Assignment:
Gidelines:
• prepared individually or in pairs
• length: 10000-15000 characters (incl. spaces)
THE CONTENT
The written paper should aim to provide the answer to an interesting question by means of gathering significant data/information and analyzing it in relation to / with the use of microeconomic concepts discussed in class (e.g. externalities, asymmetric information, efficiency).
One should therefore start with the question “would I be able to write the same paper without my knowledge gained in the Microeconomics 3 class?”. If the answer is “yes”, then it is likely that the topic or method of analysis is not appropriate, or the work is very superficial.
The paper should be logically structured. Each paragraph should deal with one issue and should relate to the previous, as well as to the next paragraph (whenever they are in the same section). It is a good exercise to summarize each paragraph in one sentence. This should be possible and the resulting text should be relatively coherent.
If a paragraph cannot be reasonably summarized in one sentence, then it is likely a) lacking substance and/or b) self-contradictory and/or c) devoted to too many different issues. If a paragraph consists of a single sentence or is more than half a page long, something is certainly wrong.
The paper should contain an introduction, informing about its topic and the motivation for undertaking it, the main substance containing the essential analysis, as well as a summary of its results.
If the work contains tables and/or figures, each of them should be given a number, title, and any explanations (if necessary) allowing to comprehend what they represent without reference to the main text. At the same time, in the main text at least one reference should be made to every table/figure. If such reference does not fit in the text, it is likely that the discussed object is superfluous.
An extensive survey of directly related academic literature [we recommend scholar.google.com; access to full texts of journal articles is possible via the University library (BUW) website – see ‘Eresources’ and select ‘AtoZ list’] would be valuable but is not inevitable, even for those who want to receive the maximum score.
One should, however, approach the gathered materials with criticism. An academic paper or a report of a respected institution will usually be more precise and reliable than someone’s statement for the media, etc. Generally, all unobvious statements that are not the result of one’s own analysis should be provided with references to literature/sources and the paper should finish with a list of references (bibliography) containing all works that have been used (in alphabetical order according to the last name of the first author). E.g. in the main text of the paper one will say “(…) Stanton (2010) argued this, while Andreoni et al. (2003) argued that (…)” and the references will contain:
Andreoni, J., Castillo, M., & Petrie, R. (2003). What do bargainers' preferences look like? Experiments with a convex ultimatum game. American Economic Review 93(3), 672-685.
Stanton, F. (2010). Great negotiations: Agreements that changed the modern world. Westholme.
In principle, do not provide titles of works referred to in the main text or in footnotes, only in the list of references (bibliography). The list should contain these and only these works, which one refers to in the text (not necessarily citing a particular passage).
A link is not a bibliographical reference. The fact that a piece of text was found and read in the internet does not release one from the obligation to provide the author’s name and the title. Similarly, when using data (e.g. from the Polish Main Statistical Office GUS) provide the title on the database/report and the table/page number (not just the link). If you discuss the results of a given study, e.g. based on a survey, it is worth mentioning a few words on the methodology and, in particular, the sample.
The paper must be ORIGINAL. Hidden borrowing from others’ works, including translations (no matter whether from published articles, books, webpages, master/bachelor thesis, written assignments, with or without the author’s consent) will result in failing the course and may cause the initiation of a disciplinary procedure before the relevant university committee. Obviously, this does not concern quotations and discussions accompanied by a bibliographic reference.
The paper should be written in proper English. Typos, punctuation errors, wrong verb forms/tenses, etc., as well as using colloquial phrases will result in lowering the grade.
If you provide numbers, remember that in English decimal numerical notation uses (decimal) points, not commas. In addition, the reader will usually not be interested in the fact that in a given year 37849180 cars have been registered in Mexico and may actually have a problem to count the digits in such number. Therefore, it is much better to write that there were 37.8 million of them. It is also
worth considering whether a graph could be the best way to present a large number.
PREPARING THE PAPER
It is planned that the instructor will usually devote one working meeting to the author(s) of a given paper. Details regarding the organization of these meetings (their form, dates, etc.) will be determined by the instructor for each group and announced at the beginning of the semester.
TOPIC SUGGESTIONS
Note: These are informal suggestions regarding potential directions of your work, not ready-to-use topics. If you come up with your own topic – this is even better. In any case the topic must be accepted by the course lecturer.
1. Why do prices of third party car insurance (in Poland: ubezpieczenie OC) differ so much between different insurance companies? (just third party car insurance, not as part of an insurance package)
2. In relation to cigarettes we have the excise tax, restrictions concerning advertisement, sale, consumption etc. Which of these regulations, if any, should also concern e-cigarettes (and why)?
3. Are fees for using highways in Poland (or another country) too high?
4. Present an interesting phenomenon related to the „alternative” economy (e.g. time banks, second life, role playing games, bit coins…)
5. Speed cameras: are there too many of them, should they be preceded by a warning sign, should there really be a camera behind each such sign, who decides and who should decide about the placement of speed cameras, who is and who should be the beneficiary of traffic tickets?
6. Negative externalities – the case of the Polish Independence March.
7. Asymmetric information in online auction portals: the role/valuation of users’ opinions.
8. Garbage tax – is it a good solution?
9. Negative externalities of billboards – regulation in Polish cities
10. Does it make sense to abolish mandatory insurance in road transport?
11. How much does free public transportation cost?
12. Public transportation as a public good. Should it be privatized?