16 Economics Project Ideas for High School Students

Economic projects teach high school students the basic principles of economics and their practical application. Here are a few fantastic economics project ideas that will help you understand concepts related to government regulation, entrepreneurship, market competition, and scarcity. So, let’s get started. 

Top Economics Project Ideas For High School Students:

1. Small Business Economics

If you are looking for economics project ideas that will sharpen your entrepreneurial skills, you must opt for small business economics to understand how small businesses run in your country. 

The first step is to study market trends; you must know the needs and wants of your local community. This will help you understand supply and demand in the market. Then learn how much money an entrepreneur needs to start and run a small business. This is to understand the investment capacity and funding incentives available. Interviewing small business owners can help you understand how they make important decisions such as setting prices of their services and products, as well as who their targeted consumers and competitors are. 

After doing this project, you will be able to discover different strategies that small business owners use to overcome challenges and become successful. This economic project can turn your idea into a clear road map and may become an additional source of income in the future. You can utilize local businesses and even family businesses to undertake a project in this area. 

Potential topics you can consider here can be related to ideas that explore small business dynamics, growth, innovation, and challenges, tailored for academic or applied research in economics. Some areas of interest can be the followings: 

• Impact of digital technology adoption on small business growth and profitability.
• Role of entrepreneurial innovation in small business survival and scalability.
• Effect of alternative financing models (e.g., crowdfunding) on small business startup success.
• Influence of venture capital vs. bootstrapping on small business long-term growth.
• Impact of state-level regulatory policies on small business entry and exit rates.

2. Inequality of Income and Wealth

Income and wealth inequality are among the biggest global issues. Income and wealth inequality refers to the unequal distribution of income and assets among individuals or groups within a society. It’s a multidimensional issue driven by economic, social, and policy factors, with significant implications for social mobility, economic growth, and political stability. You can consider the following concepts to research: 

• Income Inequality: Uneven distribution of income (wages, salaries, investments) across a population. 
• Wealth Inequality: Uneven distribution of assets (property, stocks, savings, etc.). Typically more extreme than income inequality due to compounding effects over time.
• Global vs. National: Inequality exists within countries and globally. Global inequality has declined slightly due to growth in developing nations, but within-country inequality has risen in many places.

The economics project idea will allow you to explore causes and consequences. You will also be able to propose solutions to ​​social injustice. You can explore income inequality in cross-cultural premises or the gender pay gap. You can investigate the reasons behind such discrepancies and explore proposals for bridging these gaps. You can evaluate the role these discrepancies have in creating divides in the society and the economy. You can even propose policies and interventions for the job market.  You can conduct research and learn how income or wealth is distributed in your society. Analyze trends and find key factors that are involved in this issue, such as education, healthcare, and housing.

You can read case studies of different countries that have overcome income and wealth inequality. Read their policies, learn lessons, and then develop policies for your community to address income and wealth inequality. Create a public awareness campaign on social media to promote social justice. 

3. Economic Policy Analysis

Policy analysis is one of the trending project topics in economics. Explore the impact of different forms of government decisions on economies. You can use SWOT analysis to examine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of a policy.

First of all, choose a policy such as tax reduction, a stimulus package, or a raise in the policy interest rate and then analyze it. Move on to assessing its impacts on economic factors like employment, price levels, and GDP growth rate. List down all the benefits and drawbacks of your chosen policy. Then, create your strategy by incorporating the insights gained from your assessment. This strategy should implement your chosen policy and use all the data collected in it. Some topical areas to consider under this theme are: 

• Effectiveness of carbon pricing policies (e.g., carbon taxes, cap-and-trade) in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining economic growth.
• Impact of universal basic income (UBI) programs on labor market participation and economic productivity in developed economies.
• Role of fiscal stimulus packages in mitigating recessionary impacts on unemployment and GDP growth across different countries.
• Influence of trade liberalization policies on domestic manufacturing sectors in emerging economies.
• Effect of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) on monetary policy transmission and financial stability.
• Economic consequences of increasing public debt levels on long-term growth and interest rates in advanced economies.
• Effectiveness of industrial policies (e.g., subsidies for green tech) in fostering innovation and competitiveness in global markets.
• Influence of antitrust policies on market concentration and consumer welfare in technology-driven industries.

