research topics in education economics

Research Topics & Ideas: Education

170+ Research Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

If you’re just starting out exploring education-related topics for your dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research topic ideation process by providing a hearty list of research topics and ideas , including examples from actual dissertations and theses..

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . To develop a suitable education-related research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Education Research Topics

• How to find a research topic (video)
• List of 50+ education-related research topics/ideas
• List of 120+ level-specific research topics 
• Examples of actual dissertation topics in education
• Tips to fast-track your topic ideation (video)
• Free Webinar : Topic Ideation 101
• Where to get extra help

Education-Related Research Topics & Ideas

Below you’ll find a list of education-related research topics and idea kickstarters. These are fairly broad and flexible to various contexts, so keep in mind that you will need to refine them a little. Nevertheless, they should inspire some ideas for your project.

• The impact of school funding on student achievement
• The effects of social and emotional learning on student well-being
• The effects of parental involvement on student behaviour
• The impact of teacher training on student learning
• The impact of classroom design on student learning
• The impact of poverty on education
• The use of student data to inform instruction
• The role of parental involvement in education
• The effects of mindfulness practices in the classroom
• The use of technology in the classroom
• The role of critical thinking in education
• The use of formative and summative assessments in the classroom
• The use of differentiated instruction in the classroom
• The use of gamification in education
• The effects of teacher burnout on student learning
• The impact of school leadership on student achievement
• The effects of teacher diversity on student outcomes
• The role of teacher collaboration in improving student outcomes
• The implementation of blended and online learning
• The effects of teacher accountability on student achievement
• The effects of standardized testing on student learning
• The effects of classroom management on student behaviour
• The effects of school culture on student achievement
• The use of student-centred learning in the classroom
• The impact of teacher-student relationships on student outcomes
• The achievement gap in minority and low-income students
• The use of culturally responsive teaching in the classroom
• The impact of teacher professional development on student learning
• The use of project-based learning in the classroom
• The effects of teacher expectations on student achievement
• The use of adaptive learning technology in the classroom
• The impact of teacher turnover on student learning
• The effects of teacher recruitment and retention on student learning
• The impact of early childhood education on later academic success
• The impact of parental involvement on student engagement
• The use of positive reinforcement in education
• The impact of school climate on student engagement
• The role of STEM education in preparing students for the workforce
• The effects of school choice on student achievement
• The use of technology in the form of online tutoring

Level-Specific Research Topics

Looking for research topics for a specific level of education? We’ve got you covered. Below you can find research topic ideas for primary, secondary and tertiary-level education contexts. Click the relevant level to view the respective list.

Research Topics: Pick An Education Level

Primary education.

• Investigating the effects of peer tutoring on academic achievement in primary school
• Exploring the benefits of mindfulness practices in primary school classrooms
• Examining the effects of different teaching strategies on primary school students’ problem-solving skills
• The use of storytelling as a teaching strategy in primary school literacy instruction
• The role of cultural diversity in promoting tolerance and understanding in primary schools
• The impact of character education programs on moral development in primary school students
• Investigating the use of technology in enhancing primary school mathematics education
• The impact of inclusive curriculum on promoting equity and diversity in primary schools
• The impact of outdoor education programs on environmental awareness in primary school students
• The influence of school climate on student motivation and engagement in primary schools
• Investigating the effects of early literacy interventions on reading comprehension in primary school students
• The impact of parental involvement in school decision-making processes on student achievement in primary schools
• Exploring the benefits of inclusive education for students with special needs in primary schools
• Investigating the effects of teacher-student feedback on academic motivation in primary schools
• The role of technology in developing digital literacy skills in primary school students
• Effective strategies for fostering a growth mindset in primary school students
• Investigating the role of parental support in reducing academic stress in primary school children
• The role of arts education in fostering creativity and self-expression in primary school students
• Examining the effects of early childhood education programs on primary school readiness
• Examining the effects of homework on primary school students’ academic performance
• The role of formative assessment in improving learning outcomes in primary school classrooms
• The impact of teacher-student relationships on academic outcomes in primary school
• Investigating the effects of classroom environment on student behavior and learning outcomes in primary schools
• Investigating the role of creativity and imagination in primary school curriculum
• The impact of nutrition and healthy eating programs on academic performance in primary schools
• The impact of social-emotional learning programs on primary school students’ well-being and academic performance
• The role of parental involvement in academic achievement of primary school children
• Examining the effects of classroom management strategies on student behavior in primary school
• The role of school leadership in creating a positive school climate Exploring the benefits of bilingual education in primary schools
• The effectiveness of project-based learning in developing critical thinking skills in primary school students
• The role of inquiry-based learning in fostering curiosity and critical thinking in primary school students
• The effects of class size on student engagement and achievement in primary schools
• Investigating the effects of recess and physical activity breaks on attention and learning in primary school
• Exploring the benefits of outdoor play in developing gross motor skills in primary school children
• The effects of educational field trips on knowledge retention in primary school students
• Examining the effects of inclusive classroom practices on students’ attitudes towards diversity in primary schools
• The impact of parental involvement in homework on primary school students’ academic achievement
• Investigating the effectiveness of different assessment methods in primary school classrooms
• The influence of physical activity and exercise on cognitive development in primary school children
• Exploring the benefits of cooperative learning in promoting social skills in primary school students

Secondary Education

• Investigating the effects of school discipline policies on student behavior and academic success in secondary education
• The role of social media in enhancing communication and collaboration among secondary school students
• The impact of school leadership on teacher effectiveness and student outcomes in secondary schools
• Investigating the effects of technology integration on teaching and learning in secondary education
• Exploring the benefits of interdisciplinary instruction in promoting critical thinking skills in secondary schools
• The impact of arts education on creativity and self-expression in secondary school students
• The effectiveness of flipped classrooms in promoting student learning in secondary education
• The role of career guidance programs in preparing secondary school students for future employment
• Investigating the effects of student-centered learning approaches on student autonomy and academic success in secondary schools
• The impact of socio-economic factors on educational attainment in secondary education
• Investigating the impact of project-based learning on student engagement and academic achievement in secondary schools
• Investigating the effects of multicultural education on cultural understanding and tolerance in secondary schools
• The influence of standardized testing on teaching practices and student learning in secondary education
• Investigating the effects of classroom management strategies on student behavior and academic engagement in secondary education
• The influence of teacher professional development on instructional practices and student outcomes in secondary schools
• The role of extracurricular activities in promoting holistic development and well-roundedness in secondary school students
• Investigating the effects of blended learning models on student engagement and achievement in secondary education
• The role of physical education in promoting physical health and well-being among secondary school students
• Investigating the effects of gender on academic achievement and career aspirations in secondary education
• Exploring the benefits of multicultural literature in promoting cultural awareness and empathy among secondary school students
• The impact of school counseling services on student mental health and well-being in secondary schools
• Exploring the benefits of vocational education and training in preparing secondary school students for the workforce
• The role of digital literacy in preparing secondary school students for the digital age
• The influence of parental involvement on academic success and well-being of secondary school students
• The impact of social-emotional learning programs on secondary school students’ well-being and academic success
• The role of character education in fostering ethical and responsible behavior in secondary school students
• Examining the effects of digital citizenship education on responsible and ethical technology use among secondary school students
• The impact of parental involvement in school decision-making processes on student outcomes in secondary schools
• The role of educational technology in promoting personalized learning experiences in secondary schools
• The impact of inclusive education on the social and academic outcomes of students with disabilities in secondary schools
• The influence of parental support on academic motivation and achievement in secondary education
• The role of school climate in promoting positive behavior and well-being among secondary school students
• Examining the effects of peer mentoring programs on academic achievement and social-emotional development in secondary schools
• Examining the effects of teacher-student relationships on student motivation and achievement in secondary schools
• Exploring the benefits of service-learning programs in promoting civic engagement among secondary school students
• The impact of educational policies on educational equity and access in secondary education
• Examining the effects of homework on academic achievement and student well-being in secondary education
• Investigating the effects of different assessment methods on student performance in secondary schools
• Examining the effects of single-sex education on academic performance and gender stereotypes in secondary schools
• The role of mentoring programs in supporting the transition from secondary to post-secondary education

Tertiary Education

• The role of student support services in promoting academic success and well-being in higher education
• The impact of internationalization initiatives on students’ intercultural competence and global perspectives in tertiary education
• Investigating the effects of active learning classrooms and learning spaces on student engagement and learning outcomes in tertiary education
• Exploring the benefits of service-learning experiences in fostering civic engagement and social responsibility in higher education
• The influence of learning communities and collaborative learning environments on student academic and social integration in higher education
• Exploring the benefits of undergraduate research experiences in fostering critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills
• Investigating the effects of academic advising and mentoring on student retention and degree completion in higher education
• The role of student engagement and involvement in co-curricular activities on holistic student development in higher education
• The impact of multicultural education on fostering cultural competence and diversity appreciation in higher education
• The role of internships and work-integrated learning experiences in enhancing students’ employability and career outcomes
• Examining the effects of assessment and feedback practices on student learning and academic achievement in tertiary education
• The influence of faculty professional development on instructional practices and student outcomes in tertiary education
• The influence of faculty-student relationships on student success and well-being in tertiary education
• The impact of college transition programs on students’ academic and social adjustment to higher education
• The impact of online learning platforms on student learning outcomes in higher education
• The impact of financial aid and scholarships on access and persistence in higher education
• The influence of student leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities on personal development and campus engagement
• Exploring the benefits of competency-based education in developing job-specific skills in tertiary students
• Examining the effects of flipped classroom models on student learning and retention in higher education
• Exploring the benefits of online collaboration and virtual team projects in developing teamwork skills in tertiary students
• Investigating the effects of diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus climate and student experiences in tertiary education
• The influence of study abroad programs on intercultural competence and global perspectives of college students
• Investigating the effects of peer mentoring and tutoring programs on student retention and academic performance in tertiary education
• Investigating the effectiveness of active learning strategies in promoting student engagement and achievement in tertiary education
• Investigating the effects of blended learning models and hybrid courses on student learning and satisfaction in higher education
• The role of digital literacy and information literacy skills in supporting student success in the digital age
• Investigating the effects of experiential learning opportunities on career readiness and employability of college students
• The impact of e-portfolios on student reflection, self-assessment, and showcasing of learning in higher education
• The role of technology in enhancing collaborative learning experiences in tertiary classrooms
• The impact of research opportunities on undergraduate student engagement and pursuit of advanced degrees
• Examining the effects of competency-based assessment on measuring student learning and achievement in tertiary education
• Examining the effects of interdisciplinary programs and courses on critical thinking and problem-solving skills in college students
• The role of inclusive education and accessibility in promoting equitable learning experiences for diverse student populations
• The role of career counseling and guidance in supporting students’ career decision-making in tertiary education
• The influence of faculty diversity and representation on student success and inclusive learning environments in higher education

Education-Related Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic in education, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses in the education space to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of education-related research projects to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• From Rural to Urban: Education Conditions of Migrant Children in China (Wang, 2019)
• Energy Renovation While Learning English: A Guidebook for Elementary ESL Teachers (Yang, 2019)
• A Reanalyses of Intercorrelational Matrices of Visual and Verbal Learners’ Abilities, Cognitive Styles, and Learning Preferences (Fox, 2020)
• A study of the elementary math program utilized by a mid-Missouri school district (Barabas, 2020)
• Instructor formative assessment practices in virtual learning environments : a posthumanist sociomaterial perspective (Burcks, 2019)
• Higher education students services: a qualitative study of two mid-size universities’ direct exchange programs (Kinde, 2020)
• Exploring editorial leadership : a qualitative study of scholastic journalism advisers teaching leadership in Missouri secondary schools (Lewis, 2020)
• Selling the virtual university: a multimodal discourse analysis of marketing for online learning (Ludwig, 2020)
• Advocacy and accountability in school counselling: assessing the use of data as related to professional self-efficacy (Matthews, 2020)
• The use of an application screening assessment as a predictor of teaching retention at a midwestern, K-12, public school district (Scarbrough, 2020)
• Core values driving sustained elite performance cultures (Beiner, 2020)
• Educative features of upper elementary Eureka math curriculum (Dwiggins, 2020)
• How female principals nurture adult learning opportunities in successful high schools with challenging student demographics (Woodward, 2020)
• The disproportionality of Black Males in Special Education: A Case Study Analysis of Educator Perceptions in a Southeastern Urban High School (McCrae, 2021)

As you can see, these research topics are a lot more focused than the generic topic ideas we presented earlier. So, in order for you to develop a high-quality research topic, you’ll need to get specific and laser-focused on a specific context with specific variables of interest.  In the video below, we explore some other important things you’ll need to consider when crafting your research topic.

