shape. Our work will focus on both the development of federal policy and addressing barriers at the state and local levels that will be necessary to realize the vision that developed over the past several years.

There are a variety of critical implementation issues related to the prescription drug provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act that must be developed in 2023. Several of those will turn on the answers to analytical questions regarding how markets will respond to policy guidance that will guide the development of a price negotiation process. We intend to focus on some of those analytical issues. In addition, the President has called for ideas for addressing drug prices and competition beyond the provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act. We will be conducting several research projected specifically on those issues.

Back to top >>

Monetary policy

What was the most important development in monetary policy from the last year.

This past year was one of the most unusual in recent Federal Reserve history.  As inflation proved unexpectedly virulent, the Fed took interest rates from zero to over 4%, a faster pace of rate increases than any time since Paul Volcker.  This triggered a sharp decline in both stock and bond prices that eroded the value of Americans’ retirement accounts, a spike in mortgage rates that hit new-home buyers hard, and brought long-sought relief for those with savings in the bank or in market funds.

For the Fed to make policy that will bring inflation under control, they first have to know how high it is, and measuring inflation is no easy task. We’ve published several explainers to help reporters, average Americans, and even policymakers understand how the federal government—primarily the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – does it. Measuring the price of housing—both rental and owner-occupied – turns out to be particularly messy, and housing plays a big role in the official inflation measures, as we explain here.

In the second half of 2022, we hosted an illuminating series of discussions alongside the monthly releases of the BLS Consumer Price Index report. Guests including Wendy Edelberg (The Hamilton Project), Justin Wolfers (Brookings nonresident fellow), Jason Furman (Harvard), Neil Irwin (Axios), and Betsey Stevenson (University of Michigan) joined me to share their perspectives on the drivers of inflation, the Fed’s response, and the road ahead. You can read takeaways from the latest discussion here .

We hosted Fed Chair Jerome Powell in December , and he made it as clear as anyone has that we will continue to face challenges from inflation well into the future. We will be watching closely to see how quickly inflation comes down and how far the Fed raises rates in 2023 – and whether, as I expect, the U.S. economy will slide into recession during 2023.  We’ll also be thinking about the questions the Fed needs to address when it reviews the monetary policy framework it adopted in August 2020 in light of the recent bout of inflation.

The Labor Market

What was the most important development in labor market policy from the last year.

A combination of factors—long-COVID, excess retirements, high demand for labor, among others—has contributed to a volatile labor market in 2022. Some observers have focused on the low unemployment rate compared to the job opening rate and concluded that the unemployment rate will likely have to rise to startling high levels just to stabilize the labor market and get rid of the upward pressure on inflation. Instead, the fill rate (the ratio of job openings to hires) shows that firms looking to hire large numbers of workers are indeed expanding employment at a rapid pace. It’s a complex and unique situation.

In this piece , I argued with some of my colleagues at The Hamilton Project that in order for the economy to return to more stable footing, the labor market needs to soften, but not at much as some think. What squares the circle between the unemployment rate and the fill rate is that right now, the unemployment rate is doing a relatively poor job of capturing the pool of potential workers—many are coming straight into jobs from outside the labor force.

We show that the labor market dynamics since 2021 suggest that getting the job openings rate back to a more sustainable pace means we need the pace of hiring to return to roughly 2015 levels. Such a labor market in the year or so ahead would be softer than today’s, but not startling so.

What were the most important development in finance from the last year?

Bank overdraft fees exploded over the last twenty plus years, growing by some estimates to over $30 billion a year . Overdraft penalizes people who run out of money with fees (typically $35 each time) that directly flow into bank profit. This year, most of America’s largest banks and many smaller ones announced major changes to their overdraft programs that will reduce the high cost to be poor. By my estimate , changes from the largest banks alone will result in $5 billion a year back in the accounts of those living paycheck to paycheck.

Digital assets and crypto currency exploded and imploded with a series of high-profile losses and bankruptcies . Regulating crypto will likely be front and center before Congress and financial regulators who spent last year writing reports requested by President Biden’s executive orders earlier this year .

In 2022, many banks changed their overdraft policies absent any new regulation or legislation, as highlighted at this Brookings event focused on early adopters. New research, public name and shame, and potential competition from financial technology (FinTech) firms finally forced major changes across the industry. President Biden claimed some credit for this as part of his crack down on “junk fees” but regardless of why banks changed their way, the reality is a major win for working families who run out of money, which sadly is by some estimates half of all Americans.

On the crypto side, Brookings was glad to host, among others, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman, Acting Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman, and the New York State Banking Superintendent in a series of events discussing how they are regulating crypto. We recently created a resource for people interested in digital asset markets with key takeaways from a number of these events, along with summaries of recent research on crypto regulation.