4. Labour Market Dynamics

This economics project focuses on jobs and unemployment. High school students can begin by scrutinizing the causes and the impact of unemployment. Determine whether technical progress, economic decline, or other factors contribute to unemployment. Once data is gathered, suggest solutions to address unemployment issues. The solutions should show how to keep the job market stable and showcase your understanding of the data. Important topics in this theme could explore the mechanisms, trends, and behaviors shaping labor markets, such as employment patterns, worker mobility, and technological impacts. Possible topics to explore are:

• Impact of technological advancements (e.g., AI, automation) on job creation and skill demand across industries.
• Role of remote and hybrid work arrangements in shaping worker mobility and job satisfaction.
• Influence of generational shifts (e.g., Gen Z vs. Millennials) on workplace preferences and turnover rates.
• Dynamics of occupational segregation by gender or race and its impact on career progression.
• Role of social networks in facilitating job search and labor market outcomes for different demographic groups.
• Impact of workplace culture (e.g., diversity initiatives, flexibility) on employee retention and productivity.
• Influence of commuting patterns and transportation access on labor market participation and job choice.

5. Sports Economics

If you are a sports lover, this would be a perfect economic project topic. Explore different sports and discover how these events play an important role in our economy. You’ll learn how tournaments promote local industry and examine the additional job opportunities for athletes, coaches, and people who sell tickets and snacks. 

Analyze the effects of the local team’s success and failure on small businesses and the overall economy. Also, discover the influence of sports on the tourism and advertising industry. The main topics under this theme explore the economic aspects of sports, including market structures, consumer behavior, and industry trends. Areas that attract current research interest are:

• Impact of streaming services on revenue models for professional sports leagues and fan engagement.
• Economic effects of hosting major sporting events (e.g., Olympics, World Cup) on local economies and tourism.
• Role of athlete endorsements and sponsorship deals in shaping brand value and market competition.
• Influence of ticket pricing strategies on attendance and revenue in professional vs. collegiate sports.
• Economic viability of emerging sports leagues (e.g., esports, pickleball) compared to traditional sports.
• Effect of stadium investments on team profitability and local economic development.
• Impact of sports betting legalization on fan engagement and league revenues.
• Role of media rights deals in driving financial disparities between top-tier and lower-tier sports teams.
• Economic factors influencing player transfer markets in global soccer leagues.
• Effect of fan loyalty and team performance on merchandise sales and long-term revenue streams.

6. Economic Forecasting

High school students can use current data to create economic forecasts. This economic project will enable you to predict how our economy will change in the future. 

Act as a detective and collect facts about the economy, such as job opportunities, rates of goods, and average expenditures of a citizen. The next step is to understand the behavior of the economy by looking at previous data. Then make predictions about job openings, prices, and other stuff. This project will allow you to prepare your country for the coming challenges. You can summarize your prediction in a PowerPoint presentation by demonstrating how you explored the methods, the data, and the applications for predicting economic trends and outcomes.  Potential research topics include:

• Accuracy of machine learning models (e.g., neural networks) vs. traditional econometric models in forecasting GDP growth.
• Impact of incorporating real-time data (e.g., social media sentiment, mobility data) on short-term economic forecasting precision.
• Role of leading economic indicators (e.g., consumer confidence, stock market indices) in predicting recessions across countries.
• Effectiveness of nowcasting techniques in improving inflation forecasts during periods of economic volatility.
• Influence of global supply chain disruptions on the accuracy of trade volume forecasts.
• Forecasting consumer spending trends using big data analytics from online retail and payment platforms.
• Impact of climate change variables (e.g., extreme weather events) on agricultural output forecasts.
• Role of sentiment analysis from financial news in improving stock market return predictions.
• Effectiveness of ensemble forecasting methods in predicting unemployment trends across industries.
• Influence of geopolitical events (e.g., trade wars, sanctions) on the reliability of long-term economic growth forecasts.

