Potential Research Topics

Your potential research topics are below. To choose one, leave a comment on the post with your full name and your topic choice. Please check the comments first to be certain that someone has not already taken your choice. After commenting, check again to be sure that you are the first on the list that choose the topic. Someone may have jumped in before you while you were making your selection.

If you want something that is not on the list, please talk to me about it. Preferably - it will fall into one of the categories listed. You will also be responsible for providing a short article on the topic for students to read prior to your presentation.

Available topics are in green. As people select topics, I will switch taken topics to red. But since I will be behind in doing so, still check to be sure someone has not already claimed the topic you want.

Wealth and Poverty

Apr. 28 – Unemployment Benefits and Welfare
“On the Dole but Not Doleful.” Tim Harford. Slate.com Dec. 13, 2008
http://www.slate.com/id/2206420/

Social Security (MBN 24, MB 14)
Living Wage (MBN 12)

Apr. 30 – Income Inequality (MBN 13)
Taxing the Wealthy (MB 16)
Gender and Racial Inequality in Compensation (MBN 11)


The World Stage

May 5 – Technology and Jobs (MB 2 & MBN 14)
Immigration and Outsourcing (MB 4 & 5)
Protectionism (MB 24 & 25, MBN 32)

May 7 – Government Bailouts
“Beware Bailouts” James Surowiecki. The New Yorker. August 27, 2007
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2007/08/27/070827ta_talk_surowiecki

Globalization and Culture
“Really Creative Destruction,” Nick Gillespie. Reason. Sept. 2003
http://www.reason.com/news/show/28863.html

Foreign Aid
“A Farewell to Alms.” James Surowiecki. The New Yorker. July 25, 2005
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/07/25/050725ta_talk_surowiecki


Health and Safety

May 12 – Food and Drug Safety (MBN 1)

Organ Donation
“Shopped Liver.” William Saletan. Slate. April 2007
http://www.slate.com/id/2164177/

Health Care Expenses (MBN 15)


May 14 – Obesity (MBN 6)
Crime (MBN 23)
Disaster Relief (MB 15)


Finance

May 19 – Speculation and Bubbles (MB 22)
Financial Regulation
“Capitalist Fools,” Joseph Stiglitz. Vanity Fair. Jan. 2009 http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2009/01/stiglitz200901?currentPage=1

Predatory Lending
“Check Cashers, Redeemed,” NYT, Nov. 7, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/magazine/09nix-t.html?pagewanted=1


Education

May 21 – Education Reform (K-12)
“Vouching for Vouchers.” Megan McArdle. The Atlantic (website). October 2007
http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/10/vouching_for_vouchers.php


Education Reform (College) (MBN 19)

Research Funding
“The Economics of Science: Interview with Terence Kealey.” Scientific American. March 3, 2003
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-economics-of-science


Recreation

May 26 –

Digital Piracy

“Steal this Book! Please!” Tim Harford. Slate.com April 2008
http://www.slate.com/id/2188528

Drug Use and Abuse (MBN 5)
Gambling (MBN 5)


Energy (And Recreation cont.)

May 28 –

Global Warming - Carbon Reduction (MBN 29)
Alternative Energy (MBN 2)

Energy Conservation and Costs

“Power to the People.” Vernon Smith. WSJ. August 2005
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007096


Environment

June 2 – Global Warming - Carbon Sequestration
Traffic and Sprawl (MBN 25)
Pollution (MBN 28)

June 4 – Garbage Disposal and Recycling (MBN 26)
Wildlife Conservation (MBN 27)
Water (MBN 7)