Get 1-On-1 Help

If you’re still unsure about how to find a quality research topic within education, check out our Research Topic Kickstarter service, which is the perfect starting point for developing a unique, well-justified research topic.

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In This Article Expand or collapse the "in this article" section Economics of Education

Introduction, general overviews.

• Working Papers
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• Human Capital and the Returns to Education
• School Choice
• Educational Inputs
• Health and Education
• Peer Effects
• Teacher Labor Markets
• Early Childhood Education
• Higher Education
• Educational Finance
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• Achievement Gaps

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Economics of Education by Kevin A. Gee LAST REVIEWED: 15 December 2011 LAST MODIFIED: 15 December 2011 DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199756810-0055

The economics of education is a rapidly growing and evolving field that applies a diverse array of economic theories, models, and quantitative methodologies to understand, analyze, and improve the performance of education systems. Economic theories, such as the theory of human capital, economic models, such as the input–output based model of educational production, and rigorous experimental and quasi-experimental designs that seek to establish causal relationships have been developed and used by economists to shed light on a host of substantive issues that span education sectors, from formal to informal, and education levels, from early childhood education to higher education. Some of the most prominent issues in education that economists currently research include school choice (charter schools and voucher systems), teacher accountability, and closing growing achievement gaps. Because the field is rapidly evolving and the topics that are at the forefront of scholarly research in the economics of education are often responsive to current policy debates in education, these entries reflect the most salient and up-to-date references with an emphasis on topics most relevant to educational issues, both domestic and global, in the first decade of the 21st century.

Readers who are interested in understanding the breadth and depth of topics and research in the field should refer to several comprehensive resources on the economics of education. Brewer and McEwan 2010 and the two-volume Hanushek and Welch 2006 provide the reader with research on the most important topics in the economics of education, including the link between schooling and wages, issues of teacher supply and quality, as well as financing higher education. Johnes and Johnes 2004 provides a compendium of research articles that examines issues from an international perspective. Carnoy 1995 also provides coverage on topics in the economics of education organized into eight thematic units, including the benefits of education and educational finance. Finally, readers who would like to understand three core theories underlying the economics of education from a nontechnical perspective should refer to Brewer, et al. 2010 .

Brewer, Dominic J., Guilbert C. Hentschke, and Eric R. Eide. 2010. Theoretical concepts in the economics of education. In International Encyclopedia of Education . Edited by Penelope L. Peterson, Eva L. Baker, and Barry McGraw, 193–198. Oxford: Elsevier.

Particularly suited to readers without a background in economics, provides a nontechnical explanation of three core concepts underlying the field of the economics of education: human capital, market failures, and educational production.

Brewer, Dominic J., and Patrick J. McEwan, eds. 2010. Economics of education . Oxford: Academic.

The most recent, up-to-date collection of research articles spanning the field of the economics of education. Provides comprehensive coverage in topic areas such as teacher labor markets and incentives in education. Focuses primarily on K–12 education and includes research drawn from international settings.

Carnoy, Martin, ed. 1995. International encyclopedia of economics of education . Resources in Education. Oxford: Pergamon.

A comprehensive collection of articles organized by eight thematic units on topics in the economics of education.

Hanushek, Eric A., and Finis Welch, eds. 2006. Handbook of the economics of education . 2 vols. Handbooks in Economics 26. Amsterdam: North-Holland.

A two-volume compilation of research in the economics of education from leading scholars in the field. Provides comprehensive coverage of key topic areas in the economics of education and includes extensive reference lists at the end of each article.

Johnes, Geraint, and Jill Johnes, eds. 2004. International handbook on the economics of education . Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.

This handbook provides an overview of core topics that economists research in education and includes selections on the returns to education and teacher labor markets. Examples and evidence are grounded in international contexts. This handbook also includes a topic not often included in research in the field—the economics of secondary education.

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• Browse content in A - General Economics and Teaching
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The Economics of Education and Education Policy

Virtual issue.

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This virtual issue showcases 12 papers published in The Economic Journal, focusing on the economics of education and education policy. In addition to long-standing issues such as school choice, tracking and teacher effectiveness, this issue highlights recent research on complex education policy problems such as intergenerational mobility and inequality. The issue is timely, as the tremendous negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on learning outcomes still persist worldwide.

The issue is organized around four themes. The first set of papers examines enduring questions about school choice and school quality, including issues related to student tracking.  The second set deals with distributional and intergenerational issues from the education policy perspective. The final two sets explore teacher effectiveness and the identification of peer effects. These 12 papers together represent cutting-edge research in the education and education policy literature and offer new avenues for future research.

Sule Alan, Joint Managing Editor, The Economic Journal

School Choice Design, Risk Aversion and Cardinal Segregation

Learning and mechanism design: an experimental test of school matching mechanisms with intergenerational advice, better together heterogeneous effects of tracking on student achievement, does educational tracking affect performance and inequality differences‐ in‐differences evidence across countries, intergenerational mobility and unequal school opportunity, the hahn lecture: the long-term distributional and welfare effects of covid-19 school closures, long-term and intergenerational effects of education: evidence from school construction in indonesia, teacher effectiveness and classroom composition: understanding match effects in the classroom, education quality and teaching practices, the long-run effects of peers on mental health, friendship and female education: evidence from a field experiment in bangladeshi primary schools, competitive pressure widens the gender gap in performance: evidence from a two-stage competition in mathematics.

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Economics of Education

Caroline Hoxby

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• Economics of Education

The economics of education is a wide-ranging and growing sub-field of economics. It encompasses topics such as research on returns to education in the labour market, efficiency of the education “industry”, effets of education on the growth of economies, and educational finance. It also encompasses all levels of education, ranging from pre-school learning over school and university education and training to lifelong learning.

The following list provides an encompassing overview of the various sub-fields of research in the economics of education and of the most important topics within each sub-field. To illustrate the kind of work performed under each of these headings, we present below a brief overview of some research undertaken by members of the EENEE network as examples of research in each category.

Each reference list contains three parts: first, a list of “Introductory Reading”, where somebody who does not know this literature might want to start from; second, a list of “Key References”, which may require some more knowledge of the field but might be viewed as belonging to the most important references in this literature; and third, a list of “Further Reading” in this literature, organized by date of publication. As far as possible, the lists provide an abstract for each entry, as well as a link to the publication or at least its publisher.

It is clear that these reference lists can never be exhaustive, particularly because the literature on the economics of education is so wide-ranging and continues to expand ever more rapidly. Thus, if you detected important omissions in the lists, particularly of introductions or overviews of particular topics, or if you want to post your own recent published articles and working papers, we would be most grateful if you could let us know by email to [email protected] .

• 0 Introductory and General Reading
• 1 Micro: Labour Markets
• 2 Micro: Schooling Quality and Educational Production
• 3 Macro: Human Capital
• 4 Educational Finance
• 5 Levels of Education
• 6 Training, Informal Learning and Lifelong Learning
• 7 Research and Knowledge Creation
• 8 Socio-Demographic Aspects
• 9 Economic Theories of Education
• 10 Comparative Economics of Education
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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!

Thanks for your kind words! We look forward to seeing you again!

Topics on Economics of Education

Journal Title

Journal issn, volume title, repository usage stats.

This dissertation consists of two separate essays on economics of education. First, the role of teacher-student interactions is analyzed. Teacher effectiveness is generally characterized by a single effect that is common across students. However, educators are multi-task agents that choose how to allocate their efforts among pupils. Some teachers may target their courses towards the top students in the class while others to the bottom, leading to different complementarity effects. Moreover, the introduction of accountability programs, such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), could induce a reallocation of teacher's efforts, affecting the dynamics of student-teacher interactions. This study shows that the role of complementarities is key from a policy perspective. In this regard, an analytical framework and a novel iterative algorithm are implemented in order to characterize and quantify these effects. Results indicate that interaction effects played a crucial role in shaping the distribution of student achievement, especially after the implementation of NCLB. While more than half of the total gains in test scores experienced by the bottom third of the student achievement distribution post NCLB are due to adjustments in teacher-student complementarities, those with the very highest abilities have seen decreases in their performance.

In the second essay, gender disparities in educational attainment are explored across races. The sizable gender gap in college enrollment, especially among African Americans, constitutes a puzzling empirical regularity that may have serious consequences on marriage markets, male labor force participation and the diversity of college campuses. For instance, only 35.7 percent of all African American undergraduate students were men in 2004. Results show that, while family background characteristics cannot account for the observed gap, proxy measures for non-cognitive skills are crucial to explain it.

Description

Aucejo, Esteban Matias (2012). Topics on Economics of Education . Dissertation, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/5791 .

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Dukes student scholarship is made available to the public using a Creative Commons Attribution / Non-commercial / No derivative (CC-BY-NC-ND) license .

Education Research Section

Topics in Policy Analysis (Half-Term): The Economics of Education

This course explores three questions in the economics of education: What are the economic returns to education? How do people's valuations of education relate to economists' measures of returns? how are individuals' choices and educational outcomes mediated by information? We pay special attention to higher education policy and to choice-based reforms in K-12 education. Do these reforms 'work?' If not, why not? Topics include signaling and human capital theories, valuation of school quality, charter/magnet schools, and informational and financial frictions in higher education.

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30 Economics Research Ideas for High School Students

By Eric Eng

Exploring economics research ideas can be a thrilling adventure for high school students. These topics not only spark interest but also deepen understanding of how economies work. It’s also a great way to get a head start on college-level concepts.

Let’s explore different economic aspects, from individual behaviors to global market trends. We’ll help you choose exciting topics, ask the right questions, and connect theories with the real world. Ready to dive into economics? Let’s find research ideas that will expand your knowledge and analytical abilities.

Economic Research Area #1: Technology and Labor Markets

The impact of technology on labor markets is crucial for high school students exploring economics research ideas. Understanding how automation and artificial intelligence reshape jobs prepares students for future challenges.

This knowledge is vital for those planning to major in economics or related fields, offering a foundation to navigate and influence the evolving job market.

Here are specific topics you can explore:

1. Analyze the effects of automation on employment rates in the retail sector of a local community over the past decade.

This topic is relevant because it shows how technological advancements can shift job availability. Students can compare historical employment data before and after automation’s introduction.

2. Investigate the relationship between the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies and changes in average wages among manufacturing workers in a specific industry.

This research can reveal how AI influences wage patterns. By analyzing wage data pre and post AI adoption, students can uncover the economic impact of technology.

3. Conduct a survey to assess how technological advancements have influenced job preferences among high school students in terms of pursuing careers in traditional versus emerging industries.

This topic helps understand the changing career aspirations due to tech advancements. Surveys can provide insights into students’ perceptions and career plans.

4. Examine the impact of gig economy platforms (e.g., Uber, TaskRabbit) on labor market dynamics and income inequality among young workers in a particular city.

Exploring this area can uncover how gig work affects job stability and income distribution. Analyzing earnings and employment patterns offers a glimpse into the gig economy’s role.

5. Compare the job displacement rates and reemployment prospects of workers in different age groups following the introduction of automated systems in a specific industry.

This research is important to understand how automation impacts workers across age groups differently. By focusing on displacement and reemployment, students can propose solutions to mitigate negative effects.

Economic Research Area #2: Environmental Economics

Environmental economics offers a rich field of research for high school students interested in economics ideas. It blends economic theory with environmental policies to assess their impacts on communities and industries.

For students eyeing a major in environmental science or economics, diving into these topics provides a practical understanding of balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.

6. Evaluate the economic benefits and costs of implementing renewable energy initiatives (e.g., solar panel installations) in a local community over a five-year period.

This analysis highlights the financial implications of sustainable energy solutions. Students can assess how these initiatives affect local economies and energy costs.

7. Analyze the economic effects of implementing a carbon tax on businesses in a specific industry and its implications for competitiveness and emissions reduction.

This research can uncover the trade-offs between environmental policies and business performance. By examining financial data, students explore the policy’s effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions.

8. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of conservation efforts (e.g., reforestation projects) on biodiversity and local tourism revenues in a natural reserve.

This topic investigates the economic value of preserving natural habitats. Students can analyze how conservation impacts tourism and the local economy.

9. Investigate the economic impact of extreme weather events (e.g., hurricanes, droughts) on agricultural production and property values in a particular region.

Understanding these effects is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate economic losses. This research involves analyzing agricultural yields and real estate prices.

10. Assess the economic feasibility of transitioning to sustainable farming practices (e.g., organic farming, agroforestry) for small-scale farmers in a rural community.

This study examines the viability of eco-friendly agriculture. By evaluating costs and benefits, students can propose ways to support sustainable farming.

Economic Research Area #3: Behavioral Economics

Behavioral economics is a fascinating area for high school students keen on economics research ideas. It examines how psychological, cognitive, emotional, cultural, and social factors affect economic decisions.