7. Global Trade Analysis

This engaging economics project is about international trade. Start by researching the negotiating process of countries for acquiring goods. Choose any two countries, then thoroughly study the goods they trade, focusing on how it affects their economies. Look into the benefits and drawbacks of the trade conducted. After collecting all the data, you can make policy recommendations addressing the issues in international trade. In summary, you will be exploring the dynamics, the structures, and the impacts of international trade. Some potential current trends to explore are: 

• Impact of digital trade (e.g., e-commerce, digital services) on global trade flows and market access for developing nations.
• Role of regional trade agreements (e.g., RCEP, USMCA) in shaping trade patterns and comparative advantages.
• Effect of supply chain diversification strategies on global trade resilience post-pandemic.
• Influence of non-tariff barriers (e.g., standards, regulations) on trade volumes in specific industries like agriculture or technology.
• Economic impact of trade in services (e.g., IT, finance) compared to goods trade in global markets.
• Effect of global shipping costs and logistics disruptions on trade competitiveness for landlocked countries.
• Influence of intellectual property rights enforcement on trade in high-tech goods and innovation diffusion.
• Role of global value chains in shaping trade specialization and economic interdependence among countries.
  

8. Gig Economy

Exploring the gig economy is an outstanding project for economics because it is full of opportunities for high school students. Unlike 9-5 jobs, work is done on a project basis so a student can build a side hustle if they truly understand the gig economy. 

First of all, collect stories on successful people doing gig jobs. You can interview freelancers, delivery boys, and online content creators. List down the pros and cons of part-time jobs. Analyze the overall impact of gigs on the local economy. Then predict how gig jobs will change in the future. Exploring the elements of the gig economy can entail exploring topics on the economic structures, the worker experiences, and market trends within it. Possible areas of interest are: 

• Role of gig economy platforms in shaping consumer behavior and service demand in urban markets.
• Effect of platform competition (e.g., Uber vs. Lyft) on gig worker benefits and market efficiency.
• Influence of gig work on entrepreneurial activity and side hustle trends among full-time employees.
• Economic sustainability of gig economy platforms relying on independent contractors vs. employee models.
• Impact of technological advancements (e.g., AI, automation) on the types of tasks available in the gig economy.
• Role of user reviews and ratings in driving gig worker performance and platform loyalty.
• Effect of gig economy participation on household financial resilience during economic shocks.
• Influence of geographic location on gig worker access to opportunities and earnings potential.
• Economic implications of platform monetization strategies (e.g., fees, subscriptions) for gig workers and consumers.

9. Consumer Behavior Study

For this economics project, you need to pick a product, such as sneakers, smartphones, or anything else. Research the factors shaping customer purchase choices and explore advertising, branding, and social influences. Conduct surveys and analyze trends to uncover the drivers behind consumer preferences. Culminate the project by formulating actionable strategies to enhance understanding and awareness of consumer decision-making in your chosen product category, and present your findings in a detailed report or presentation. Students can explore the drivers, patterns, and influences shaping consumer decision-making and preferences, and current topic areas cover: 

• Impact of personalized advertising (e.g., AI-driven recommendations) on consumer purchase decisions and brand loyalty.
• Role of social media influencers in shaping consumer preferences across different age groups and product categories.
• Effect of sustainability claims (e.g., eco-friendly packaging) on consumer willingness to pay for premium products.
• Influence of online reviews and ratings on consumer trust and decision-making in e-commerce platforms.
• Behavioral responses to price anchoring and discount strategies in retail environments.
• Impact of sensory marketing (e.g., music, scents) on consumer spending in physical and virtual stores.
• Role of cultural values in shaping consumer preferences for global vs. local brands.
• Effect of financial scarcity on consumer choice between necessity and luxury goods.
• Influence of gamification (e.g., loyalty points, rewards apps) on consumer engagement and repeat purchases.
• Behavioral shifts in consumer spending patterns due to emerging technologies like virtual reality shopping experiences.
  
  

10. Inflation Investigation

Explore the impact of inflation on purchasing power in this project for economics. Start by checking historical inflation rates and tracking increases in prices. Calculate the rising cost of goods over time. Then, examine how inflation affects people and the economy. 

