Overview
You should choose a specific and focused economic question, not a broad topic such as "AI and the economy" or "AI and labor markets." The paper should investigate a precise problem that can be analyzed using economic theory and empirical evidence. The reader should immediately understand why the question matters and why it is worth studying. The topic should be interesting, relevant, and connected to real-world economic behavior. My personal preference is "Why are U.S. universities becoming increasingly expensive, yet students are still willing to attend?" But you should narrow it down and make the topic more specific.
The introduction should begin with a compelling problem or puzzle that captures the reader's attention. It should explain why the issue is important, identify the research question, and clearly state your thesis. The thesis should make an argument that can be tested rather than simply describing a trend or phenomenon.
The paper should be grounded in economic theory. You need to explain the economic mechanisms behind your argument, such as how individuals, firms, or institutions are expected to behave. Your theory should generate clear predictions that can be examined using data.
A major portion of the paper should focus on empirical evidence. You should find data, studies, or datasets that allow you to test your hypothesis. The evidence should be used to evaluate whether the theory is supported by real-world observations. Simply summarizing articles is not enough; you must analyze the evidence and connect it to your argument.
Because the paper is expected to be about 15-20 pages, the topic must be narrow enough to allow for deep analysis but broad enough that sufficient data and research are available. You should be able to identify measurable variables, explain how they are related, and discuss how changes in behavior, institutions, or policy affect economic outcomes. The paper must be original and should not be written by ai.