Delving into this field equips students interested in psychology or economics with insights into human behavior, enhancing their ability to predict and influence decision-making processes.

11. Examine how framing effects influence consumer choices between branded and generic products among high school students at a local supermarket.

This research sheds light on marketing’s power over consumer decisions. Students can conduct surveys or experiments to see how product presentation changes buying habits.

12. Investigate the impact of default options on high school students’ savings behavior in a school-sponsored retirement savings program.

Understanding default effects can reveal much about passive versus active decision-making. By analyzing savings rates before and after program changes, students can assess the influence of defaults.

13. Conduct a field experiment to study the effect of social norms and peer pressure on high school students’ spending habits.

This topic explores the social aspects of economic decisions. Through experiments, students can observe how peer behavior affects individual spending choices.

14. Analyze how present bias affects high school students’ decisions to invest in long-term education versus immediate employment opportunities.

This research is important for understanding short-sightedness in decision-making. By surveying students’ preferences and plans, insights into the impact of present bias on future planning can be gained.

15. Investigate the role of financial literacy education in mitigating irrational investment decisions among high school students.

This study assesses the effectiveness of financial education in improving decision-making. By comparing the investment choices of students with and without financial literacy training, the benefits of education can be evaluated.

Economic Research Area #4: Global Trade and Tariffs

Global trade and tariffs are critical for high school students interested in economics research ideas. This topic allows students to understand the interconnectedness of global markets and the impact of policy decisions on economies.

For those considering a major in international business or economics , exploring these areas can provide a practical grasp of trade dynamics and policy effects on businesses and consumers.

16. Analyze the economic consequences of recent trade tariffs on imported goods (e.g., steel, aluminum) on local manufacturing businesses in a particular city.

This research helps understand tariffs’ impact on production costs and pricing. Students can look into local businesses’ financial reports before and after tariffs were imposed to assess their effects.

17. Investigate the impact of trade agreements (e.g., USMCA, CPTPP) on the export competitiveness of agricultural products from a local farming community.

By examining these agreements, students can evaluate how international policies influence local economies. Analyzing trade data and interviewing local farmers can provide insights into these effects.

18. Conduct a survey to assess consumer preferences for domestically produced goods versus imported alternatives following changes in trade policies.

This topic explores nationalism’s role in consumer behavior. Surveys can help gauge shifts in preferences due to policy changes and their economic implications.

19. Analyze the effects of trade disputes (e.g., U.S.-China trade tensions) on the profitability and employment levels of multinational corporations headquartered in a particular country.

This research can uncover how geopolitical tensions affect global businesses. Students can study financial statements and employment data of affected corporations to understand these disputes’ impacts.

20. Investigate the economic implications of trade liberalization on the textile industry in a specific developing country.

This study assesses how reducing trade barriers impacts developing economies. By focusing on a specific industry, students can analyze changes in production, employment, and exports resulting from liberalized trade policies.

Economic Research Area #5: Healthcare Economics

Healthcare economics is a vital field for high school students looking for impactful economics research ideas. It examines the efficiency, effectiveness, value, and behavior in the production and consumption of healthcare and health-related services.

Students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare , public policy, or economics can gain valuable insights by exploring how economic principles apply to healthcare systems, influencing policy decisions and individual health outcomes.

21. Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of preventive healthcare interventions (e.g., vaccination programs, smoking cessation campaigns) in reducing healthcare expenditures in a local healthcare system.

This topic assesses the financial benefits of preventive measures. By analyzing healthcare cost data before and after interventions, students can determine their economic impact.

22. Analyze the impact of health insurance coverage on healthcare utilization patterns among high school students in a specific school district.

Understanding insurance’s role in healthcare access offers insights into policy effectiveness. Students can survey peers or analyze health service usage data to explore this relationship.

23. Investigate the economic barriers to accessing mental health services among adolescents in a particular community or region.

This research identifies financial obstacles to mental health care. By conducting interviews or surveys, students can highlight affordability and availability issues.

24. Assess the cost-benefit of implementing telemedicine services for a rural community to improve healthcare access.

This study explores telemedicine’s potential to bridge healthcare gaps. By comparing healthcare usage and costs before and after telemedicine implementation, students can evaluate its effectiveness.

25. Analyze the effects of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act on healthcare outcomes and hospital finances in a specific state.

Examining Medicaid expansion allows students to see policy impacts on a large scale. They can review public health data and hospital financial statements to understand the consequences of this policy change.

Economic Research Area #6: Income Inequality and Poverty

Income inequality and poverty are crucial topics for high school students interested in exploring economics research ideas. These issues affect millions worldwide, influencing overall economic stability and individual well-being.

Students aiming for careers in social sciences, public policy , or economics will find researching this area enriches their understanding of socioeconomic dynamics and potential interventions to mitigate inequality.

26. Investigate the relationship between educational attainment and intergenerational income mobility among families in a local community.

This study can reveal how education impacts economic opportunities across generations. By analyzing local data, students can explore paths to breaking the cycle of poverty.

27. Analyze the impact of affordable housing policies on homelessness rates and income inequality in a specific city or region.

Understanding these policies’ effects can show how housing influences economic disparities. Students can compare homelessness and income data before and after policy implementations.

28. Assess the economic benefits of providing subsidized childcare services for low-income families in a particular neighborhood.

This research examines childcare’s role in enabling employment and reducing poverty. By evaluating employment rates and economic outcomes of families receiving subsidies, students can gauge the program’s effectiveness.

29. Investigate the role of access to financial services (e.g., microloans, financial education programs) in reducing poverty levels among women in a developing country.

This topic focuses on financial inclusion as a tool for economic empowerment. Through case studies or data analysis, students can assess how these services contribute to women’s economic independence.

30. Analyze the effectiveness of targeted cash transfer programs (e.g., Earned Income Tax Credit) in alleviating poverty among single-parent households in a specific area.

This study allows students to evaluate direct financial interventions’ impact on poverty reduction. By reviewing program data and household economic conditions, the effectiveness of cash transfers can be assessed.

What makes a good high school economics research topic?

A good economics research topic for high school students strikes a balance between being challenging and manageable. It should pique your interest while offering scope for inquiry and analysis. Topics that address current economic issues or explore the economic dimensions of societal trends are particularly valuable, as they allow you to engage with relevant and impactful questions.

Choosing a topic that connects to your personal interests or future academic goals can also be incredibly rewarding. Such a topic not only keeps you motivated throughout the research process but also provides a deeper understanding of the subject matter, laying a solid foundation for future studies in economics or related fields.

What research methods can I use for my high school economics research?

Quantitative methods, including surveys and statistical analysis, are highly suitable for high school economics research projects. These methods allow you to collect numerical data on your chosen topic, facilitating objective analysis and the ability to draw evidence-based conclusions. Learning to use statistical software or online tools can enhance your ability to handle and interpret data effectively.

However, qualitative methods should not be overlooked. Interviews, case studies, and content analysis can provide deep insights into economic behaviors and attitudes. These methods enable you to explore the nuances of economic phenomena, enriching your research with perspectives that numbers alone cannot provide.

What resources are available to high school students for economics research?

High school students have access to a variety of resources for economics research. Academic databases such as JSTOR or Google Scholar offer a wealth of scholarly articles, while government websites provide reliable statistics and reports. These sources can be invaluable for gathering accurate and up-to-date information on a wide range of economic topics, from global trade patterns to local economic policies.

Beyond digital resources, your school’s library and teachers are also key assets. Libraries often subscribe to economic journals and have books that are not available online. Teachers can guide you on research methodologies, source credibility, and topic refinement, ensuring your project is both rigorous and informative. Utilizing these resources effectively can elevate the quality of your economics research, making it a meaningful academic endeavor.

How do high school economics research prepare students for college?

High school economics projects are an excellent way for students to develop skills essential for college-level research. Through these projects, you learn how to formulate research questions , conduct systematic analysis, and present findings coherently. These skills are not only crucial for academic success in college but also valuable in any career that involves problem-solving and critical thinking.

Moreover, by engaging in economics research, you gain an understanding of economic concepts and their real-world applications. This experience provides a solid foundation for further studies in economics, finance, or business, making the transition to college coursework smoother and more manageable.

What are the common mistakes in conducting economics research and how can I avoid them?

One common mistake in conducting economics research is choosing a topic that is too broad or too narrow. A topic that is too broad can be overwhelming and difficult to manage within the constraints of a high school project, while a topic that is too narrow might not have enough available information. To avoid this, refine your topic by focusing on specific aspects of a broader issue, ensuring that there is enough research material available to support your investigation.

Another frequent error is failing to properly cite sources, which can lead to accusations of plagiarism . To avoid this, make sure to keep track of all the resources you consult during your research and to follow the appropriate citation guidelines for your project. This not only upholds academic integrity but also strengthens the credibility of your research.

Engaging in economics research as a high school student lays the groundwork for academic and professional success. It sharpens your analytical skills, deepens your understanding of economic principles, and prepares you for the rigors of college-level study.

Remember, the journey through economics research is not just about the findings you present. It’s about fostering a curious mind and a critical eye towards the economic issues that shape our world. Let this exploration be the start of a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and impact.

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Subscribe to the economic studies bulletin, sofoklis goulas sofoklis goulas fellow - economic studies , the hamilton project.

June 27, 2024

• 40 min read

Learning empowers individuals to pursue their dreams and reach their potential in a wide range of measurable ways. As an economic elevator, quality education fuels pathways to greater opportunity and progress. Higher educational attainment is associated with higher earnings, longer productive lives, better physical and mental health, resilience and adaptability, and personal development and fulfillment. For the macroeconomy, education is a catalyst for human and social capital development, driving long-term economic growth.   

Education plays an instrumental role in succeeding in today’s labor market, as illustrated in figure A. Bachelor’s degree holders face less than half the unemployment rate and earn more than double the income of high school dropouts, on average. Professional degree holders earn 48 percent more ($2,206 vs. $1,493 per week) and face 45 percent lower unemployment (1.2 vs. 2.2 percent) relative to bachelor’s degree holders. The following 12 facts take stock of secondary and postsecondary education in the U.S., discuss the economic opportunities education provides, and outline efforts to foster innovation in public education.  

Where does secondary U.S. education stand? Results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveal that grade 8 student performance in the U.S. has shown little change in reading and mathematics over the past 24 years (fact 1). Internationally, among the 38 OECD countries, the U.S. ranks 7 th in reading and 29 th in mathematics (fact 2). These statistics indicate that there is significant room for improvement in student performance, especially in mathematics. Although high school graduation rates for all racial groups are increasing, reflecting a positive trend toward decreasing academic inequality, gaps persist. In 2022, Black and Hispanic high school students were still 9 and 7 percentage points less likely to graduate than their white peers, respectively (fact 3). The flat overall performance trends and the persistent disparities underscore the need for innovative approaches and the scaling up of evidence-based solutions to enhance educational outcomes for all students.  

In terms of postsecondary education, the share of people aged 25 years and over with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree increased by roughly 6 and 5 percentage points, respectively, over the past two decades (fact 4). At the same time, racial gaps persist and are larger at higher levels of educational attainment. In 2022, Black individuals aged 25 and over were 11.6 percent less likely to hold at least a high school diploma and 34.0 percent less likely to hold at least a bachelor’s degree compared to white people. Hispanics were 22.5 percent less likely to hold at least a high school diploma and 50.4 percent less likely to have higher education compared to white people (fact 4). As online higher education becomes more common (fact 5), people from a wider range of learning goals may acquire college credentials. Attaining more education costs money, and even though the net inflation-adjusted cost of college attendance is lower than the sticker price, Black and Hispanic students are 29.4 and 20.6 percent, respectively, more likely to face unmet financial needs in college than white students (fact 6). Inequalities also exist within the same level of educational attainment. Even though returns to advanced education have increased more for women than for men over time (fact 7), men continue to earn more than women with the same education level (fact 8).  

In the context of overall flat school performance over the past two decades (fact 1), some charter schools are getting good results. The regulations governing charter schools vary by state, but in general charter schools are given more flexibility in how to operate, compared to traditional public schools, creating room for innovation. This operational, financial, and program autonomy is provided in exchange for performance-based accountability (Manno et al. 2000). Not all charter schools outperform local traditional public schools, but a recent study found more than 1,000 charter schools across the nation have eliminated achievement gaps for their students and moved their students ahead of their states’ average achievement (fact 10). Charter schools may help mitigate overall racial and economic gaps in student achievement for those who enroll, as they are more likely to serve Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students than traditional public schools (fact 9).  

