ECON 305 - Comparative Economic Systems
Professor Elliott Parker
Second Paper Assignment

PAPER2:

Topic:  Why do some economies grow faster than others?  Consider the major theoretical reasons given in lecture, in the textbook, and in the book you used for your first paper.  You might do some extra outside research on the question, and you should go beyond the superficial explanation.  Next, choose two countries which have had substantially different growth results in the past fifty years, but which you can argue share a number of similarities.  Briefly describe these two countries, explaining their important similarities and differences, and explain why their growth performance was different.  Finally, explain how your results from these two cases fit in with your discussion of the theory you described.

Don’t choose the U.S., Russia, or any country which has been torn apart by war, and before you make a final decision you should make sure you can find enough sources in the library.  You must use a significant amount of outside research in addition to any relevant assigned readings, and all references must both be cited (Name year: pages) in the text and listed alphabetically in a bibliographic section at the end entitled "References."  Use a variety of sources, including books, journal articles, newspaper articles, and official websites.

This is a research paper worth twice as much as Paper 1, and should be approximately 12-15 pages (not including the cover page, references, and tables). Use the same basic format as in the first paper assignment.

Paper Due Date:  Thursday, December 7, 2006.  Also turn in a disk with your paper on it.  Late papers will lose one full grade per week, and all papers must be turned in by December 20.

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