While the voluntary progress on overdraft fee policies was welcome, we can and must take action. There are still banks (and likely some credit unions) operating on unsafe and unsound business models reliant exclusively on overdraft. I outlined a series of steps regulators should take : stopping any bank from relying on overdraft fees for a majority of their profit in consecutive years, fixing America’s real-time payments system, and a requirement for all financial institutions to offer a no-overdraft, low-cost, basic bank account. I hope Congress will consider these important measures in 2023.

One key question likely to be discussed in 2023 on crypto will be whether the Federal Reserve can or should issue its own central bank digital currency (CBDC). America already runs on commercial bank digital currency (credit/debit cards, digital banking, etc.) so it remains to be seen whether swapping the first C in CBDC from Commercial to Central will unlock benefits for the American economy or whether it is more in reaction with countries like China which are rolling out CBDC’s for their own reasons which are often very different than ours.

Climate policy

What was the most important development in climate policy in the last year.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) , signed into law in August of this year, is the most significant piece of climate legislation passed in this country’s history. The law provides a total of $386 billion for climate and energy issues, including $271 billion in clean energy tax credits and incentives, $40 billion to reduce air pollution and fund clean energy and infrastructure projects, $35 billion in conservation and rural development, and $27 billion for a greenhouse gas reduction fund that will award grants to national and local green energy and electrification projects.

This law provides significant incentives for large and small businesses as well as for consumers to adopt more low-carbon energy initiatives. It also specifically provides funding for disadvantaged communities to help grant them access to clean technologies and fight against the effects of climate change. Current modeling predicts that instead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 27% from 2005 levels by 2030, the US could potentially be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 42% from 2005 levels by 2030 because of the climate provisions in the IRA.

One example is our recent article on permitting reform , which discusses that the U.S. needs to clear major regulatory delays and enable an unprecedentedly rapid build-out of solar, wind, and electric transmission infrastructure to fully realize the benefits of funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and meet the Biden administration’s climate goals. Permitting obstacles include local and state government delays, as well as a long list of federal permits and reviews that can take many years to complete.

Another example is our explainer video on climate risk. From homeowners in flood-prone areas facing rising home insurance rates to corporations facing pressure to disclose climate risks, nearly everyone is exposed to climate risks. Understanding and proactively mitigating these risks is critical to protecting people and places from climate change.

With a divided incoming Congress, I do not see much room for additional climate legislation to pass. A bipartisan compromise on permitting reform, with concessions to the left on environmental protection and to the right on fossil fuel infrastructure, seems unlikely but remains possible.

This will essentially mean that with much of the grant money set aside in the Inflation Reduction Act still to be allocated, regulatory agencies such as the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency will play an even more significant role in implementing climate regulation in 2023. This is why, in addition to continuing to perform research on permitting reform as well as tracking climate regulation implemented by agencies, looking at how IRA money is allocated will be key in the next year.

Other significant climate developments I anticipate in the near future include a final Securities and Exchange Commission rule requiring climate risk disclosures by public companies and additional details from the EPA on their cap-and-trade program for hydrofluorocarbons.

On the international front, the recently-announced provisional agreement on the European Union Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a major development. It will target imports of carbon-intensive products, functionally applying a carbon tax to imports to bring them into compliance with the EU’s climate ambitions. The CBAM will begin phase-in in October 2023, and is likely to have significant impact globally.

The Brookings Institution is financed through the support of a diverse array of foundations, corporations, governments, individuals, as well as an endowment. A list of donors can be found in our annual reports published online  here . The findings, interpretations, and conclusions in this report are solely those of its author(s) and are not influenced by any donation.

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10 Popular Posts on Economic Topics in 2021

What did people most want to know about the economy in 2021?

Inflation and COVID-19’s effects on the economy were top of mind, judging by the popularity of posts on those topics in our On the Economy blog, which offers frequent commentary, analysis and data from our economists and other St. Louis Fed experts. But examinations of longer-run trends, such as employment growth over 20 years, also attracted attention.

For readers of our Open Vault blog, which explains everyday economics and the Fed, the nuts and bolts of topical subjects like central bank digital currency and Fed “tapering” struck a chord, as did a post about the economic concept of externalities, explained with canine and pandemic examples. 

Here’s a look at a few of the posts that were among the favorites published from January through Nov. 30.

Inflation Trends

How covid-19 may be affecting inflation.

The changing of U.S. consumer spending patterns during the pandemic may have affected the measurement of inflation, according to an On the Economy post published in February. The Bureau of Labor Statistics gathers information about prices in the U.S., weights the prices and aggregates them for the consumer price index, or CPI. Inflation is measured as the CPI’s rate of growth over a certain period.

But what happens if a certain category of goods or services becomes a bigger, or smaller, part of consumer spending? Based on spending habits in prior years, the official weights might not be the “true” weights in 2020, when social distancing led to more eating at home and less spending in restaurants.

What Are Risks for Future Inflation?

