Uploaded August 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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This video provides a step-by-step process for brainstorming topics for your economics or policy paper. It discusses what to Google, where to look online and questions to prompt ideas.

Follow up video: How to Select a Topic from the Brainstormed List: youtube.com/watch?v=f4y3oGtDAEU

0:00 - Why brainstorm?
0:43 - Traits of a good paper
1:53 - Before brainstorming
2:13 - Get first thoughts down
2:53 - Questions to prompt ideas
3:34 - Local & state policy
4:03 - Google dilemmas
4:47 - Podcasts
5:31 - Government agencies & academic journals
5:45 - Ask friends
6:15 - Why the first few ideas are not always good