Looking ahead, the use of technology in education is likely to increase, but it is hard to tell which tools and approaches will prevail. The spike in venture capital investment in education technology (EdTech) during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been sustained after 2021 (fact 11). The tightening of funding opportunities for EdTech ventures increases the pressure to go beyond hype and deliver evidence of educational effectiveness. In terms of public investment in education innovation, real average annual funds awarded after 2016 through the Education, Research, and Innovation fund are 28.8 percent lower than those awarded under the preceding program, the Investing in Innovation (i3) fund (fact 12). In a moment of declining enrollment and declining family confidence in traditional public schools (Goulas 2024; Goulas and Pula 2024), the need to invest in education innovation and proven strategies is stronger than ever.

Chapter 1: Where we stand in secondary education  

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected student performance in the U.S., reversing some gains made over the past two decades. While proficiency levels in reading and mathematics had been gradually increasing, recent years have seen a decline, particularly affecting white students. Despite these setbacks, there has been a slight narrowing of the racial achievement gap, with the difference in proficiency levels between white and Black students showing a modest decrease.  

Compared to many other countries, U.S. students experienced relatively less severe learning losses during the pandemic. In global assessments, U.S. rankings in reading improved, while the decline in mathematics performance was less pronounced than in many other nations. Additionally, high school graduation rates have shown improvement across all racial groups, especially for Black and Hispanic students, signaling progress toward closing educational disparities. Nonetheless, there remains a need for continued efforts to address persistent inequalities and enhance overall academic standards.

Fact 1: Student performance dropped after COVID-19.

Figure 1 shows the share of grade 8 students scoring at or above proficiency levels in NAEP reading and math overall and by race/ethnicity since the late 1990s. The share of proficient grade 8 students increased more in math than in reading over most of this period. Specifically, the overall share of grade 8 students scoring at proficiency levels (i.e., the share of students showing an adequate or strong grasp of the subject matter for their grade level) in reading increased from 32.0 to 34.0 percent between 1998 and 2019, and it increased from 23.3 to 33.8 percent in mathematics between 1996 and 2019.   

Racial gaps in student performance are persistent. The difference between the share of white and Black students who are proficient in reading decreased from 26.5 percentage points in 1998 to 22.4 percentage points in 2022. The corresponding gap in math decreased from 26.4 percentage points in 1998 to 25.8 percentage points in 2022.   

The COVID-19 pandemic has harmed student achievement (CREDO 2020, Hanushek and Strauss 2024). Between 2019 and 2022, the share of grade 8 students who are proficient decreased by 3 percentage points in reading and by 7 percentage points in math. White students lost the most ground in academic performance during this period. In particular, the share of white grade 8 students who are proficient in reading decreased by 4 percentage points between 2019 and 2022, while the corresponding share of Black students increased by 1 percentage point. In mathematics, the share of proficient grade 8 students decreased by 9 percentage points among white students and by 4 percentage points among Black students. The share of Asian/Pacific Islander grade 8 students who are proficient stayed the same in reading but decreased by roughly 6 percentage points between 2018 and 2022.  

These results indicate that the current status of grade 8 student performance is not too different from what it was 24 years ago in both reading and mathematics. This result, combined with the persistent racial gaps in student performance, underscores the need for innovative approaches in education and the scaling up of evidence-based solutions that improve outcomes for all students.

Fact 2: Pandemic-related learning losses of US students were not as severe as those in other countries.

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old students’ performance in reading, mathematics, and science. PISA serves as a critical tool for understanding and enhancing global education systems. Figure 2 compares PISA scores in reading and mathematics of students across 37 OECD countries and Singapore in 2018 and 2022. 1 Singapore scored the highest in both subjects in 2018 and 2022. Among the 38 countries investigated, the U.S. ranked 7th in reading and 29th in mathematics in 2022. The U.S. scores close to the OECD average in mathematics and higher than the OECD average in reading. These results suggest that student performance in the U.S. has room for improvement, particularly in mathematics.

The difference in scores between 2018 and 2022 for each country includes the effect of COVID-19 on student performance in this country. Learning losses during this period were widespread across countries. Except for Japan and South Korea, which showed a positive change in reading and math between 2018 and 2022, all other countries in the analysis showed a negative change in student performance in reading or math. Between 2018 and 2022, student performance declined significantly in 19 countries in reading and in 27 countries in mathematics. The learning loss U.S. students suffered during the same period is less than seen in other countries (Hanushek and Strauss 2024). The difference in average U.S. scores in reading between 2018 and 2022 are not statistically distinguishable from zero. With other countries losing ground in reading scores over this period, the U.S. climbed from the 10th position in 2018 to the 7th in 2022. In mathematics, U.S. students lost some academic footing between 2018 and 2022 (13 points) but not as much as students in other countries. Specifically, the U.S. ranks 18th in learning loss severity in mathematics over this period. As a result, the U.S. moved from the 30th place in mathematics scores in 2018 to the 29th place in 2022.

Fact 3: Racial gaps in high school graduation rates are closing.

Figure 3 shows the public high school four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for each race/ethnic group between 2011 and 2022. This rate is calculated as the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who entered high school four years earlier. The overall graduation rate has increased from 79.0 percent in 2011 to 86.6 percent in 2022 (i.e., 8 percentage points). Over this period, the high school graduation rate has increased the most for Black (14 percentage points) and Hispanic students (8 percentage points).  

The upward trajectory of high school graduation rates of all racial groups is a hopeful sign of improved upward mobility for all. The convergence of high school graduation rates of different racial groups also highlights declining academic inequality over time. Despite this improvement, substantial gaps remain. In 2022, Black and Hispanic high school students were 9 and 7 percentage points less likely to graduate than white students, respectively.  

One may worry that the upward time trend of the overall graduation rate might to some extent reflect declining academic standards ( Barnum 2022; The Economist 2024 ). “A Nation at Risk,” the landmark report published in 1983 by the National Commission on Excellence in Education underscored the importance of high academic expectations ( NCEE 1983 ). Metrics such as high school graduation rates can be misleading if not accompanied by genuine scholastic achievement.

Chapter 2: Where we stand in postsecondary education

While the share of people with college education in the U.S. has increased over the past two decades, significant racial gaps remain. College education is widely recognized as a key pathway to better job prospects, with most employers agreeing that it prepares graduates for workforce success. The population with a bachelor’s degree and advanced degrees has grown, reflecting a more formally educated workforce. However, racial disparities are evident: Black and Hispanic individuals are significantly less likely than white individuals to attain higher education, while Asian/Pacific Islanders show higher levels of educational attainment compared to other racial groups.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to a significant increase in online higher education. More students are participating in distance learning, with over half attending some online classes and nearly a quarter exclusively online in the 2022 – 23 academic year. Although the prevalence of online education has decreased since its peak during the pandemic, it remains substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels. This shift reflects expanded online offerings from accredited institutions and improvements in the quality and efficacy of online education.  

Despite rising costs of college attendance, the net cost after accounting for grant aid is lower than the published sticker price. Many undergraduate students, particularly Black and Hispanic students, do not have enough funds to cover their financial needs, leading them to rely on work or loans to cover their expenses. Additionally, the earnings of workers with higher education have increased over time, though the gains are not equally distributed. Men generally earn more than women across all education levels, with the gender pay gap widening at higher levels of educational attainment. This disparity highlights ongoing gender inequalities in the labor market, despite women being more likely than men to hold a college degree.  

Fact 4: The share of people with college education has increased, but racial gaps remain.

College education remains for many a key pathway to economic prosperity, as shown in figure A. Figure 4 shows educational attainment in the U.S. over time (panel A) and by race/ethnicity (panel B). The share of the population aged 25 or older with a bachelor’s degree increased from 17.7 percent in 2002 to 23.4 percent in 2022 (i.e., 5.7 percentage points). Moreover, the share of advanced degree holders increased by more than 5 percentage points over the same period, reaching 14.2 percent. The increase in the share of people with postsecondary education is reflected in the decline in the share of people with a high school diploma as their highest credential from 32.1 percent in 2002 to 28.5 percent in 2022. This result suggests that the U.S. workforce has become more formally educated over time, which may translate to increased labor productivity but also a race among workers for more credentials to remain competitive in the labor market.  

Fact 3 showed that even though racial gaps in high school graduation rates have declined over the past decade, they have not closed. These racial gaps are larger at higher levels of educational attainment. In 2022, among individuals aged 25 or older, Black individuals were 11.6 percent less likely to hold at least a high school diploma and 34.0 percent less likely to hold at least a bachelor’s degree than white individuals. Hispanics were 22.5 percent less likely to hold at least a high school diploma and 50.4 percent less likely to have higher education than white people. Postsecondary education was 41.9 percent more common among Asian/Pacific Islanders than among white individuals in 2022. In the same year, advanced higher education was starkly higher among Asian or Pacific Islanders (at 26.7 percent) than among other racial groups. 

Fact 5: Online higher education is more common after COVID-19 than before.

Figure 5 plots the share of students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions by distance education participation. The share of postsecondary education students who attend any distance education course climbed from 26.5 percent in 2013 – 14 to 54.4 percent in 2022 – 23. The share of postsecondary education students who attend classes exclusively online increased from 11.3 percent in 2013 – 14 to 23.9 percent in 2022 – 23. This means that in the most recent period (i.e., 2022 – 23), more than half of the postsecondary education students attend some online classes, while nearly a quarter of the students attend all their classes online.  

In 2020 – 21, during the COVID-19 pandemic, 74.7 and 44.2 percent of postsecondary education students attended some portion or all their classes online, respectively. When the pandemic started, in 2019 – 20, 36.3 and 14.8 percent of students attended some or all their classes online, respectively. In the most recent period, 2022 – 23, the share of students attending some or all their classes online is roughly 18 and 9 percentage points, respectively, above their pre-pandemic (i.e., 2019 – 20) levels. This suggests that even though the prevalence of distance learning in postsecondary education decreased since the pandemic, it remains well above the pre-pandemic levels.  

These results may reflect that online education post-COVID-19 looks very different from before. Online classes allow people with a wider set of learning goals to pursue further higher education ( Villasenor 2022 ). At the same time, as more accredited institutions expand their distance learning options ( Hamilton and Beagle 2024 ), the average quality of online programs may increase. Finally, the learning efficacy of higher education hybrid programs may also be higher after COVID-19 as pandemic-seasoned instructors and learners are more familiar with what works best in online versus in-person education ( Sato et al. 2024 ).  

Fact 6: The net cost of college attendance is lower than the published sticker price.

Public discussions on the cost of college attendance often focus on the listed cost of attendance (sticker price) without accounting for grant aid (Levine 2024). Grant aid comes in the form of grants, scholarships, and work-study programs and does not need to be paid back. In 2022 – 23, 64 percent of undergraduate students received grant aid (College Board 2023a). The average sticker price of attending a public or private four-year college in 2023 – 24 reached $28,840 or $60,420, respectively. When accounting for grant aid, the annual estimated average cost of attending a public or private four-year college goes down to $20,310 or $34,790, respectively.  

Panel A of figure 6 shows that between 2006 – 07 and 2023 – 24, the published cost of attendance in a four-year public institution in 2023 dollars has increased by 15.9 percent, but when we account for grant aid, the net cost in real terms has increased by only 2.0 percent, on average. At private four-year colleges, the published inflation-adjusted cost has increased by 19.1 percent, while the average net inflation-adjusted cost has declined slightly by 2.5 percent over the same period.  

Attending college is not equally affordable for all students. Limited access to scholarships and grants, and the lack of family financial resources, mean that many students do not have enough funds to cover their college bill. These students usually have to come with the extra cash on their own by picking up some work while studying or by taking out loans. Panel B of figure 6 shows the share of undergraduate students whose grant aid and expected family contributions fall short of total college costs (i.e., they face unmet financial need) by race/ethnicity in 2019 – 20. Black and Hispanic students are 29.4 and 20.6 percent, respectively, more likely to face unmet financial need than white students.

Fact 7: Earnings among those with more education have increased more over time.

Figure 7 shows that since the mid-1990s, earnings for workers with higher education attainment have grown considerably. Among men, median real earnings increased only for those with college or advanced degrees. Men with a bachelor’s degree saw their earnings increase by 8.8 percent between 1994 and 2022, while men with a professional degree saw their real earnings increase by 5.7 percent over the same period. Men without higher education degrees have seen their real earnings decline. In contrast, women have seen their real median earnings increase across all education levels, with these increases being even higher at higher levels of educational attainment (4.3 percent for women with a high school diploma vs. 15.6 percent for women with a professional degree, such as a medical school degree). Note that those estimates of median real earnings take into account propensity to be in the labor force and numbers of hours worked.   

Not all education is valued the same in the labor market (Broady and Hershbein 2020). For example, employed 35-to-44-year-olds with bachelor’s degrees in engineering or computer science and mathematics enjoy median earnings above $75,000 per year, while those with a major in education or psychology earn a little over $40,000 at the median ( Urban Institute n.d. ). The Hamilton Project provides an interactive about college graduates’ earnings by major and career stage.   

