Analyze an Existing Environmental or Natural Resource Policy
- Review the Relevant Theoretical and Empirical Literature
- Focus on key theories related to environmental and natural
resource economics. For instance, you could review the theory of market
failure (e.g., public goods, externalities) or the tragedy of the
commons. Empirical studies will help provide real-world examples or data
that support or critique the existing policy. - Discuss the Existing Policy or Regulation
- Choose a specific policy, such as a carbon tax, renewable
energy subsidies, water usage regulations, or forest management laws. Be
sure to provide context: when it was implemented, who enforces it, and
its intended goals. - Discuss the Economic Efficiency of the Policy, Including
Potential Unintended Effects - Assess whether the policy achieves its goals efficiently.
Consider costs, benefits, and trade-offs. Look into unintended effects
like rebound effects (where energy efficiency leads to more energy
consumption), leakage (where reductions in emissions in one area cause
increases elsewhere), or administrative costs. - Description of Potential Policy Improvements or Alternative
Policies - Propose ways the policy could be improved. Could its economic
efficiency be enhanced? Are there alternative policies or approaches
(e.g., cap-and-trade, market-based incentives) that would work better? - For a 12-15 page term paper, the number of references will vary depending on the depth of the paper, the complexity of the topic, and the type of sources you use. Generally, the following is an appropriate reference range:
1. Literature Review Section
This section should demonstrate your understanding of the relevant field, so you will need to cite a significant number of academic resources. Typically, at least 10 to 15 academic sources (including journal articles, books, reports, etc.) would be reasonable. If you’re analyzing existing policies or proposing solutions to a problem, you may need more policy documents and government reports.
2. Empirical Data and Case Studies
If you use data analysis or case studies to support your arguments, each data point or case will generally require referencing at least 1 or 2 relevant studies or reports.
3. Policy Analysis or Proposal Section
When proposing policy recommendations, you will need to refer to real-world policies or relevant theoretical research to back up your proposal. You may need to cite government websites, policy reports, think tank publications, etc. Around 5 to 10 references would support your analysis of current policies and your proposal for new ones.
4. Books and Government Reports
These are valuable resources for supporting policy analysis and empirical research. Books are typically used in the literature review and theoretical sections, while government reports provide detailed information on specific policies and statistical data.
Quality of References:
Ensure that the resources you cite are of high quality and authoritative, especially academic journal articles, policy reports, and materials published by government and international organizations. This will enhance the credibility of your paper.
Summary:
For a 12-15 page term paper, you will typically need to cite 20 to 30 sources, with the exact number depending on the complexity of your chosen topic and the arguments you need to support. Make sure that all references are closely related to your paper’s topic and contribute to the depth of your content.
Other requirements:
- Paper Proposal: The proposal should
be concise, well-organized, and thoroughly edited to avoid spelling and
grammatical errors. - Citations and References: The paper
must correctly cite both published and unpublished sources, with a
complete bibliography at the end of the paper. - Plagiarism Prevention: All papers
will undergo originality verification, and any instances of plagiarism
will be handled according to the university’s policies.