Uncover hidden factors influencing spending habits like psychological responses and wage-price spirals. For instance, individuals might adjust their spending due to inflation fears, anticipating further price hikes. Develop a contingency plan to adjust pricing or diversify product offerings based on market conditions. Overall, this research theme explores the causes, measurement, and economic impacts of inflation. Some interesting areas of research are:

• Impact of supply chain bottlenecks on sector-specific inflation rates in global economies.
• Role of commodity price volatility (e.g., oil, metals) in driving core inflation trends.
• Effect of consumer expectations on inflation persistence in high-inflation environments.
• Influence of digital currencies and decentralized finance on inflationary pressures in emerging markets.
• Measurement accuracy of inflation indices (e.g., CPI, PPI) in capturing cost-of-living changes across demographic groups.
• Impact of labor shortages on wage-push inflation in specific industries like healthcare or construction.
• Role of corporate pricing strategies (e.g., price gouging, shrinkflation) in sustaining inflationary trends.
• Effect of global trade disruptions on imported inflation in open economies.
• Influence of housing market dynamics (e.g., rent, home prices) on regional inflation variations.
• Impact of climate-related disruptions (e.g., agricultural yield shocks) on food price inflation.
  
  

11. Game Theory Application

This project is for students who want to be strategic masterminds! It's time to apply your skills in the world of game theory. Develop a concrete plan, predict your opponent's moves, and implement your strategy. 

Explore ideas from game theory, such as the prisoner's dilemma, dominant strategies, and Nash equilibrium. You will better grasp the rationale for strategic decision-making and choose this topic for an economics research paper. Culminate your research with a comprehensive report and incorporate visuals in your PowerPoint presentation. This research theme explores the application of game-theoretic models to economic, social, and strategic interactions. Interesting research topics to explore are:

• Strategic pricing decisions in oligopolistic markets using game-theoretic models (e.g., Bertrand vs. Cournot competition).
• Role of cooperative game theory in optimizing resource allocation in global supply chain networks.
• Impact of repeated games on trust and collaboration in online peer-to-peer marketplaces.
• Application of game theory to model bargaining dynamics in international climate change agreements.
• Effect of signaling games on consumer and firm behavior in markets with asymmetric information (e.g., used car markets).
• Influence of evolutionary game theory on understanding competition and cooperation in social networks.
• Role of non-cooperative game theory in analyzing cybersecurity investment strategies among firms.
• The effect of dynamic games on investment decisions in emerging technology sectors like AI or blockchain.

12. Healthcare Economics

This project for economics looks into the impact of healthcare prices and availability on people in any country you choose. First, investigate variables like insurance and government policies for healthcare. Analyze how these factors affect people's access to and affordability of healthcare. Make a strategic plan based on your findings, outlining recommendations for improving healthcare accessibility and affordability. Recognize the direct link between human health and economic elements. In this research theme the aim revolves around the economic aspects of healthcare systems, costs, access, and efficiency. Potential topic areas of research include: 

• Impact of telehealth adoption on healthcare costs and patient outcomes in rural vs. urban areas.
• Role of pharmaceutical pricing strategies in determining access to innovative treatments across countries.
• Economic effects of preventive care investments on long-term healthcare expenditure and population health.
• Influence of hospital market concentration on treatment costs and quality of care delivery.
• Cost-effectiveness of value-based care models compared to traditional fee-for-service systems.
• Impact of aging populations on healthcare resource allocation and system sustainability in developed economies.
• Role of health insurance design (e.g., high-deductible plans) in shaping patient healthcare utilization patterns.
• Economic implications of integrating artificial intelligence in diagnostic and treatment processes.
• Effect of medical tourism on healthcare costs and resource distribution in destination countries.
• Influence of chronic disease prevalence on healthcare spending and workforce productivity.

13. Behavioral/Experimental Economics

Have you ever thought about the possibility of combining psychology and economics? Behavioral Economics Experiment is one of the best economics research topics for undergraduates.

Identify the biases one may have, such as being overly focused on winning or merely observing evidence that supports current beliefs. Perform experiments involving financial decisions with biased factors.