Getting a degree in a specific field is not the only way to access high-paying jobs. Many technology companies, for example, do not require a bachelor’s degree but have a rigorous screening process to assess candidate skills ( Lohr 2022 ). Coding boot camps, certificate programs, or freely available content online may suffice to prepare for these assessments.   

Moreover, programs that promote work-based learning can help participants build connections in the labor market and provide opportunities to showcase one’s skills (Hoffman 2016). By acquiring skills valued by potential employers, candidates without degrees can compete for positions.  

Fact 8: Education pays more for men than for women.

Figure A showed that higher education attainment is associated with a lower unemployment rate and higher earnings. However, not all groups experience the same increase in earnings related to greater education. Figure 8 compares median earnings for full-time male and female employees aged 25 – 34 by education level. Men earn more than women across all education levels. What is more, the gender pay gap increases as education attainment increases. Men with less than a high school diploma earn on average $5,300 per year more than their female counterparts. At the same time, men with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $13,200 per year more than women with the same education level. The gender pay gap is the largest among advanced degree holders with men earning per year $19,300 more than women, on average.  

These results suggest that access to education may not be sufficient to address gender inequalities in the labor market. In fact, women are more likely to have a bachelor’s degree than men (41.7 vs. 36.2 percent; Cheeseman Day 2019 ). To some extent, men and women concentrate in different fields of study and consequently occupations, which may pay differently. These differences may reflect preferences or different comparative advantages across fields (Goulas, Griselda, and Megalokonomou 2022). Even within the same occupations though, earning gaps between men and women exist. For example, women engineers earn around 90 cents for every dollar men engineers make (Cheeseman Day 2019). At the same time, in certain occupations, such as musicians, phlebotomists, electricians, and social workers, the earnings gap virtually disappears.  

The need for temporal flexibility is a key driver of the gender pay gap. This gap may be larger in occupations where the renumeration structure benefits those who work long hours and particular hours (Goldin 2014). Because having children requires taking time off work, parenthood is associated with a labor market “penalty” (Binder et al. 2023 ; Petrongolo and Ronchi 2020). Gender differences in confidence may also play a key role in pay inequalities among science and technology graduates (Sterling et al. 2020).

Chapter 3: Innovation efforts in education

The flexibility of charter schools to choose curriculum, programs, and instructional methods, involve the community and parents, and offer specialized programs provides room for innovation in these areas. Charter schools tend to serve a higher proportion of Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students compared to traditional public schools. Over time, the representation of Black and Hispanic students in charter schools has increased, reinforcing their role in catering to marginalized communities. In terms of performance, charter schools have shown significant improvement. Charter Management Organizations (CMOs), which run multiple charter schools, have been particularly effective in accelerating student achievement. However, there remains variability in performance, with some charter schools excelling while others lag behind traditional public schools.  

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a substantial increase in investment in education technology (EdTech) to support remote learning. This surge reflected high expectations for EdTech to provide flexible and effective learning solutions. However, challenges in demonstrating the impact of EdTech applications on learning outcomes have led to declines in EdTech investment after the pandemic. This trend suggests that sustained investment will require more robust evidence of EdTech’s effectiveness.  

Investment in educational research and development (R&D) is crucial for fostering innovation and improving student outcomes. Programs like the Investing in Innovation (i3) and the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program have funded numerous projects aimed at developing, validating, and scaling effective educational practices.

Fact 9: Charter schools are more likely to serve Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students than traditional public schools.

Figure 9 reports demographic characteristics of students in charter and traditional public schools in 2005 – 06 and 2021 – 22. In 2021 – 22, 59 and 50 percent of students in charter and traditional public schools, respectively, are economically disadvantaged (i.e., eligible for free or reduced priced lunch).  

In 2021 – 22, charter schools served a greater share of Black students than traditional public schools (24 vs. 14 percent), but the difference used to be even larger in 2005 – 06. The share of Black students between 2005 – 06 and 2021 – 22 decreased in charter schools by 8 percentage points, while it increased in traditional public schools by 3 percentage points.  

Charter schools also served a greater share of Hispanic students than traditional public schools did in 2021 – 22 (36 vs. 28 percent). This difference has widened over time. Between 2005 – 06 and 2021 – 22, the share of Hispanic students increased by 14 percentage points in charter schools and by 7 percentage points in traditional public schools.  

These results point to charter schools serving a greater share of Black or Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students than traditional public schools did in 2021 – 22. The gap between charter and traditional public schools in the Black or Hispanic student representation is slightly wider in 2021 – 22 than it was in 2005 – 06 (18 vs. 16 percentage points). At the same time, the difference between charter and traditional public schools in their shares of economically disadvantaged students in 2021 – 22 is similar to that in 2005 – 06 (9 vs. 10 percentage points).   

This fact explores the demographics of students served by charter schools. Fact 10 shows that charter schools hold the promise for improved educational outcomes for their students in certain contexts.  

Fact 10: The learning gains of charter school students have increased over time.

Charter schools’ operational, financial, and program autonomy is provided in exchange for performance-based accountability (Manno et al. 2000, Goulas 2019a, 2019b, 2020). This allows them a greater scope to innovate on curriculum, instructional methods, community and parental involvement, and to offer specialized programs. Many charter schools have longer school days and school years. Enrollment in charter schools has grown over the past 23 years from 340,000 students in 1999 –20 00 to 3.7 million students in 2022 – 23 (NCES n .d.b ). Charter schools are more common in some states than others (Reber and Gordon 2023).  

Charter school performance has evolved over time. As shown in figure 10, studies until the early 2010s showed that even though urban charter schools were able to significantly improve test scores for their students, nationwide evaluations reported that charters performed no better than traditional public schools (CREDO 2009; Gleason et al. 2010). A 2013 national charter school evaluation found that charters slightly bested traditional public schools in reading but were still lagging in math (CREDO 2013).  

In a 2023 nationwide charter school evaluation, which included over 80 percent of tested public-school students, charter school students posted an average of 16 additional days of learning in reading and six additional days of learning in mathematics compared to similar peers in traditional public schools (CREDO 2023). Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) are particularly effective at accelerating student reading achievement. CMOs are organizations that establish and run multiple charter schools. Relative to stand-alone charter schools, CMO-affiliated schools advance reading by 17 additional days of learning. These results point to an improvement in charter school performance over time. Since the 2009 CREDO national charter school study, annual charter student learning in reading and mathematics has risen by 22 and 23 days, respectively.  

The 2023 CREDO national charter school study shows that not all charter schools create strong learning gains for their students. Roughly 38 and 46 percent of charter schools post lower academic growth in reading and math, respectively, than their local traditional public schools.  At the same time, more than 1,000 charter schools across the nation have managed to eliminate achievement gaps for their students and moved their students ahead of their respective state’s average achievement. Dozens of CMOs have created these results, suggesting that it is possible to scale equitable education that can change lives.

Fact 11: Investment in education technology (EdTech) spiked during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in remote learning across all age groups. The combination of a pandemic-induced spike in demand for technology that supports remote learning and advancements in technologies that allowed online learning journeys to be more adjustable to learner needs painted a promising picture for the EdTech sector. This translated to substantial investments in new ventures. Figure 11 shows that the investment by U.S. venture capital (VC) firms in EdTech increased by 37.4 percent in 2020, relative to 2019, and more than tripled in 2021, relative to 2020. In 2021, U.S. VCs invested $9.2 billion in 2023 dollars in EdTech. During the same period, international VCs also invested a lot in EdTech. The combined amount global VCs invested in EdTech in 2020 and 2021 in 2023 dollars is 6.4 percent larger than their cumulative investment in EdTech in the prior ten years. To put in context the level of investment in 2020 and 2021, over the same two-year period global VCs invested roughly twice as much on climate technology (HolonIQ 2023).  

The EdTech hype during the pandemic reflected hopes that it would provide an effective yet economical way for upskilling. In a swiftly evolving job market, traditional higher education may not always suffice for workers to acquire cutting-edge skills, leading to an increased need for accessible and flexible learning solutions. The advancements in artificial intelligence that coincided with the pandemic also heralded a revolution in education with personalized and efficient learning experiences. However, as Patrick Brothers, co-CEO and co-founder of HolonIQ, notes, “EdTech has enjoyed a long run now of quite bold and ambitious venture capital supporting education innovation. And that’s not where we are today” (Saleh Rauf 2024).  

Difficulties in crystallizing the impact of EdTech on learning outcomes have precluded many innovative ideas from maintaining investors’ interest. Potentially, some of these ideas were ahead of pedagogical research that would support a theory of change in learning outcomes. At the same time, the constant changes in EdTech products often made it difficult to consistently measure their impact on users. Regardless, VC investment collapsed after COVID-19. In 2022, global VC investment in EdTech dropped to $11 billion. In the same year, global VCs invested close to 7 times that amount ($73.9 billion in 2023 dollars) in climate technology (HolonIQ 2023). In 2023, EdTech ventures raised only $3 billion in investment.  

Looking ahead, it is possible that as the digital revolution accelerates, EdTech will play an important role in the educational journeys of school-age learners and working professionals who want to freshen their skills. It is hard though to tell which tools and approaches will prevail in a context of increased pressure for EdTech ventures to go beyond hype and deliver evidence of actual educational effectiveness.  

Fact 12: Investment in education research and development is crucial for innovation.

Given largely stagnant student performance (fact 1), a decline in public school enrollment (Burtis and Goulas 2023; Goulas 2024), and persistent gaps in high school graduation rates by race and ethnicity (fact 3), investment in a broad spectrum of education research and development is vital. This includes not only EdTech but also research on scalable implementation, school organization, and curriculum development. Effective scheduling and teacher assignments are crucial technologies that significantly affect learning, yet schools often struggle to implement these best practices. Fifteen years ago, the Obama administration launched the Investing in Innovation (i3) grant program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to stimulate research and innovation in education. The goal was to identify effective approaches and scale them (Department of Education n.d.c).

Between 2010 and 2016, 172 projects received an i3 grant. Of these, 115 were Development grants, which implemented and tested new ideas; 46 were Validation grants, which tested, refined, and expanded ideas supported by existing evidence; and 11 were Scale-up grants, which explored the feasibility of certain strategies to become national paradigms. Over the seven fiscal years between 2017 and 2023, 207 projects received funding through i3’s successor, the Education Innovation and Research Program (EIR). Of those, 141 focus on the development of new ideas (Early-phase grants), 49 focus on the implementation and rigorous evaluation of existing approaches (Mid-phase grants), and 17 focus on the scaling of proven practices (Expansion-phase grants).  

A little over $1.8 billion in 2023 dollars were invested through i3 grants between 2010 and 2016. Under EIR, roughly $1.3 billion has been invested between 2017 and 2023, representing a decline of 16.5 percent in nominal terms and 28.8 percent in real terms compared to the seven fiscal years until 2016. The expansion of funded projects of all types and the decline in total funds provided under EIR relative to i3 indicate an increase in the ratio of innovative approaches pursued per dollar, as the average Mid-phase and Expansion-phase grant is smaller.  

Developing new ideas is difficult and success is far from guaranteed. Among 148 i3 grants evaluated until the release of a 2023 report by the Department of Education , 26 percent or 39 of them (15 Development , 19 Validation, and five Scale-up grants ) found at least one positive and statistically significant effect on student achievement ( Department of Education 2024 ) . Given how complex education is, a success rate of 26 percent is arguably high . For comparison purposes, around 90 percent of potential drugs that enter Phase I trials are destined to fail (Smietana et al. 2016) . In that sense, identifying 39 evidence-based programs is a good start ( Dinkes and Boulay 2024 ). Nonetheless, i n a moment of declining confidence in public education (Goulas and Pula 2024), t he need to fund education innovation and develop evidence-based strategies is stronger than ever.

Selected Hamilton Project papers on education

Why did schools lose students after covid-19.

Sofoklis Goulas and Isabelle Pula  | 2024

Public school enrollment losses post-pandemic cannot be fully attributed to changes in population, or shifts towards charter or private school enrollments, pointing to a rise in homeschooling among families. This trend raises questions about the motivations behind the increased interest in homeschooling. Targeted interviews reveal that these motivations have evolved since pre-pandemic times. This paper discusses the factors driving the decline in public school enrollment, highlighting that dissatisfaction with public schools after COVID-19 may have prompted families to consider alternatives such as homeschooling. However, the relationship between family satisfaction and public-school enrollment has become more complex after the pandemic, suggesting that additional factors are influencing enrollment decisions in the current K–12 education landscape.