As U.S. inflation surged in 2021, an October On the Economy post identified some upside and downside risks for future inflation. A follow-up post examined whether higher inflation could “be attributed to a small group of goods and services or whether it is a more generalized event.” Looking at the overall price change over the period of the pandemic, “the role of outliers is greatly diminished, revealing that higher inflation is perhaps a broader phenomenon,” the post said.

Economic and Monetary Policy Explainers

Externalities: it’s what pandemics, pollution and puppies have in common.

Externalities are costs and benefits that impact or spill over to someone other than the producer or the consumer of a good or a service. As a June Open Vault post explained, that applies to everything from pandemics to puppies. In a pandemic, a lack of social distancing by one person creates an externality that is negative: a higher risk of infection for everyone. Puppies that only bark at strangers, meanwhile, could provide a positive externality for neighbors as a warning system.

A June Open Vault blog post highlighted the Economic Lowdown series video “Externalities.” What makes pollution a negative externality is explained in this clip.

Here’s What the Fed Means by Tapering

As anticipation built this fall for a Federal Open Market Committee decision to “taper,” so did curiosity about what tapering is. An Open Vault post answered that question: The Fed can turn to large-scale asset purchases when economic conditions warrant, and tapering means reducing the pace of those purchases. The post, published a week after the Nov. 3 announcement of the FOMC’s decision to start tapering, also explained how tapering works.

What Is the Federal Open Market Committee?

Readers curious about what tapering is could have learned earlier in the year about the committee that makes that and other monetary policy decisions. As a February Open Vault post explained, the FOMC is the main monetary policymaking body of the Federal Reserve and is comprised of leaders from around the Federal Reserve System.

People and Places

Older workers accounted for all net employment growth in past 20 years.

Before there was the “Great Resignation,” there was an employment increase: A February On the Economy post said that a rise in employment of people age 60 and older was responsible for U.S. employment growth of 11.8 million from December 2000 to December 2020. (See chart.) Among those workers, the increase in employment is attributed to the group’s population growth and increased employment-to-population ratio.

Cumulative Net Change in the Number of Employed People since December 2000

House Prices Surpass Housing-Bubble Peak on One Key Measure of Value

The steady increase of a house price-to-rent ratio “would imply increasing overvaluation” of houses, a May On the Economy post said. That was the case in early 2021 (using data available through March), when an index measuring the ratio of house prices to rent in the U.S. had risen rapidly over the course of a year and reached its highest level since at least 1975.

Sign up now for the free symposium, which has the theme, “Leading the Way in Challenging Times.” The event will run 6 to 8 p.m. CT on Feb. 23-24. Participants will hear insights from leading economists.

Inspiring Young Women to Pursue Economics

A January Open Vault post previewed a February 2021 event that is “designed to inspire young women and underrepresented minorities who may be interested in econ—and to encourage those pursuing a degree to persist.” The next Women in Economics Symposium is set for Feb. 23-24, 2022.

Money and Finance

Wealth gaps between white, black and hispanic families in 2019.

Across education, family structure and generations, gaps persist between the wealth of white families and that of Black and Hispanic families, the authors of a January On the Economy post found.

For instance, they wrote: “More education was associated with more wealth for all the racial and ethnic groups considered. However, wide gaps remain at every education level, with Black and Hispanic families having less median family wealth than white families with the same education.”

And Black and Hispanic families are less likely than white families to have financial and other assets like homes and businesses, and when they do, those assets were more likely to have lower values.

Navigating the ABCs of CBDCs—Central Bank Digital Currencies

“You’ve likely heard of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or even Dogecoin, but you may not have heard of ‘Fedcoin,’ an informal name some have used for the idea of a digital currency tied to a central bank, namely the Federal Reserve,” a June Open Vault post said. The post highlighted short videos in which a St. Louis Fed economist answered questions on central bank digital currencies, including about possible effects on privacy and bank lending.

Heather Hennerich is a senior editor with the St. Louis Fed External Engagement and Corporate Communications Division.

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The Macroeconomic Impact of Climate Change: Global vs. Local Temperature

This paper estimates that the macroeconomic damages from climate change are six times larger than previously thought. We exploit natural variability in global temperature and rely on time-series variation. A 1°C increase in global temperature leads to a 12% decline in world GDP. Global temperature shocks correlate much more strongly with extreme climatic events than the country-level temperature shocks commonly used in the panel literature, explaining why our estimate is substantially larger. We use our reduced-form evidence to estimate structural damage functions in a standard neoclassical growth model. Our results imply a Social Cost of Carbon of $1,056 per ton of carbon dioxide. A business-as-usual warming scenario leads to a present value welfare loss of 31%. Both are multiple orders of magnitude above previous estimates and imply that unilateral decarbonization policy is cost-effective for large countries such as the United States.

Adrien Bilal gratefully acknowledges support from the Chae Family Economics Research Fund at Harvard University. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

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• Corporate price increases.  One study from the  Kansas City Fed  cited corporate price increases as a major contributor to inflation in 2021. Additionally, the  Economic Policy Institute  looked at corporate price increases as a driver of a portion of inflation. Another paper looked at how some companies take advantage of inflation to add extra price hikes, while another analysis looked at earnings calls and how CEOs bragged about using inflation as a cover to hike prices further. 

