Pretend that you are consulting for University of Massachusetts Boston agency that is interested in this problem. Your first task is to review and summarize the literature on the problem: what do we already know, what questions surround the problem, and what approaches have already been tried? Then provide relevant data and your analysis of the problem, and recommend actions that should be taken. Your analysis should make use of theories and tools we have learned in the course, e.g. estimating an external cost, calculating a benefit-cost ratio, etc. Recommendations should be based on what you learn about the problem, your analysis, and on any evidence you can find that implementing your recommendations would likely be successful (e.g. successes at other universities)
In addition to your project data, include at least four other references in your report, at least two of which are peer-reviewed sources from academic journals (www.scholar.google.com is a good place to find these; go to Google Scholar through the library web page to get free access to most articles). For citations in the text, include the author’s last name and year (Timmons 2011), and list complete references in alphabetical order at the end of the paper. Any standard reference style is acceptable. Do not list any references that you have not actually read and cited in the paper.
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Grading criteria:
Scope: the extent to which the paper addresses an appropriate problem of suitable breadth, related to an economic aspect of an environmental issue (you will get input on scope at the topic paragraph stage).
Completeness: the extent to which you provide appropriate data, answer the question(s) you ask, and consider the relevant aspects of the problem.
Analysis: quality of reasoning and logic used in understanding the problem and suggesting solutions. I encourage creative approaches to problem solving.
Use of economic theory and/or methods: these should include tools covered in the course and others as appropriate. If you have statistics background, include statistical analysis. Be sure to use economic approaches in your work.
Style: overall success in communicating the paper’s ideas, including language use, spelling, grammar, organization, presentation, use of tables and charts, use of references, etc.