Breaking down enrollment declines in public schools  

Sofoklis Goulas | 2024

The newly released enrollment data from the National Center on Education Statistics for the 2022–23 school year point to moderate enrollment gains for traditional public schools. The recent enrollment gains though are smaller than the cumulative enrollment losses since 2019–20 and are not uniform. This paper takes stock of enrollment losses today by comparing the distribution of changes in public school enrollment since the COVID-19 pandemic to the distribution of pre-pandemic changes across the nation. Roughly 59, 69, and 69 percent of small, medium-sized, and large schools, respectively, saw their enrollment decline between 2019–20 and 2022–23. One third of small, medium-sized, and large schools with enrollment declines lost 26, 54, and 96 students or more, respectively (i.e., top third). The share of schools experiencing such declines after COVID-19 is larger than what would be expected based on historical variation for medium sized and large schools. Urban schools and middle schools are disproportionately represented among schools with enrollment losses in the top third.  

Declining school enrollment since the pandemic  

Eloise Burtis and Sofoklis Goulas | 2023  

This paper investigates how student enrollment in public schools is different after the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the pandemic—between the 2018–19 and 2021–22 school years—about 12 percent of public elementary schools and 9 percent of middle schools experienced more than a 20 percent decline. This is a significant change from before the pandemic, when about 5 percent of elementary and middle schools saw a 20 percent enrollment decline between 2015–16 and 2018–19. Enrollment declines are widespread but differ substantially across types of schools, locales, and socioeconomic status. The analysis finds that urban districts and high poverty districts saw larger declines in school enrollment.  

Increasing federal investment in children’s early care and education to raise quality, access, and affordability  

Elizabeth E. Davis and Aaron Sojourner | 2021  

The core challenge this proposal seeks to address is how to ensure that every American family and child has access to high-quality, affordable early childhood care and education (ECE) services in a critical period of human development, breaking a shortage of investment in young children. America’s status quo asks the most of parents when they have the least. The public invests only about $1,500 per child annually in care and education in children’s first 5 years of life, when parents have the least earning and borrowing power, and then invests $12,800 per child annually for the next 13 years, when parents have more. Under this proposal, every family can choose to access affordable ECE services at qualified, high-quality center-, home-, and school-based providers using either a slot that providers have been contracted to provide or a scholarship. Families in poverty can choose Early Head Start and Head Start with the option of full-time, full-year services. Total family financial payments are capped and depend on family income-to-poverty ratio. The combination of family and public payments to providers will adjust to be sufficient to cover the local costs of efficiently producing high-quality care and services. Competition focuses in three domains: procurement competitions for local service contracts that reveal information about local production costs, competition between providers about how best to use a localized sufficient care-labor budget to attract, develop, motivate, and retain care talent, and competition between providers to serve local families better.  

Building tomorrow’s workforce today: Twin proposals for the future of learning, opportunity, and work  

Richard Arum and Mitchell L. Stevens  | 2020  

The authors propose twin federal government initiatives to incentivize innovation in instructional delivery throughout the national postsecondary ecology, to bridge the divide between academia and the workforce system, and to accrete a cumulative science of adult learning. Under the first initiative, the federal government issues Learning Opportunity Credits (LOCs) to all U.S. adults who are either unemployed or who receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). LOCs will promote ongoing workforce training as well as the expansion of high-quality hybrid learning opportunities. Under the second initiative, the federal government establishes a national project on the Future of Learning, Opportunity, and Work (FLOW), a distributed collaboration between existing federal agencies and a network of competitively selected U.S. universities and their partners. FLOW will accumulate knowledge and inform policy on adult learning to serve the national interest moving forward. Packaged as dual initiatives and linked through data sharing and interoperability protocols, LOCs and FLOW are joint ventures.  

Major decisions: What graduates earn over their lifetimes   

Kristen E. Broady and Brad Hershbein | 2020  

The authors provide two updated economic analyses and interactives on the earnings of college graduates by major: one set that shows career earnings profiles and lifetime earnings and another that shows an undergraduate student loan repayment calculator.  

Employment, education, and the time use of American youth  

Lauren Bauer, Emily Moss, Ryan Nunn, and Jay Shambaugh | 2019  

The labor force participation rate is a key measure of economic health. While the decline in prime-age workers’ labor force participation receives much attention from policymakers, it is far outpaced by the decline in participation among younger workers. This analysis shows how changing employment and school enrollment patterns have contributed to declining labor force participation among youth, aged 16 to 24. Youth today are not disengaged; rather, declines in youth labor force participation primarily reflect a long-term but accelerating shift toward schooling and spending more time on education-related activities.  

Reducing chronic absenteeism under the Every Student Succeeds Act  

Lauren Bauer, Patrick Liu, Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, and Jay Shambaugh | 2018  

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA; 2015) requires states to broaden school accountability beyond achievement on standardized tests and high school graduation rates. In this Hamilton Project strategy paper, the authors articulate a framework for states as they oversee implementation of statewide accountability plans under ESSA and describe how states differ in their approaches. The authors review the literature and present novel analyses of the factors at the school and student levels that relate to chronic absenteeism. Our analysis shows that health problems and socioeconomic status predict poor attendance, and that chronic absenteeism among students and schools is strongly persistent over time. The authors describe evidence-based strategies for schools as they work to reduce rates of chronic absence among students.  

Abdulkadiroğlu, Atila, Joshua D. Angrist, Susan M. Dynarski, Thomas J. Kane, and Parag A. Pathak. 2011. “Accountability and Flexibility in Public Schools: Evidence from Boston’s Charters and Pilots.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 126 (2): 699–748.  

Angrist, Joshua D., Susan M. Dynarski, Thomas J. Kane, Parag A. Pathak, and Christopher R. Walters. 2010. “Input and Impacts in Charter Schools: KIPP Lynn.” American Economic Review: Papers & Proceedings 100 (May 2010): 1–5.  

Angrist, Joshua D., Pathak, P. A., & Walters, C. R. 2013. “Explaining Charter School Effectiveness.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 5 (4): 1–27.  

Barnum, Matt. 2022. “High School Grades Are Up, but Test Scores Aren’t. Why?” Chalkbeat , March 16, 2022. https://www.chalkbeat.org/2022/3/16/22979947/high-school-grades-inflation-federal-naep-test-scores

Binder, Ariel J., Amanda Eng, Kendall Houghton, and Andrew Foote. 2023. “The Gender Pay Gap and Its Determinants across the Human Capital Distribution.” CES Working Paper 23–31.  

Broady, Kristen E., and Brad Hershbein. 2020. “Major Decisions: What Graduates Earn Over Their Lifetimes.” The Hamilton Project, Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.  

Burtis, Eloise, and Sofoklis Goulas. 2023. “Declining School Enrollment Since the Pandemic.” The Hamilton Project, Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.  

Camarena Lopez, Natalie. 2023. “Who Attends Charter Schools?” National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Washington, DC.  

Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). 2009. “National Charter School Study II.” Center for Research on Education Outcomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  

Cheeseman Day, Jennifer. 2019. “Among the Educated, Women Earn 74 Cents for Every Dollar Men Make.” U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, MD.  

College Board. 2023a. “Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2023.” College Board, New York, NY.  

College Board. 2023b. “Education Pays 2023: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society.” College Board, New York, NY.  

Cremata, Edward, Devora Davis, Kathleen Dickey, Kristina Lawyer, Yohannes Negassi, Margaret E. Raymond, and James L. Woodworth (CREDO). 2013. “National Charter School Study II.” Center for Research on Education Outcomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  

Department of Education. n.d.a. “Investing in Education: i3 Awards.” Department of Education, Washington, DC.  

Department of Education. n.d.b. “Investing in Education: Education, Innovation and Research Awards.” Department of Education, Washington, DC.  

Department of Education. n.d.c. “Investing in Education (i3).” Department of Education, Washington, DC.  

Department of Education. 2024. “Federal Efforts Towards Investing in Innovation in Education Through the i3 Fund: A Summary of Grantmaking and Evidence-Building.” Department of Education, Washington, DC.  

Dinkes, Rachel, and Beth Boulay. 2024. “Investing in Education R&D is Essential—and It’s Not Just About Numbers.” The 74 , May 20, 2024.  

Dobbie, Will, and Roland G. Fryer Jr. 2013. “Getting Beneath the Veil of Effective Schools: Evidence from New York City.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 5 (4): 28–60.  

Gleason, Philip, Melissa Clark, Christina Clark Tuttle, Emily Dwoyer, and Marsha Silverberg. 2010. “The Evaluation of Charter School Impacts: Final Report.” NCEE 2010-4029, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC.  

Goldin, Claudia. 2014. “A Grand Gender Convergence: Its Last Chapter.” American Economic Review 104 (4): 1091–119.  

Goulas, Sofoklis, Margaret E. Raymond, Lauren Bierbaum, Lindsay Bell, Meghan Cotter Mazzola, and Will Snow (CREDO). 2017. “The Impact of Scaling the New Orleans Charter Restart Model on Student Performance: Final Impact Analysis.” Center for Research on Education Outcomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  

Goulas, Sofoklis. 2019a. “Charter School Performance in Washington State.” Center for Research on Education Outcomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  

Goulas, Sofoklis. 2019b. “Charter School Performance in South Carolina.” Center for Research on Education Outcomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  

Goulas, Sofoklis. 2020. “Charter School Performance in Washington State: An Update.” Center for Research on Education Outcomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  

Goulas, Sofoklis. 2024. “Breaking Down Enrollment Declines in Public Schools.” The Hamilton Project, Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.  

Goulas, Sofoklis, Silvia Griselda, and Rigissa Megalokonomou. 2022. “Comparative Advantage and Gender Gap in STEM.” Journal of Human Resources 0320-10781R2.  

Goulas, Sofoklis, and Isabelle Pula. 2024. “Why Did Schools Lose Students After COVID-19?” The Hamilton Project, Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.  

Hamilton, Ilana, and Veronica Beagle. 2024. “By the Numbers: The Rise of Online Learning in the U.S.” Forbes Advisor, Jersey City, NJ.  

Hanushek, Eric A., and Bradley Strauss. 2024. “A Global Perspective of US Learning Losses.” Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  

Hoffman, Nancy. 2016. “It’s Whom You Know: Work-based Learning Helps Build Labor Market Connections.” The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.  

HolonIQ. 2023. “$19.5B of Climate Tech VC Funding for Q3 2023, Now $40B YTD. Upgrading Our 2023 FY Forecast to $46.7B.” HolonIQ, New York, NY. https://www.holoniq.com/notes/19-5b-of-climate-tech-vc-funding-for-q3-2023-now-40b-ytd-upgrading-our-2023-fy-forecast-to-46-7b  

HolonIQ. 2024. “EdTech VC Collapse at $850M for Q1. Not Even an AI Tailwind Could Hold Up This 10 Year Low.” HolonIQ, New York, NY. https://www.holoniq.com/notes/edtech-vc-collapse-at-580m-for-q1-not-even-an-ai-tailwind-could-hold-up-the-10-year-low   

Hoxby, Caroline M., and Sonali Murarka. 2009. “Charter Schools in New York City: Who Enrolls and How They Affect Their Students’ Achievement.” Working Paper 14852, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA.  

Levine, Phillip. 2024. “Ignore the Sticker Price: How Have College Prices Really Changed?” The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.   

Lohr, Steve. 2022. “A 4-Year Degree Isn’t Quite the Job Requirement It Used to Be.” The New York Times , April 8, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/business/hiring-without-college-degree.html  

Manno, Brunno V., Chester E. Finn Jr., and Gregg Vanourek. 2000. “Charter School Accountability: Problems and Prospects.” Educational Policy 14 (4): 473–93.  

Mathematica Policy Research. 2012. “Charter-School Management Organizations: Diverse Strategies and Diverse Student Impacts.” Mathematica Policy Research, Washington, DC.   

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). n.d.a. “National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).” U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Washington, DC.   

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). n.d.b. “Digest of Education Statistics: Table 216:90.” U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Washington, DC.  

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). n.d.c. “Digest of Education Statistics: Table 219:46.” U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Washington, DC.  

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). n.d.d. “Digest of Education Statistics: Table 311:15.” U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Washington, DC.  

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). n.d.e. “Digest of Education Statistics: Table 502:20.” U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Washington, DC.  

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). 2020. “National Postsecondary Student Aid Study: 2020 Undergraduate Students.” U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Washington, DC.  

National Commission on Excellence in Education (NCEE). 1983. “A Nation at Risk: The imperative for Educational Reform.” The Elementary School Journal 84 (2): 113–30.  

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). n.d. “Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 Database, Volume I Tables I.B1.2.1, I.B1.2.2, I.B1.5.4, and I.B1.5.5.” Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, France.   

Petrongolo, Barbara, and Maddalena Ronchi. 2020. “Gender Gaps and the Structure of Local Labor Markets.” Labour Economics 64: 101819.   