Despite Trump’s effort as president to frustrate the H-1B system, some things have remained the same. According to the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute, major offshore outsourcing companies, including India-based Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services as well as U.S.-based Cognizant Technology Solutions, remain among the  largest users of H-1B visas .

While there’s still more work to do in order to bring down inflationary prices, the Biden Administration has worked to make sure that Americans have more money to spend by growing their paychecks. As  our friends at the Economic Policy Institute  show, nominal wage growth — that is, the growth of wages year-over-year, not adjusted for inflation — has now  risen above inflation for the last full yea r.

A  recent report  from the San Francisco Federal Reserve found that the college wage gap peaked in the mid-2010s but declined by four percentage points in 2022. Now, bachelor’s degree holders earn about 75% more over their career than those without.

Economists attribute the decline to more rapid wage gains for high school graduates. Between 2020 and 2024, young high school graduates experienced 9.4% real (inflation-adjusted) wage growth whereas college graduates saw a mere 2.2% increase in their earnings,  the Economic Policy Institute  reports.

According to a report from the Economic Policy Institute in March, low-wage workers had a 12.1% wage increase from 2019 through 2023. But even with these wage gains, the lowest-paid workers in the U.S. still receive wages that are inadequate to meet most families’ basic needs, the report said.

The big picture:  On average, women earn 21.8% less than men, according to the  Economic Policy Institute .

• The think tank found that gaps are widest in high-wage fields or jobs requiring advanced degrees. Race is also a factor, with Black and Hispanic women lagging further behind, EPI reported.

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130 Excellent Economics Research Topics To Consider

Table of Contents

Are you an economics student searching for good topics for your research paper? If yes, then keep on reading this blog. To make the topic selection process easier for you, here we have suggested a list of the best economics research topics on various areas associated with the subject. In addition to that, we have also presented a brief overview of economics research paper topic selection and writing.

Quickly explore the entire list and choose any ideal topic for composing your economics thesis or dissertation.

Economics Research Paper Topic Selection and Writing

Have your professor asked you to submit an economics research paper? If yes, then topic selection is the first step you should do. In case, your supervisors had not suggested any research ideas, make sure to choose a unique economics research topic that you are interested in. The topic you choose should be understandable for you and your readers, and it should also have a wide research scope with the necessary information for crafting a comprehensive research paper or essay.

After you have selected a research topic for your economics assignment, sketch an outline with the research ideas that you have gathered. Then, with the help of the essay outline you have prepared, draft the research paper in a well-structured manner by including the essential elements such as the introduction, body, and conclusion.

The introduction paragraph of your research paper should have a catchy opening sentence, brief background information on the topic, and a strong thesis statement addressing the purpose of your research paper. After the introduction, in the body paragraphs, you should include innovative topic sentences and explain your arguments with supporting evidence in a way to persuade your reader. Then, you should finally close your research paper with an engaging conclusion that contains a brief summary of the main points.

List of the Best Economics Research Paper Topics

You may think that it is easy to choose a research topic for your economics research paper. But actually, it is not. As economics is a complex and broad subject, choosing a perfect research topic from it is a daunting task.

If you are asked to write an economics research paper or essay, then you can prefer to choose a topic from economics research areas such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, behavioral economics, agricultural economics, development economics, financial economics, and so on.

Here, we have sorted different categories of economics topics and have recommended a list of excellent economics research topic ideas for you to consider. Go through the entire list and pick a topic that is ideal for writing academic papers as per your instructor’s requirements.

Agricultural Economics Research Topics

• Farmer’s contribution to agricultural social capital.
• Agricultural economics and agribusiness.
• An analysis of economic efficiency in agriculture.
• Agricultural and resource economics.
• Agricultural economics and environmental considerations of biofuels.
• Analysis of food security and poverty status among households in Ehime Mbano
• Role of bank loans and credit facility in financing Nigerian agriculture sector: a case study of Nigeria agricultural cooperative and rural development bank
• Evaluation of the impact of micro-finance banks on the South African agriculture sector
• How poultry farming is becoming a veritable tool for the economic empowerment of South Africa?
• Critical analysis of the problems and prospects of agriculture financing in rural India

Behavioral Economics Research Paper Topics

• What does the economy of trust mean?
• How does the brain change when a person is striking a great deal?
• The impact of economic stability on the social life of a person
• The buying capacity and gender
• How does race relate to economic power?
• Big data and its implications for behavioral economics
• The impact of behavioral finance on investment decisions.
• Cognitive and behavioral theories in economics.
• Behavior implications of wealth and inequality.
• Using behavioral economics to help in reducing substance abuse

