Topics to choose from

• Failure of the Originate-to-Distribute Model and the Financial Crisis of 2007-8

• Monoline Insurers and the Subprime Financial Crisis and Problems with Rating Agencies

• The Liquidity Crisis and the Flight to Quality during the Financial Crisis of 2007-8

• The Importance of Reserves to a Bank

• The Shadow Banking System

• The Dual Mandate of the Federal Reserve

• Profits and Risks of Off-Balance-Sheet Activities

• The Federal Open Market Committee

• Effect of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act on the Glass-Steagall Act

• The Importance of Financial Markets and Financial Intermediaries to a well-functioning economy

Research Paper Hypothesis

The Research Paper is not simply a long report on a topic of interest. It is a research report that is written to prove or disprove a hypothesis.

Just what is a hypothesis? From Wikipedia, a hypothesis is:

• A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

• A tentative, testable answer to a scientific question

• A proposed explanation for a phenomenon

• Something more than a wild guess but less than a well-established theory

In the world of statistics and science, most hypotheses are written as "if...then" statements. For example someone performing experiments on plant growth might report this hypothesis: "If I give a plant an unlimited amount of sunlight, then the plant will grow to its largest possible size."

In one or two sentences, describe what your Research Paper will prove. Thus, it should be a statement that can be either true or false.

Some examples of hypotheses for this report assignment:

• The Financial Crisis of 2008 was primarily caused by people who sought and received home mortgages that were beyond their ability to pay off and ultimately ended in default.

• The Financial Crisis of 2008 was primarily caused by the federal government's promotion of home ownership for everyone and the forced easing of underwriting standards.

• The Federal Reserve's policy of quantitative easing rescued the country from the brink of financial failure.

• The Federal Reserve's policy of quantitative easing was unnecessary and needlessly prolonged the recession that began during the Financial Crisis of 2008.

Your hypothesis must be approved before you can proceed to the next part of the report project, a description of how you are going to do research to prove or disprove your hypothesis. The best way to do that is to begin an email dialog with the instructor as soon as you have an initial idea. Obviously, the earlier you start, the sooner you will get it approved.