Posted: April 15th, 2015

econ

Methods of Enquiry (AEF) Research Proposal Topics

You have a choice of 12 topics for your research proposal, as listed below. You can choose any one topic (irrespective of your degree – though sticking with a relevant topic may help your final year). You are advised to choose before the library tutorial in the second week, when you will start doing background research into the topic.

For all proposals, you are expected to follow the assignment guidelines (see the Assessments folder on Blackboard and the Assessment Handbook handed out in the first lecture) and identify and apply key academic theories, learn from methods that other authors in the field have used, identify aims and objectives, and describe sampling, data collection and proposed analysis methods for an integrated mixed methods (i.e. qualitative and quantitative) approach.

Parenthood pay inequality

Research suggests that there is a gender pay equality issue based on the advent of parenthood. A research proposal on this topic should consider one of the following: [1] The evidence shows that when women return to work after having children they often receive either a slightly lower wage or subsequently receive a lower rate of pay growth than working men. [2] The research indicates that men who have children can receive a higher wage than men without children. A research proposal on this topic could focus on how to review and critically analyse the contrasting reasons for this trend whilst also analysing policy implications.

Urban poverty, Underemployment and Unemployment

A literature review on this topic could consider one of the following issues relating to urban poverty, underemployment and unemployment:[1] City-wide policies to reduce poverty. The individuals in poverty seem to congregate in particular areas within cities. A research proposal in this area could devise a strategy which helps us to understand the main reasons for this observation, whilst also indicating which types of policies would be effective at reducing poverty in a way that is specific to particular locations. [2] Policies to reduce unemployment in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The unemployed individuals seem to congregate in particular areas within cities. A research proposal in this area could aim to critically evaluate the various reasons for this observation and examine policies to promote employment that may, or may not pay attention to location.[3] Policies to reduce underemployment in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The individuals in underemployment – i.e. the desire to work longer hours – seem to congregate in particular areas. This should focus on critically appraising the contrasting reasons for this observation and examine policies to enhance hours of employment that may, or may not pay attention to location.

‘Green growth’ and ‘green jobs’

There is an established debate on the relationship between economic growth and the environment. Some have argued that economic growth will improve environmental protection and citizens’ attitudes to the environment. There may also be a ‘decoupling’ of growth from resource use and carbon emissions. On the other side of the debate who argue for a planned ‘degrowth’ of the economy. A related question is whether ‘green jobs’ can be created as a solution to the current economic slowdown. A research proposal on this topic could consider the general relation between growth and the environment. As an alternative, current initiatives in ‘green jobs’ could be considered. ‘Green jobs’ could be discussed from either the micro perspective, in terms of the nature of them; or at the macro level, in terms of their impact on the whole economy.

The European Union and the Eurozone

The term‘Eurozone’ refers to the 17 countries of the European Union who use the Euro as their official currency. The introduction of the Euro in 1999 was a ‘landmark event’ in the long process of European economic integration, and it had the effect of locking the member states of the Eurozone into a ‘permanent’ economic and monetary union. There is a wide body of literature which considers the process of European economic integration, including the formation of the Eurozone in 1999. A research proposal on this topic could examine the economic costs and benefits (at the company or country level) of integration for the various nation states which became the ‘Eurozone’.

Regulation of the UK banking sector

The recent international financial crisis has prompted a number of economists to call for tighter regulation of the UK’s banking system. Under the current regulatory framework, banks based in the UK are free to invest all of their available investment funds in the types of high risk ventures which can offer the greatest returns, but also contain the greatest risks. The recent report by the Independent Commission on Banking, chaired by Sir John Vickers, recommended that UK banks should ring-fence their high street banking business from their ‘casino’ investment banking arms. This type of regulation is intended to prevent a repeat of the situation which occurred in the wake of the global financial crisis, where UK banks suffered losses on their international investments, which then forced them to restrict both mortgage lending and business lending in the UK. A research proposal on this topic could examine the potential costs and benefits of imposing further regulation on the financial sector.