Development Economics Research Topics

• The relation between development and incentive for migration.
• The economic consequences of population growth in developing countries.
• The determinants of high-performing institutions in emerging economies
• The impact of globalization on income distribution in emerging economies
• The problems of tax and taxation in connection with economic growth.
• The economic impact of terrorism on developing markets.
• Investigate the relationship between family planning, labor force, and income fluctuations.
• The impact of natural disasters on the economy and political stability of emerging markets.
• Budgeting and decision-making by low-income earners in emerging economics
• The impact of multinational commodity trading through the development of economic perspective.
• Compare and contrast the impact of demand-pull inflation and cost-push inflation on a country’s economy
• Discuss the impact of multinational commodity trading through the perspective of development economics
• Discuss the concepts of mercantilism, linear stages of growth model, economic nationalism, and structural-change theory
• Investigate the relationship between unemployment and fluctuations in national income
• Compare and contrast the economic patterns of villages across Papua New Guinea

Environmental Economics Research Paper Topics

• Explain the energy markets’ economic potential.
• How does global warming affect economic growth?
• How technological advancement leads to economic growth
• Evolution of economic institutions concerning climate change
• Cost-benefit analysis of the regulation of the environment
• The economic perspectives of the distribution of natural resources across boundaries
• The relationship between financial subsidies and the generation of eco-friendly products
• Detailed analysis of the European Union Emission Trading System
• Why it’s important to analyze the economics of clean drinking water
• How wildlife protection affects the economy

Read more: Outstanding Environmental Science Topics for You to Consider

Financial Economics Research Topics

• Risk-taking by mutual funds as a response to incentives.
• Financial economics for infrastructure and fiscal policy.
• Managerial economics and financial accounting as a basis for business
• The analysis of the global financial crisis of 2020
• Stock market overreaction.

Health Economics Research Ideas

• How do chronic diseases affect the workforce and the economy?
• How can public hospitals optimize their revenue collection?
• The economics of the pharmaceutical industry
• How an unhealthy country translates into a poor country
• Is the world’s hunger affected by economics?
• How does perfect competition work in the pharmaceutical world?
• How does an infectious disease outbreak affect the economy?
• Is health insurance important?
• How is the economy affected by a smoking ban?

Research Paper Topics on International Trade

• What are the gains and losses of international trade for developing countries?
• The importance of international trade in developing countries
• The relationship between economic growth and international trade
• The impact of Brexit on small and middle businesses in the UK
• To what extent does a currency union affect trade?
• The roles of exchange rate and exchange rate regime in the US export.
• To what extent are the gains of less developed countries from trade liberalization exaggerated?
• Foreign direct investment in the United States: Determinants and impact
• The relationship between foreign direct investment and wages
• The effects of the banana crisis on the Jamaican and British economies

Macroeconomics Research Topics

• Global recession and factors that contribute to it.
• The relationship between Internet connectivity and productivity in the workplace.
• The relationship between economic growth and unemployment in your country.
• Income Dynamics and demographic economics.
• What should our government do to minimize the risks of future default?
• The connection between politics and economics.
• The world problems through macroeconomic analysis .
• US Market Liquidity and Macroeconomics.
• The structure, history, and activities of the World Bank.
• Economics of education in developing markets.
• Public policies and socio-economic disparities.
• Banks and their role in the economy.
• Problems and possible solutions for Japan macroeconomics.
• State regulation of the economy in foreign countries: main models of regulation.
• The effect of currency devaluation on small and medium firms
• A comparison of the United States unemployment to the rest of the world
• The relationship between common stock prices and inflation in your country.
• Macroeconomics and self-correction of the economy.
• Analysis of Africa’s macroeconomics and its performance.
• The implications of Internet banking on bank profitability.

Read more: Best Macroeconomics Research Topics and Ideas for Students

Microeconomics Research Topics

• Explain how competition influences the price.
• Opportunity costs explained from a microeconomics perspective
• Inflation sources and consequences explained
• The impact of demonetization on small and medium businesses
• The connection between the minimum wage and market equilibrium.
• Perfect competition in microeconomics
• Theories in microeconomics
• The effect of labor force participation on the economy and budget
• Economic inequality as a result of globalization.
• Explain the balance between supply and demand in microeconomics
• Dynamics of the Gini index as a reflection of the problem of inequality in income
• Privatization of Public Enterprises and its implications on economic policy and development
• How does the stock market work?
• The impact of game theory on economic development.
• The changes in oil prices: causes and solutions.
• Marketing uses in microeconomics.
• The economic explanation of political dishonesty.
• How company mergers and dissolutions impact the economy
• The role of tax collection agencies in microeconomics
• Different microeconomic models and how they face the effect of industry conditions

A Few More Microeconomics Research Ideas

• How exactly does Uber fit into the economy of trust?
• How does a person’s brain alter when they hit a big deal?
• missing practical human insights from big data and how this affects the economy.
• explaining how supply and demand are balanced in microeconomics
• Changes in economic institutions with regard to climate change
• Effects of greenhouses on economic growth
• Effects of climate change on economic growth
• Analysis of the European Union Emission Trading System in great detail
• Is resource management for waste scarce? A microeconomics explanation of opportunity costs
• Effects of wildlife protection on the economy

Interesting Economics Research Topics

• What role does entrepreneurship play in economic development?
• How do automation and artificial intelligence affect the labor market?
• Discuss the Economics of healthcare systems and policies in developing countries.
• Explain the effects of trade agreements on income distribution.
• How does foreign aid affect economic development?
• Explain the impact of monetary policy on financial markets and inflation.
• Discuss the effects of income inequality on social mobility.
• How does tax reform impact business investment?
• Explain the role of microfinance in alleviating poverty.
• How does behavioral economics impact personal savings habits?