Raymond, M. E., Chunping Han, Sofoklis Goulas, Won Fy Lee, and Charla Waeiss (CREDO). 2020. “Estimates of Learning Loss in the 2019-20 School Year.” Center for Research on Education Outcomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.   

Raymond, Margaret E., James L. Woodworth, Won Fy Lee, and Sally Bachofer (CREDO). 2023. “As a Matter of Fact: National Charter School Study III.” Center for Research on Education Outcomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.  

Reber, Sarah, and Nora Gordon. 2023. “A Primer on Elementary and Secondary Education in the United States: Who Does What and How Do We Pay for It?” The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.   

Reber, Sarah, Dennis Rünger, and Mitchell D. Wong. 2023. “The Effects of Charter High Schools on Academic Achievement and College Enrollment: Evidence from Los Angeles.” Education Finance and Policy 1–19.  

Saleh Rauf, David. 2024. “An Ed-Tech Venture Funding ‘Collapse’ During Q1 of 2024.” EdWeek Market Brief, April 25, 2024. https://marketbrief.edweek.org/financing-investment/an-ed-tech-venture-funding-collapse-during-q1-of-2024/2024/04  

Sato, Simone N., Condes Moreno, E., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Dalamitros, A. A., Yañez-Sepulveda, R., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., and Clemente-Suárez, V. J. 2023. “Navigating the New Normal: Adapting Online and Distance Learning in the Post-Pandemic Era.” Education Sciences 14 (1): 19.  

Smietana, Katarzyna, Marcin Siatkowski, and Martin Møller. 2016. “Trends in Clinical Success Rates.” Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 15 (6): 379–80.  

Sterling, Adina D., Marissa E. Thompson, Shiya Wang, Abisola Kusimo, Shannon Gilmartin, and Sheri Sheppard. 2020. “The Confidence Gap Predicts the Gender Pay Gap Among STEM Graduates.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117 (48): 30303–8.  

The Economist. 2024. “New Numbers Show Falling Standards in American High Schools.” The Economist, March 10, 2024. https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/03/10/new-numbers-show-falling-standards-in-american-high-schools

Villasenor, John, 2022. “Online College Classes Can Be Better Than In-Person Ones. The Implications for Higher Ed Are Profound.” The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC.   

Urban Institute. n.d. “Understanding College Affordability: Variation in Earnings After College.” Urban Institute, Washington, DC.   

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2023. “Earnings and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment, 2023.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, DC.  

U.S. Census Bureau. n.d. “Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.” U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, MD.

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The author is grateful to Lauren Bauer, Wendy Edelberg, and Sarah Reber for their generous feedback. Victoria Yan and Zhengtai Zheng provided excellent research support.

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Welcome to our latest blog post on economics research topics! Whether you are an academic seeking inspiration or a student looking for a starting point for your next assignment, you've come to the right place. 

With so many areas to explore in economics, it can be difficult to know where to begin. But don't worry, we've got your back. In this post, our online paper writers have shared some of the most interesting and hot economics research paper topics. So, grab a cup of coffee and let's dive in!

What Are Economics Research Topics?

Economics is a social science that studies how people, businesses, and governments make decisions about how to use resources. It deals with issues like production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. 

As a student, you might be given to write a research paper on research topics in economics. These types of social science topics can cover a wide range of subjects, including:

• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• International economics
• Behavioral economics, and more.

Whether you are interested in exploring current trends, global markets or history, or taxes, we collected a bunch of economics topics for a research paper to choose from. Stay with our service to spot the best idea for your upcoming project.

Characteristics of Good Economics Research Paper Topics

When it comes to selecting a research topic related to economics, it is important to decide on a subject that is not only interesting but also appropriate for your academic level. Consider these fundamental characteristics of good economics paper topics to make a wise choice:

• Select a title that is both relevant and is intended to solve a current issue.
• Choose a unique topic that has not been explored too much by other researchers.
• Make sure you can easily access the data or sources needed to create your paper.
• Consider if the topic has the potential to be of practical or social importance.
• Pick an area that genuinely interests you and will keep you motivated throughout your project.

How to Choose an Economics Research Paper Topic?

Choosing between this selection of economics project ideas can be really difficult especially if you are first to this. However, with a little bit of guidance, you will see that there is nothing challenging about picking a proper topic for a research paper in economics. Take a look at these step-by-step instructions to make the right decision:

• Brainstorm potential economics research topics that sound interesting to you in the first place. After all, you don’t want to work with boring aspects.
• Narrow your list down and consider whether there are enough resources to back up your research.
• Carry out preliminary investigation to see what you can write about. Use academic journals, newspapers, and other reputable sources to gather information.
• Check if the topic complies with your instructor’s guidelines.
• Based on your research and requirements alter a title to create a focused research question.

Remember to choose a topic that you are passionate about and that aligns with your academic and professional goals.

Economics Research Topics List

Economics is a vast field that encompasses a wide range of topics and issues. If you're looking for inspiration for your next research paper, consider exploring one of these top research paper topics in economics:

• What is the impact of trade policies on international trade patterns?
• How does income inequality affect economic growth?
• What role does entrepreneurship play in economic development?
• How do government regulations affect market efficiency?
• What are the economic implications of climate change and environmental policy?
• How do automation and artificial intelligence affect the labor market?
• What are the effects of healthcare policies on the economy and society?
• How does education influence economic outcomes?
• What are some economic aspects of taxation and fiscal policy?
• How does globalization impact domestic economies and societies?

Interesting Research Topics in Economics

Are you searching for interesting topics in economics? Look no further than these cptivting economic paper topics ideas.

• How do government policies impact income mobility?
• What role do financial institutions play in economic growth?
• Economics of housing and homelessness.
• How do immigration policies shape the labor market?
• Impact of gender inequality on economic growth.
• Sustainable development and renewable energy.
• What are some effects of globalization on income distribution?
• How do minimum wage policies impact employment and poverty?
• Economics of crime and punishment.
• How does corruption relate to economic growth?
• Effects of social welfare policies on income inequality.
• Healthcare markets and insurance systems.
• How does technology influence income distribution and employment?
• Education financing and student loan debt.
• How do economic sanctions affect international trade and diplomacy?

Good Topics for Economic Research Papers

Economics research topics are diverse and can be approached from various angles. Below are some great economic topics to write about:

• What are some effects of social media on consumer behavior and advertising?
• What is the relationship between corporate social responsibility and profitability?
• Sharing economy and its impact on traditional industries.
• How does climate change affect the tourism industry economically?
• Economics of healthcare systems and policies in developing countries.
• How does population aging influence labor markets and retirement policies?
• How does artificial intelligence impact business and employment?
• What factors are involved in energy transition and the shift to renewable energy?
• Income inequality and political polarization.
• How do digital streaming services and the music industry intersect economically?
• How does cultural diversity contribute to growth and innovation?
• Effects of trade agreements on income distribution.
• Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
• How does globalization impact labor standards and working conditions?
• Natural disasters and economic growth.

Best Economics Research Topics

Want to take your project to the next level? Don’t skip these hot economic research questions. They suit any academic level and can be supported by credible evidence.

• Big data and its role in economic forecasting.
• How does public debt impact economic growth?
• The economics of international migration.
• What is the impact of technological innovation on income inequality?
• The role of infrastructure investment in fostering economic growth.
• The economics of the gig economy and freelance work.
• How does foreign aid affect economic development?
• The economics of natural resource management and sustainability.
• What is the impact of urbanization on economic growth and development?
• The economics of the entertainment industry and streaming services.
• How do exchange rate fluctuations influence trade and investment?
• The economics of food production and distribution systems.
• How do government regulations affect small businesses economically?
• The study of behavioral finance and decision-making in economics.
• What is the impact of monetary policy on financial markets and inflation?

Unique Economics Research Topics

Economics is a constantly evolving field that offers endless possibilities for research and analysis. That’s why choosing unique economic research ideas shouldn’t be a big deal. Below we added a list of authentic topics you most likely won’t be able to find anywhere else.

• How does mobile banking contribute to financial inclusion in emerging economies?
• How do natural disasters affect supply chains?
• What are some effects of gender bias in venture capital funding decisions?
• How does population density influence the demand for public transportation in urban areas?
• Virtual currencies and their potential as an alternative to traditional currencies.
• How do government subsidies influence the adoption of renewable energy?
• How do industrial policies shape innovation and contribute to economic growth?
• Alternative meat and its potential impact on the food industry.
• What is the relationship between public transit availability and property values in urban areas?
• How does corruption impact economic growth and development?
• Renewable energy storage systems and their impact on grid stability.
• What are some effects of automation on job displacement and income inequality?
• Blockchain technology in the banking industry and financial transactions.
• International trade in cultural goods and services.
• How does income inequality relate to health outcomes from an economic standpoint?

Popular Economics Topics for Research Paper

Do you want to focus on current and pressing issues? Consider these trending topics for economic research papers.

• The impact of COVID-19 on the global economy.
• What are economic implications of healthcare reform?
• How does globalization affect labor markets economically?
• Climate change and the role of carbon pricing.
• Effects of income inequality on social mobility.
• How does automation impact employment and wages in the workforce?
• The economics of education and the burden of student loan debt.
• How do government regulations influence business and innovation economically?
• Income taxation and progressive taxation.
• Impact of immigration on labor markets.
• Behavioral economics and the use of nudges in decision-making.
• How do trade policies influence international relations and diplomacy?
• Mergers and acquisitions in the business world.
• How do minimum wage policies affect low-wage workers economically?
• Urbanization and transportation planning.

Economics Research Paper Topics for Students

As a student, picking decent economic topics for research papers can be a challenging task. It's important to focus on relevant and interesting aspects. Below you will find some economic research paper topics specifically geared toward students of all levels.

Economics Research Topics for College Students

College students majoring in economics have a range of choices when it comes to research topics. Below are some inspiring economic paper topics you can use as inspiration for your project in college:

• Effects of gig economy on labor markets.
• Economic growth and environmental sustainability.
• Impact of sharing economy on traditional industries.
• Housing affordability and homelessness.
• How does trade liberalization affect domestic industries and consumers?
• How does public policy influence small business growth?
• Food waste and its impact on sustainability.
• Income inequality and access to education.
• Impact of automation on the future of work.
• Online advertising and consumer behavior.
• How does fiscal policy influence income distribution and poverty reduction?
• How does tax reform impact business investment?
• Economics of international tourism and its impact on local economies.
• Effects of financial regulation on consumer behavior and investor confidence.
• Demographic shifts and labor force participation.

Economics Research Topics for Undergraduates

Are you an undergraduate student looking for topics related to economics? Here are some amazing ideas you can pick from:

• Financial implications of space exploration and commercial space travel.
• Role of urban farming in city development for sustainability.
• Impact of genetic engineering and biotechnology on the agricultural sector.
• Financial consequences of digital privacy.
• Implications of mass surveillance on consumer spending patterns.
• How do remittances influence growth in developing countries?
• Fiscal consequences of cybercrime and cybersecurity breaches.
• Role of microfinance in alleviating poverty.
• Potential financial implications of quantum computing.
• Water scarcity and its worldwide financial implications.
• Monetary consequences of epidemics, pandemics, and public health crises.
• Transformation of markets by virtual and augmented reality.
• Effect of corporate governance on shareholder value.
• Financial aspects of aging societies and pension reform.
• Role of intellectual property rights in promoting innovation and growth.

Economics Research Topics for Grad Students

Graduate students in economics are expected to delve deeper into economic theories, models, and concepts. They are also required to contribute new insights to the field. We suggest that you choose these economics topics for research to earn a high grade:

• How does drug legalization influence national economies?
• Impact of universal basic income on poverty levels and unemployment rates.
• Financial implications of political instability and conflict.
• Impact of cultural heritage sites on local and national finances.
• Financial repercussions of biodiversity loss and species extinction.
• Role of venture capital in fostering startups and growth.
• Disaster risk management and its relevance to financial resilience.
• Potential fiscal impacts of deep-sea mining.
• Financial consequences of single-use plastics and transition to a circular economy.
• Business aspects of the digital gaming industry and eSports.
• Impact of the maker movement and DIY culture on traditional manufacturing.
• How can nanotechnology shape future market economies?
• Impact of drone technology on supply chain operations.
• Financial aspects of mental health in the workplace.
• Role of public-private partnerships in fostering growth and infrastructure development.

Research Topics in Economics by Subject

Economics paper topics ideas will also depend on your area of expertise. This block will offer topics by subject, so that you can choose a theme that fits your special needs. Whether you are interested in exploring the economics of renewable energy or the effects of globalization on income distribution,you will surely spot an idea or two right below.

