Senior Thesis

Fall 2015-Winter 2016

Fundamental Questions

• What is my thesis question, my core hypothesis?

• What is the economic significance of the question/hypothesis?

• Has it been done before?• What is my contribution, my “wrinkle”?

Core Structure of a “typical” Thesis

• Chapter One: Introduction• Chapter Two: Review of the Relevant

Literature• Chapter Three: “The Model”• Chapter Four: Data/Empirical Analysis• Chapter Five: Conclusions

Some Suggestions

• Positive versus Normative statements-“Opinion” vs. evidence-based critical

analysis.-“Selling” of an idea vs. investigating a

problem-hammer in search of a nail

• Communications skills• Organization: general• Organization: your sources (RefWorks)

Nuts and Bolts

• Fall Term– Weekly communications/meetings– Group Presentations– Oral Exam– 15-page submission

• Winter Term– Time-table– Chapter draft submissions– Final submission

Some Examples (1)

• Clay, William Scudder, “The Effects of the Federal Reserve’s Unconventional Monetary Policy on Foreign Exchange Rates and the Effectiveness of Defensive Capital Controls.”

• Miller, Michael Owen, “The Twisting Fed: How Changing Open Market Operation Compositions Affect Long-Term Interest Rates and Subsequently Influence Capital Expenditures.”

Some Examples (2)

• Shelley, Lindsey A., “The High Price of Low Interest Rates: An Empirical Investigation of the Claim that “Too Low” Interest Rates Contributed to the Current Financial Crisis.”

• Gorski, Sean, “Quantifying Capital Overhang in the United States Housing Market and its Impact on Future Housing Investment.”