From the list of economics research topics recommended in this blog, choose any topic of your choice and craft a top-quality research paper or essay. It is not necessary that you need to use the suggested topic as it is, you can also modify the research topic and write your academic paper. In case, you are unsure how to select the right topic and write a persuasive economics research paper, get in touch with us immediately.

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I am an Academic Writer and have affection to share my knowledge through posts’. I do not feel tiredness while research and analyzing the things. Sometime, I write down hundred of research topics as per the students requirements. I want to share solution oriented content to the students.

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Public’s Positive Economic Ratings Slip; Inflation Still Widely Viewed as Major Problem

1. views of the nation’s economy, table of contents.

• Views of top problems facing the nation
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• Similar shares in both parties view personal financial situation positively
• Americans’ views on the future of the economy and their financial situation
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• The American Trends Panel survey methodology

Fewer than a quarter of Americans (23%) currently rate the country’s economic conditions as excellent or good, while 36% say they are poor and about four-in-ten (41%) view conditions as “only fair.”

While positive ratings of the economy have slowly climbed since the summer of 2022, there has been a slight drop  since the start of the year – when 28% rated economic conditions as excellent or good.

This change has been largely driven by Democrats and Democratic leaners: In January of this year, 44% of Democrats rated the economy positively, compared with 37% now.

Still, ratings among Democrats remain higher than they were last year.

Views among Republicans and GOP leaners remain negative: Just one-in-ten rate economic conditions as excellent or good, while half say they are poor and another four-in-ten view them as “only fair.”

Views of the nation’s economy have long been partisan.

• Republicans expressed far more positive views of the economy than did Democrats throughout most of Donald Trump’s presidency.
• Democrats have been consistently more likely than Republicans to rate conditions as excellent or good during Biden’s presidency. However, their ratings have been far less positive than Republicans’ ratings of the economy were when Trump was president. 

There also are wide differences in views of the economy by age and race and ethnicity – especially among Democrats.

Age, race and ethnicity

As in the past, Democrats under age 50 express much less positive views of the nation’s economy than do Democrats 50 and older:

• Just 21% of Democrats under 30 rate economic conditions positively, as do 29% of those 30 to 49.
• By contrast, nearly half of Democrats ages 50 to 64 (47%) and a majority of those 65 and older (55%) say conditions are excellent or good.

However, since January there has been a steeper decline in positive views among Democrats 65 and older (from 70% to 55%) than among Democrats in younger age groups.

Republicans are much less likely to view current economic conditions in positive terms across age groups.

There are also significant differences among Democrats by race and ethnicity. White Democrats are more likely than Black, Hispanic and Asian Democrats to rate the economy positively. However, ratings have dropped across these groups since January.

Views of personal finances and national economic ratings

As might be expected, those who rate their personal finances positively also are more likely to rate national economic conditions as excellent or good.

Among the roughly four-in-ten Americans (41%) who rate their own finances positively, 40% rate the national economy positively. Among those who say their finances are only fair or poor, far fewer say national economic conditions are excellent or good (14% among only fair, 6% among poor).

However, partisanship is a factor here as well. Among Democrats who have a positive evaluation of their finances, 58% rate economic conditions positively. That compares with just 19% of Republicans who give similarly positive ratings of their financial situation.

Overall, personal financial ratings have fluctuated less dramatically than national ratings.

However, the share of Americans who rate their personal finances as excellent or good declined from about 50% in 2021 to about 40% in 2022 and has remained at about that level since then.

About four-in-ten say their financial situation is in excellent or good shape (41%), while a similar share say their situation is in “only fair” shape (39%). Another 19% say their situation is in poor shape.

Americans’ ratings of their personal finances are considerably less partisan than their views of the nation’s economy. Roughly four-in-ten Democrats (44%) say their financial situation is in excellent or good shape.

When asked for their expectations of the country’s economic conditions a year from now, 43% of Americans say they expect it to be about the same as it currently is. About a quarter (24%) say they expect the economy will be better a year from now, and nearly a third (32%) expect conditions to worsen.

And when asked for their expectations of their own family’s financial situation a year from now, 49% of adults say they expect it to be about the same. Roughly a third (34%) say they expect their financial situation will be better a year from now, and 16% expect their situation to worsen.

