ESSAY RULES
Word limit: 2000
Document your sources fully, properly, and consistently (you
are free to use, consistently, any citation style/format commonly used in Economics
journals, such as
Make sure you observe
the rules of academic integrity! If you have any doubts about
potentially committing plagiarism, ask! I will be happy to
help and the library staff will also be very helpful
advising you about how to cite non-conventional sources,
such as unpublished papers, newspaper articles, and websites. A good
starting point is always to see how other papers published by other
economists cite their sources.
Please submit:
A: A printed copy during class time
B: E-mail an electronic copy in editable format (ideally a word document).
Late submissions of essays will be penalized at a rate of 5% per day.
Some suggested topics (remember that you can choose your own topic too!):
NB: these headings are just ideas/suggestions. You will likely want to find a more suitable title for your essay if you choose to develop one of these
How could we include the value of human lives in
recreational demand models?
What discount rates should be used in Cost Benefit analyses
of public projects?
From the point of view of an economist what are the relevant
costs and benefits of fully legalizing marihuana?
What would be the main items considered in a CBA of a power
line crossing
What are the main issues behind the normative foundations of
cost benefit analysis?
How would CBA address the decision of whether to allow the
construction of a skyscraper in downtown
Should existence values be included in CBA?
What are the main issues with the contingent valuation method?
Is consumer surplus an appropriate measure of the benefits of a policy?
Should performers in the adult film industry be forced by law to use condoms while filming porn movies? What would a CBA analysts suggest?
Should the trade of seal products be banned? What would a CBA analysts suggest?
Should euthanasia be legal? What would a CBA analysts suggest?
Should the wearing of head scarves be made illegal in Canada? What would a CBA analysts suggest?What are the main issues to consider about the desirability of the Muskrat Falls Hydro dam development?
Should the government of Canada ban the ownership of fire arms by any provate citizen?
Should euthanasia be made legal? What can CBA advice about this?If you had to use CBA to advice on the legal status of abortion, what would be the most difficult issues to consider?
What role could governments have in the labelling of credence goods?What is Ethical Benefit Cost Analysis and how does it compare to conventional CBA?
Should homoeopathic remedies be banned, treated by the government in some other manner? What does CBA suggest to consider to answer this question?
Should oil extraction using high volume fracturing techniques be allowed/banned in Newfoundland & Labrador?