Pick a diverse sample of people whom you can research in great detail. Focus closely on the numbers and try to find patterns with which these deceptive biases are associated. The aim is to discover the connection between one’s behavior and their financial costs. This research theme focuses on how psychological, social, and cognitive factors influence economic decision-making, using experimental methods or behavioral insights. Areas of research interest include: 

• Impact of nudging techniques (e.g., default options) on retirement savings decisions in experimental settings.
• Role of cognitive biases (e.g., loss aversion) in shaping investment choices in volatile financial markets.
• Effect of time preferences (e.g., present bias) on consumer debt accumulation in controlled experiments.
• Influence of social norms on charitable giving behavior across different cultural contexts.
• Behavioral responses to framing effects in pricing decisions for eco-friendly vs. conventional products.
• Impact of overconfidence on bidding strategies in online auction experiments.
• Role of trust and reciprocity in peer-to-peer lending decisions under varying information conditions.
• Effect of emotional states (e.g., stress, happiness) on risk-taking behavior in economic experiments.
• Influence of group dynamics on decision-making in collaborative investment scenarios.
• Behavioral impacts of financial literacy interventions on savings and spending choices in lab-based studies.

14. Monetary Policy

Monetary policy is one of the best economics fair project ideas that will help you stand out in class. In this project, you will analyze central banks and their monetary policies. Investigate the power of a given sovereign bank within an economy, for example, the European Central Bank or the Federal Reserve. You need to look at their policies about the money supply and interest rates.

Note down their impacts on employment, inflation, and economic development. Discover how governments manage the money supply. You will know the techniques governments use to maintain a stable currency and achieve a thriving economy. Popular and interesting topics are: 

• Impact of unconventional monetary policies (e.g., quantitative easing) on asset price volatility in advanced economies.
• Role of central bank communication strategies in shaping market expectations and interest rate dynamics.
• Effect of negative interest rate policies on bank profitability and lending behavior.
• Influence of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) on money supply control and financial inclusion.
• Impact of monetary policy tightening on emerging market capital flows and exchange rate stability.
• Role of forward guidance in mitigating economic uncertainty during global crises.
• Effect of inflation targeting frameworks on price stability and economic growth in developing economies.
• Influence of monetary policy on household savings and consumption patterns in low-interest-rate environments.
• Impact of central bank independence on the effectiveness of monetary policy in controlling inflation.
• Role of monetary policy in addressing financial stability risks from cryptocurrency market growth.

15. Technology and Innovation

Technology is one of the trending economic project topics that can make your high school project successful. Investigate the economic effects of technology like AI, blockchain, or EVs. Examine their impact on different sectors, employment rates, and GDP growth. Analyze trends in research investment, job creation, and economic production. Summarize findings in a straightforward presentation. Consider using a basic PowerPoint format for clarity. 

You can conduct interviews or surveys to gather insights from industry experts, adding real-world perspectives to your analysis. Add recommendations in your PowerPoint, suggesting potential policy implications. Your aim should be to help people understand how the advancement of technology influences the future economy. Possible areas of research interest are: 

1. AI and Labor Markets: 

• AI-induced job displacement and automation
• The impact of AI on wage inequality
• The role of AI in enhancing labor productivity

2. Digital Platforms and Economic Development: 

• The role of digital platforms in emerging economies
• The impact of platform competition on innovation and consumer welfare
• The governance of digital platforms and data privacy

3. Technological Advancements in Specific Sectors: 

• The economic impact of autonomous vehicles
• The role of technology in healthcare
• The economic implications of biotechnology and genetic engineering
  

4. Technology Adoption and Diffusion: 

• The drivers and barriers to technology adoption
• The impact of technology on firm productivity and competitiveness

16. Housing Market Analysis

Real estate is an interesting economics topic that will sharpen your creativity. Identify the factors that determine the increase or decrease in house prices. For that, you need to know how buyers and sellers work. The trends in real estate can be identified by choosing a city or region. Collect data on demographics, interest rates, selling prices, and house demand.

Analyze the details of the market, including renting and buying trends and monetary shifts. Finally, propose practical strategies to communicate your findings. In this theme, you could explore the following: 

• Urbanization and Migration
• Economic Factors and Housing
• Technological Innovations and Housing
• Housing Policy and Planning
• Housing Market Analysis

Conclusion

Check out these cool economics project ideas. From pretending to run a market to figuring out how countries trade stuff, these projects make economics fun and easy. If you're a high school student looking for economics research topics, join the Indigo Research Program. Here you can collaborate with top university mentors to transform your project into publishable research.