The shares of the public who expect economic conditions to worsen on either a national level or personal level is smaller than in recent years .

Among partisans, similar shares expect economic conditions of the country to be better a year from now (23% of Republicans, 26% of Democrats). However, a larger share of Republicans than Democrats expect the country’s economic conditions to worsen (38% vs. 25%).

Republicans remain less hopeful than Democrats about the future of their personal financial situation. About three-in-ten Republicans (29%) say their family’s personal finances will be better a year from now, compared with 39% of Democrats who say the same. And twice as many Republicans as Democrats say they expect their own financial situation to worsen (22% vs. 11%).

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Rosenkranz Prize winner investigates impact of price controls on contraceptives

Natalia Serna , an assistant professor of health policy and a faculty fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), has been awarded this year’s Rosenkranz Prize for her research examining how price ceilings on oral contraceptives impact women’s health and their access to medicine in low- to middle-income countries, particularly those of Latin America.

The Dr. George Rosenkranz Prize is awarded by the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Stanford Health Policy to Stanford researchers of all disciplines doing innovative work to improve health in low- to middle-income countries. It is endowed by the family of the late scientist who devoted his career to improving health-care access across the world.

Serna explores large scale health systems and institutions in low- to middle-income countries with the goal of informing the design of health insurance markets and the provision of public programs in these countries.

The $100,000 award will allow Serna to focus on the oral contraceptives market in Colombia. She notes that Latin America has the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the world, due to the lack of access to and the high cost of oral contraceptives. In 2019, the government of Colombia imposed price ceilings on 64 oral contraceptive brands that were being sold at prices three times higher than in Canada and Norway.

Drug spending in Colombia represents 21 percent of total health-care costs and increased by 4 percentage points between 2013 and 2018, Serna said. To control these significant hikes, the government imposes price ceilings for prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. While these efforts lead to regulated oral contraceptive prices dropping by 60 percent and an increase of sales by 35 percent, Serna said little is known about the impact price controls have had on women’s’ health, access to affordable medications, health outcomes and distribution across disadvantaged groups such as low-income mothers.

While it appears logical that capping the price of contraceptives would improve access, it can have the opposite effect by hurting supply. This conundrum is at the heart of Serna’s project: to test for the best model that balances supply and demand.

“I hope that this research will inform governments in low- to middle-income countries on the best policies to control medication prices and on the potential unintended consequences of price controls on patient health,” Serna said. “The equilibrium model of the market for oral contraceptives will allow us to simulate welfare and health effects of different price setting mechanisms such as centralized government bargaining.”

She believes this research will expand our understanding of scalable health systems in developing countries by analyzing rich administrative datasets and answering questions related to the design of health-care markets, the evaluation of government health-care policies, and the simulation of market mechanisms to improve patient health.

“The selection committee was highly impressed by Natalia, an outstanding young health economist, and her work studying the role of price regulations for oral contraceptives in Colombia,” said Grant Miller , the Henry J. Kaiser, Jr. Professor of Health Policy at Stanford School of Medicine, chair of the Rosenkranz Prize selection committee and a senior fellow at SIEPR. “Price regulations are common policy tools to make drugs more accessible in many countries — but they also can backfire, stifling supply. Natalia’s project will identify the intended and unintended consequences of such price regulations and provide evidence on alternative approaches that may better achieve the social goals of promoting accessibility while also not hampering supply, with broad implications for health policy and health in many countries around the world.”

Serna will travel to Colombia to evaluate large datasets from the Colombian Drug and Safety Agency database, the Ministry of Health’s Price Information System for Medications and Medical Devices, as well as the Ministry of Health’s anonymized, individual-level health claims data from 2018 to 2019 and data, which shows every birth and death from 2009 to 2021, including weight at birth, insurance status and cause of death.

Combining this data, Serna will pursue four research goals:

• Quantify the causal effect of price ceiling regulation on prices and quantities of oral contraceptives in Colombia.
• Quantify the casual effect of oral contraceptive price regulation on access to medications and women’s health outcomes.
• Explore heterogeneous effects of the policy across different income groups, insurance stats and geographies.
• Design a supply-and-demand model of the market for oral contraceptives to assess the impact of alternative policies for price controls, such as government bargaining with drug manufacturers.

“Being awarded the Rosenkranz Prize is a testament that investigating the scalability of health systems in low- to middle-income countries is valuable for policy and market design, as well as for population health,” said Serna.

The health economist notes that analysts typically study how governments help their citizens get good health insurance and how insurance companies decide which hospitals to work with — but this research is mostly done in high-income countries.

“Answering these questions for low- to middle-income countries that share similar market structure is important for the goal of reducing health disparities around the globe,” she said.

A version of this story was originally published May 21, 2024 by Stanford Health Policy.

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MIT’s Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy program adds a public policy track

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MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Department of Economics have announced an expansion of their jointly administered Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) program . This expansion adds a new public policy track to complement the existing international development track, opening up new avenues for student learning and research. 