Economics of international migration

International migration has become an important economic issue over the last 20 years, with a substantial increase in the volume of literature on this subject. The phenomenon of international migration raises a number of important economic questions, for example, to what extent is migration a function of economic disparities between different parts of the world. Also, there is the question of how migration impacts upon both the sending and receiving countries. A research proposal on this topic could consider one of the following issues relating to international migration: (1) Economic impact of migration on the receiving countries. This should focus on labour market and welfare state effects. (2) Economic impact of migration on sending countries. This should focus on issues such as the ‘brain drain’ and ‘brain gain’, also the issue of return migration. (3) Economics of remittances. This should focus on the money that migrants send back to their country of origin, factors which determine the size of these flows of money and the economic impact of these remittances on the receiving country.

Management control and performance measurement

There is a significant body of literature concerning the use of management accounting techniques as part of the internal control mechanisms of an organisation. Possible research areas include: theoretical perspective on accounting and control; the use and impact of control techniques; and the role and impact of budgeting in organisations. In addition students might like to explore popular techniques such as the Balanced Scorecard. This topic is not confined to profit organisations, students could explore not for profit organisations where accounting control systems have increased in importance. Possible research areas include: ‘new public management’; the influence of the private sector on public sector accounting; and the problems of accountability and performance measurement.

Audit and corporate governance

Audit and Corporate Governance have been the subject of considerable research activity in recent years, partly due to a series of financial and corporate scandals (in both public and private sectors). Governance can be defined as the system(s) for making decisions within organisations; it follows that good governance, and effective accountability will tend to encourage good decision-making. Themes here include: controls over directors (including their remuneration); audit quality, auditor independence (and factors affecting it) and the non-audit services debate. Students may also wish to examine the role that institutional investors play in governance and their levels of engagement in the corporate governance of the companies in which they invest.

The changing role of the accountant

Over the last 20 years there has been a shift in the roles performed by accountants. New tools and techniques are being adopted which are potentially enhancing accounting practice and meaning that less emphasis is now placed on the technical knowledge and traditional skills of accountants, with more demand for accountants to act in an advisory capacity integral to managerial decision-making. Some research has indicated that accountants are now seen as ‘Business Partners’ and team-workers rather than isolated number crunchers. Possible areas to research could be: the drivers of this change in the role of accountants, the extent to which the change is actually occurring or the roles that accountants now perform.

Equity research and financial analysis

Financial analysts play a significant role in capital markets. They generate equity research reports that provide analysis of the company, forecasts, valuations and investment recommendations. These reports, forecasts, valuations and recommendations increase market efficiency by reducing information asymmetry in capital markets. There is a growing body of literature that focuses on the characteristics of the analysts, their work and their forecasts. There is also a wide variety of research methodologies applied in this area, including empirical analysis, interviews and questionnaires, content analysis and behavioural research. Possible research areas include but are not limited to: the effects of analyst reports (earnings forecasts, stock recommendations, valuations, and the wording of the reports) on stock prices, the information content of the analyst reports and how analysts gather information, firm characteristics and analyst following, valuation methods used by the analysts, analyst characteristics, analysts’ incentives and behavioural biases.

Creative accounting

Despite recent reforms in international accounting standards, creative accounting and various forms of this activity such as earnings management, income smoothing, off balance-sheet accounting and big bath accounting still exist in practice. Literature explores the motivation of managers to use creative accounting, the methods that are used in creative accounting practices, the development of accounting standards designed to reduce accounting flexibility, the internal control environment that is designed to deter creative accounting practices and the methods to detect creative accounting practices. Possible research areas include: the ethical issues related to creative accounting, the development of international accounting standards, auditor responsibility in creative accounting and market imperfections that are caused by creative accounting practices.

Credit (risk) management

The recent credit crisis and economic downturn have increased the financial problems of many companies around the world. In addition, financial institutions and credit rating agencies were heavily criticised for their involvement in the propagation of financial instability in the world financial and capital markets. All this has forced a corporate re-evaluation of the importance of sound credit management within commercial organisations and efficient credit risk management within financial institutions. At the same time, credit management represents an important strategic opportunity for firms to enhance performance, liquidity and profitability, whilst efficient credit risk practices allow financial institutions to manage and mitigate risks better. Possible themes include: supply and demand for trade credit, credit policy setting, credit management practices, working capital management, evolution of credit risk assessment methods, corporate bankruptcy, credit ratings, etc.