World Economics Research Paper Topics

The global economy is a complex and interconnected system, and there are many world economics research paper topics that can shed light on global aspects. Between them are these ideas:

• Evolving landscape of international trade in the post-COVID era.
• Role of Special Economic Zones in boosting global competitiveness.
• Impact of machine learning and artificial intelligence on global financial markets.
• How do social impact bonds contribute to global development goals?
• Cybersecurity risks in global financial institutions: Are we prepared?
• Influence of social entrepreneurship on worldwide poverty reduction.
• Green bonds and their role in global sustainable finance.
• Economic prospects of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
• Role of global remittance flows in socioeconomic development.
• Impact of climate change on global supply chains: What can we do?
• Global consequences of a cashless society: Are we ready?
• How does geopolitics affect global energy markets?
• Repercussions of cryptocurrency adoption on global financial stability.
• Economies of scale in global manufacturing: A new era?
• Role of international development assistance in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

>> More ideas: Politics Research Topics

Microeconomics Research Paper Topics

Microeconomics studies the behavior of individuals and firms in making decisions regarding the allocation of resources. If you need microeconomics topics for research paper, we collected great ideas below:

• How do consumer ethics shape purchasing decisions?
• What influences price elasticity of demand in luxury goods markets?
• How does the gig economy affect individual financial stability?
• What are the key economic factors determining college major choices?
• How do credit scores influence personal finance management?
• What impacts have peer-to-peer lending platforms had on traditional banking?
• What drives consumer decisions between online and brick-and-mortar shopping?
• How do economic considerations play into personal retirement planning?
• What market dynamics and pricing strategies dominate the smartphone industry?
• How does behavioral economics impact personal savings habits?
• How significantly does brand loyalty influence consumer spending?
• What strategies help businesses survive during economic downturns?
• How does corporate social responsibility influence consumer choice?
• What role does digital marketing play in shaping consumer behavior?
• What are some economic impacts of identity theft on individuals and businesses?

Macroeconomics Research Paper Topics

Unlike microeconomics, macroeconomics explores the behavior and performance of entire economies. Below are some awesome macroeconomics research paper topics:

• Exploring connections between inflation and unemployment.
• Impact of quantitative easing on long-term economic growth.
• How does fiscal deficit affect a country's economic stability?
• The role of central banks in managing economic downturns.
• Effects of government debt on interest rates and investment.
• What factors contribute to business cycles and economic fluctuations?
• Examination of macroeconomic factors influencing foreign direct investment.
• How do monetary policies impact inflation and unemployment rates?
• Role of technology advancements in macroeconomic productivity.
• Impact of demographic changes on long-term economic growth.
• Can green investment stimulate economic recovery?
• What role do exchange rates play in a country's trade balance?
• Comparative analysis of economic growth models.
• Macroeconomic challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
• How does income inequality affect economic growth at a macro level?

Economics Research Paper Topics on International Trade

International trade is a vital part of the global economy and has a significant impact on development, and international relations. Here are unique topics for an economic research paper focusing on international trade:

• Impact of Brexit on international trade relations.
• How do currency fluctuations affect international trade?
• Economic consequences of trade wars: A case study of U.S.-China relations.
• Role of World Trade Organization in shaping international trade norms.
• How does international trade contribute to economic growth?
• Evaluation of free trade agreements and their economic implications.
• Role of emerging markets in shaping the future of international trade.
• How do trade barriers influence domestic industries?
• Fair trade vs. free trade: An economic analysis.
• Global supply chain disruptions: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Effects of international trade on income distribution within countries.
• Economic impact of sanctions on international trade.
• How do intellectual property rights issues affect international trade?
• Role of e-commerce in transforming international trade.
• What are the economic consequences of offshore outsourcing on international trade?

Financial Economics Research Topics

Financial economics is a subfield of economics that focuses on financial markets, institutions, and instruments. Here are outstanding financial economic topics for a paper:

• Role of FinTech in shaping the future of banking.
• Analysis of risk management strategies in investment banking.
• How do hedge funds contribute to financial market stability?
• Impact of regulatory changes on financial market competitiveness.
• How does financial literacy influence individual investment decisions?
• Examination of financial derivatives and their role in financial risk management.
• Role of central banks in maintaining financial stability.
• Analysis of market efficiency in cryptocurrency markets.
• How do financial crises affect economies in the long term?
• Financial inclusion and the role of mobile banking.
• Impact of corporate governance on financial performance.
• Examination of the link between financial markets and economic growth.
• High-frequency trading: Impact on financial market stability.
• Effect of algorithmic trading on financial market efficiency.
• How do interest rate changes impact financial markets.

Development Economics Research Topics

Development economics studies the economic and social development of low-income countries. With this branch in mind, we prepared a list of development economic research paper topics ideas:

•  Role of microfinance in economic empowerment in developing countries.
• How do infrastructure projects affect economic development?
• How do cultural factors shape economic progress in developing countries?
• Impact of corruption on resource allocation in developing nations.
• Impact of foreign aid on economic growth in recipient countries.
• Evaluation of agricultural policies on rural development.
• How do commodity price fluctuations affect developing economies?
• Implications of population growth on resource management in emerging economies.
• How does political stability influence economic growth in developing countries?
• Impact of public health initiatives on economic development.
• Analysis of sustainable development strategies in emerging economies.
• How do migration patterns affect economic development?
• How does technological adoption improve productivity in developing economies?
• Role of social entrepreneurship in sustainable economic development.
• How does tourism influence the economic development of low-income countries?

Behavioral Economics Research Paper Topics

Behavioral economics combines insights from psychology and economics to understand how people make financial decisions. Below you can find behavioral economics research topics:

• Impact of cognitive biases on economic decision making.
• Role of emotions in consumer purchasing behavior.
• How does social influence shape spending habits?
• What are the economic implications of procrastination?
• Nudging for good: Can behavioral economics promote healthier lifestyles?
• How does framing influence consumers' perception of price and value?
• Role of incentives in shaping individual and collective behavior.
• Examination of loss aversion in investment decisions.
• Analysis of irrational behaviors in financial markets.
• Behavioral economics in policy design: What works and why?
• How does choice overload affect consumer decision making?
• The effect of anchoring bias in pricing strategies.
• Role of behavioral economics in promoting sustainable consumption.
• How does scarcity mindset affect economic decisions?
• Behavioral economics and personal finance: How to avoid common pitfalls?

>> Read more: Psychology Topics to Research

Environmental Economics Research Topics

Environmental economics investigates the interaction between economic systems and the natural environment. This subfield also offers multiple perspectives for exploration. Here are some examples of project topics on economics with emphasis on environment:

• Examining the economic impacts of biodiversity loss.
• Impact of environmental policies on manufacturing industries.
• Role of renewable energy investments in economic growth.
• Does a carbon tax impact economic competitiveness?
• Economic analysis of water resource management.
• How do natural disasters affect economic performance?
• The economic value of ecosystem services.
• Cost-effectiveness of different strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Role of environmental economics in climate change mitigation.
• How does waste management contribute to sustainable economic growth?
• The effects of air pollution on economic productivity.
• What is the economic impact of deforestation?
• Evaluation of economic tools for managing plastic waste.
• Economics of transitioning to a circular economy.
• How does sustainable agriculture contribute to economic development?

>> View more: Environmental Research Topics

Health Economics Research Topics

Health economics examines how health care practices affect the health outcomes of individuals and whole populations.  Take a glance at these health economics research paper topics:

• Economic impact of pandemics on healthcare systems.
• Role of telemedicine in healthcare cost reduction.
• How do health insurance policies influence medical spending?
• Economic analysis of mental health issues and treatment access.
• The cost-effectiveness of preventative healthcare measures.
• Evaluating the economic burden of chronic diseases.
• Economic implications of antibiotic resistance.
• How does socioeconomic status influence health outcomes?
• Impact of aging populations on healthcare costs.
• Evaluation of the economic benefits of vaccination programs.
• The effect of medical technology advancements on healthcare costs.
• Role of behavioral economics in health promotion and disease prevention.
• How does health literacy influence healthcare utilization and costs?
• Economic analysis of substance abuse treatment.
• Evaluating the economic impacts of health policy reforms.

>> Read more: Public Health Topics for Research

Extra Research Topics for Economics

Sometimes, finding the right idea can be a challenging task. However, there are numerous resources available to help you find unique angles. Also, don't be afraid to ask your professors or research paper writer team for suggestions on the selection process. But if you don’t have enough time, we gathered some supplementary economics research topics.

Economics Essay Topics

An economics essay can cover a broad range of topics, from macroeconomic issues such as international trade and monetary policy to microeconomic aspects such as consumer behavior and market structure.

• Can an increase in minimum wage curb poverty?
• What are the potential economic effects of Brexit?
• Impact of income inequality on societal cohesion.
• How does the rise of remote work influence economic structures?
• Examination of the economic benefits of public libraries.
• Role of the informal economy in urban development.
• Economic implications of increasing life expectancy.
• How does piracy impact the music and film industry economically?
• Impact of subsidies on agricultural economies.
• Exploration of the economic factors influencing the housing market.
• Analysis of the economic costs of obesity.
• Role of child labor in global supply chains.
• Examination of the economic implications of internet censorship.
• Impact of single-use plastics on local and global economies.
• Economic effects of urban green spaces.

Economics Topics for a Short Project

If you need to complete a short assignment, you may want to consider project topics in economics that can be analyzed within a limited timeframe. Don’t worry. We’ve added some simple ideas as well:

• Examining the economic impacts of online privacy breaches.
• Role of advertising in shaping consumer behavior.
• Analysis of the economic effects of natural disasters.
• Economic implications of self-driving cars.
• Role of cooperatives in the economy.
• Impact of e-waste on developing economies.
• The role of micro-credit in alleviating poverty.
• Examining the economic impacts of space exploration.
• How do online reviews influence consumer purchasing decisions?
• Economics of disaster recovery: Case studies.
• Examination of the economic implications of cybercrime.
• Impact of nutritional labeling on consumer behavior and market outcomes.
• Economic analysis of the craft beer industry.
• Examining the economic effects of animal agriculture.
• How do tax incentives influence corporate behavior and economic outcomes?

Economics Research Questions

Formulating a research question is a crucial step in conducting an economics research project. A good research question should be specific, measurable, and relevant to the topic under study. Here are some economics research questions to consider:

• How does widespread adoption of digital currencies impact traditional banking?
• To what extent do economic factors contribute to obesity rates?
• What are the consequences of large-scale solar power adoption?
• How do parental leave policies shape labor markets?
• What impacts do large-scale data breaches have on corporations?
• Does green urban planning significantly contribute to city development?
• How much does mental health contribute to workplace productivity?
• What effects do fair trade agreements have on farmers in low-income countries?
• How valuable are clean oceans for global trade?
• How does political stability of a country influence foreign investments?
• What are the consequences of patent wars in the tech industry?
• How does the rise of freelancing shape labor laws?
• What economic implications does the rise of eSports have?
• How does nutrition education impact economic health?
• What are some benefits and drawbacks of commercial space tourism?

Economics Research Topics for Exams

If you're preparing for an exam, it's important to have a good understanding of the concepts and theories that you'll be tested on. To help you prepare, we offer these economics research topics for exams to study:

• Implications of autonomous vehicles on transportation.
• Role of trade unions in contemporary job markets.
• Analysis of gender disparities in retirement savings.
• Influence of corporate social responsibility on brand reputation.
• How do plant-based diets influence the global meat industry.
• Evaluating efficiency of ride-sharing platforms.
• Role of drones in shaping future commercial landscapes.
• How public health initiatives influence workplace productivity.
• Exploring the potential economic impact of asteroid mining.
• How does fashion industry affect global economy and environmental sustainability?
• Impact of video-on-demand services on traditional film industries.
• Role of social entrepreneurship in poverty alleviation.
• Role of energy-efficient appliances in electricity markets.
• Influence of shifting demographics on global trends.
• How does celebrity endorsement influence consumer buying behavior?

Economics Research Paper Topics for Experts

For those who are already experts in the field of economics, finding 100% original economics research topics can be an uphill struggle. But not with ideas attached below:

• How does quantum computing pose an economic challenge to cybersecurity firms?
• How do gene editing technologies affect agricultural markets?
• In what ways does space commercialization affect global economies?
• How does increased lifespan influence retirement and pension systems?
• Financial viability of carbon capture and storage.
• Influence of ethical consumerism on global supply chains.
• How have nanotechnologies impacted manufacturing sectors?
• Impact of rising sea levels on coastal economies.
• Role of predictive analytics in preventing financial fraud.
• Examining the economic consequences of major oil spills.
• How does deep face technology pose an economic challenge to film industries?
• Economic impacts of large-scale reforestation.
• Implications of extensive antibiotic resistance.
• Impacts of geopolitical tensions on global oil prices.
• Universal basic income as a solution for automation-induced job loss.

Bottom Line on Economics Papers Topics

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