Designed to tackle poverty alleviation and other pressing policy challenges in the United States and other high-income countries, the curriculum of the new track spans a diverse set of issues, from domestic concerns like minimum wage and consumer welfare to global matters including trade, climate change, and immigration. Applications for the public policy track will open this fall, with the inaugural cohort set to arrive on MIT’s campus in spring 2026.

The DEDP program, led by MIT professors and Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, along with professors Sara Fisher Ellison and Benjamin Olken, was established with the mission of equipping diverse cohorts of talented professionals with the knowledge and skills to tackle poverty using evidence-based approaches. The new master’s degree track will support this mission while also underscoring the program’s commitment to addressing a broad array of critical challenges in the fight against poverty worldwide.

"The DEDP program has proven successful on many dimensions, and we are enthusiastic about leveraging its successes to address a broader set of social challenges,” says Ellison, a faculty lead for the program. “The public policy track will enable us to apply evidence-based methodology to poverty alleviation and other related issues in the context of high-income countries, as well. Given increasing levels of wealth and income inequality in these countries, we feel that the timing is opportune and the need is great."

The DEDP program distinguishes itself with an innovative admissions model that prioritizes demonstrated ability and motivation over traditional credentials, such as standardized tests and recommendation letters. To be eligible to apply to the master’s program, candidates must have earned a DEDP MicroMasters credential by passing five of the DEDP online courses. The courses are completely free to audit. Those who wish to earn a course certificate can pay a fee, which varies by the learner’s ability to pay, to take the proctored exam. While applications are reviewed holistically, performance in these classes is the primary factor in admissions decisions.

This approach democratizes access to higher education, enabling students from typically underrepresented backgrounds to demonstrate their potential for success. Notably, the program has welcomed many students from nontraditional backgrounds, such as a student who enrolled directly from high school (and who is now a second-year PhD student in economics at MIT), reflecting the ambition of its faculty directors to make higher education more accessible.

Sofia Martinez, a graduate of the class of 2023 and now co-founder of Learning Alliance , says, "Without the MicroMasters paving the way, applying to MIT or any similar institution would have been unthinkable for us. Initially, my aim in taking the online courses wasn't to pursue the residential program; it was only after witnessing my own progress that I realized the possibility wasn't so distant after all. This sentiment resonates with many in our cohort, which is truly humbling.”

Since its launch in 2020, the DEDP master’s program has conferred degrees to 87 students from 44 countries, showcasing its global reach and the success of its admissions model. Upon arriving on campus, students embark on an accelerated master's program. They complete a full course load in the spring, followed by a capstone project in the summer, applying the theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained through the program at research and policy organizations.

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Health and economic benefits of breastfeeding quantified

Among half a million scottish infants, those exclusively breastfed were less likely to use healthcare services and incurred lower costs to the healthcare system.

Breastmilk can promote equitable child health and save healthcare costs by reducing childhood illnesses and healthcare utilization in the early years, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Tomi Ajetunmobi of the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, Scotland, and colleagues.

Breastfeeding has previously been found to promote development and prevent disease among infants. In Scotland -- as well as other developed countries -- low rates of breastfeeding in more economically deprived areas are thought to contribute to inequalities in early childhood health. However, government policies to promote child health have made little progress and more evidence on the effectiveness of interventions may be needed.

In the new study, researchers used administrative datasets on 502,948 babies born in Scotland between 1997 and 2009. Data were available on whether or not infants were breastfed during the first 6-8 weeks, the occurrence of ten common childhood conditions from birth to 27 months, and the details of hospital admissions, primary care consultations and prescriptions.

Among all infants included in the study, 27% were exclusively breastfed, 9% mixed fed and 64% formula fed during the first 6-8 weeks of life. The rates of exclusively breastfed infants ranged from 45% in the least deprived areas to 13% in the most deprived areas.

The researchers found that, within each quintile of deprivation, exclusively breastfed infants used fewer healthcare services and incurred lower costs compared to infants fed any formula milk. On average, breastfed infants had lower average costs of hospital care per admission (£42) compared to formula-fed infants (£79) in the first six months of life and fewer GP consultations (1.72, 95% CI: 1.66 -- 1.79) than formula-fed infants (1.92 95% CI: 1.88 -- 1.94). At least £10 million of healthcare costs could have been avoided if all formula-fed infants had instead been exclusively breastfed for the first 6-8 weeks of life, the researchers calculated.

The authors conclude that breastfeeding has a significant health and economic benefit and that increasing breastfeeding rates in the most deprived areas could contribute to the narrowing of inequalities in the early years.

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Materials provided by PLOS . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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• Omotomilola Ajetunmobi, Emma McIntosh, Diane Stockton, David Tappin, Bruce Whyte. Levelling up health in the early years: A cost-analysis of infant feeding and healthcare . PLOS ONE , 2024; 19 (5): e0300267 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300267

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