current research topics in finance and economics

Research Topics & Ideas: Finance

120+ Finance Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

If you’re just starting out exploring potential research topics for your finance-related dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research topic ideation process by providing a hearty list of finance-centric research topics and ideas.

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . To develop a suitable education-related research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Finance Research Topics

• Corporate finance topics
• Investment banking topics
• Private equity & VC
• Asset management
• Hedge funds
• Financial planning & advisory
• Quantitative finance
• Treasury management
• Financial technology (FinTech)
• Commercial banking
• International finance

Corporate Finance

These research topic ideas explore a breadth of issues ranging from the examination of capital structure to the exploration of financial strategies in mergers and acquisitions.

• Evaluating the impact of capital structure on firm performance across different industries
• Assessing the effectiveness of financial management practices in emerging markets
• A comparative analysis of the cost of capital and financial structure in multinational corporations across different regulatory environments
• Examining how integrating sustainability and CSR initiatives affect a corporation’s financial performance and brand reputation
• Analysing how rigorous financial analysis informs strategic decisions and contributes to corporate growth
• Examining the relationship between corporate governance structures and financial performance
• A comparative analysis of financing strategies among mergers and acquisitions
• Evaluating the importance of financial transparency and its impact on investor relations and trust
• Investigating the role of financial flexibility in strategic investment decisions during economic downturns
• Investigating how different dividend policies affect shareholder value and the firm’s financial performance

Investment Banking

The list below presents a series of research topics exploring the multifaceted dimensions of investment banking, with a particular focus on its evolution following the 2008 financial crisis.

• Analysing the evolution and impact of regulatory frameworks in investment banking post-2008 financial crisis
• Investigating the challenges and opportunities associated with cross-border M&As facilitated by investment banks.
• Evaluating the role of investment banks in facilitating mergers and acquisitions in emerging markets
• Analysing the transformation brought about by digital technologies in the delivery of investment banking services and its effects on efficiency and client satisfaction.
• Evaluating the role of investment banks in promoting sustainable finance and the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in investment decisions.
• Assessing the impact of technology on the efficiency and effectiveness of investment banking services
• Examining the effectiveness of investment banks in pricing and marketing IPOs, and the subsequent performance of these IPOs in the stock market.
• A comparative analysis of different risk management strategies employed by investment banks
• Examining the relationship between investment banking fees and corporate performance
• A comparative analysis of competitive strategies employed by leading investment banks and their impact on market share and profitability

Private Equity & Venture Capital (VC)

These research topic ideas are centred on venture capital and private equity investments, with a focus on their impact on technological startups, emerging technologies, and broader economic ecosystems.

• Investigating the determinants of successful venture capital investments in tech startups
• Analysing the trends and outcomes of venture capital funding in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, or clean energy
• Assessing the performance and return on investment of different exit strategies employed by venture capital firms
• Assessing the impact of private equity investments on the financial performance of SMEs
• Analysing the role of venture capital in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship
• Evaluating the exit strategies of private equity firms: A comparative analysis
• Exploring the ethical considerations in private equity and venture capital financing
• Investigating how private equity ownership influences operational efficiency and overall business performance
• Evaluating the effectiveness of corporate governance structures in companies backed by private equity investments
• Examining how the regulatory environment in different regions affects the operations, investments and performance of private equity and venture capital firms

Asset Management

This list includes a range of research topic ideas focused on asset management, probing into the effectiveness of various strategies, the integration of technology, and the alignment with ethical principles among other key dimensions.

• Analysing the effectiveness of different asset allocation strategies in diverse economic environments
• Analysing the methodologies and effectiveness of performance attribution in asset management firms
• Assessing the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria on fund performance
• Examining the role of robo-advisors in modern asset management
• Evaluating how advancements in technology are reshaping portfolio management strategies within asset management firms
• Evaluating the performance persistence of mutual funds and hedge funds
• Investigating the long-term performance of portfolios managed with ethical or socially responsible investing principles
• Investigating the behavioural biases in individual and institutional investment decisions
• Examining the asset allocation strategies employed by pension funds and their impact on long-term fund performance
• Assessing the operational efficiency of asset management firms and its correlation with fund performance

Hedge Funds

Here we explore research topics related to hedge fund operations and strategies, including their implications on corporate governance, financial market stability, and regulatory compliance among other critical facets.

• Assessing the impact of hedge fund activism on corporate governance and financial performance
• Analysing the effectiveness and implications of market-neutral strategies employed by hedge funds
• Investigating how different fee structures impact the performance and investor attraction to hedge funds
• Evaluating the contribution of hedge funds to financial market liquidity and the implications for market stability
• Analysing the risk-return profile of hedge fund strategies during financial crises
• Evaluating the influence of regulatory changes on hedge fund operations and performance
• Examining the level of transparency and disclosure practices in the hedge fund industry and its impact on investor trust and regulatory compliance
• Assessing the contribution of hedge funds to systemic risk in financial markets, and the effectiveness of regulatory measures in mitigating such risks
• Examining the role of hedge funds in financial market stability
• Investigating the determinants of hedge fund success: A comparative analysis

Financial Planning and Advisory

This list explores various research topic ideas related to financial planning, focusing on the effects of financial literacy, the adoption of digital tools, taxation policies, and the role of financial advisors.

• Evaluating the impact of financial literacy on individual financial planning effectiveness
• Analysing how different taxation policies influence financial planning strategies among individuals and businesses
• Evaluating the effectiveness and user adoption of digital tools in modern financial planning practices
• Investigating the adequacy of long-term financial planning strategies in ensuring retirement security
• Assessing the role of financial education in shaping financial planning behaviour among different demographic groups
• Examining the impact of psychological biases on financial planning and decision-making, and strategies to mitigate these biases
• Assessing the behavioural factors influencing financial planning decisions
• Examining the role of financial advisors in managing retirement savings
• A comparative analysis of traditional versus robo-advisory in financial planning
• Investigating the ethics of financial advisory practices

The following list delves into research topics within the insurance sector, touching on the technological transformations, regulatory shifts, and evolving consumer behaviours among other pivotal aspects.

• Analysing the impact of technology adoption on insurance pricing and risk management
• Analysing the influence of Insurtech innovations on the competitive dynamics and consumer choices in insurance markets
• Investigating the factors affecting consumer behaviour in insurance product selection and the role of digital channels in influencing decisions
• Assessing the effect of regulatory changes on insurance product offerings
• Examining the determinants of insurance penetration in emerging markets
• Evaluating the operational efficiency of claims management processes in insurance companies and its impact on customer satisfaction
• Examining the evolution and effectiveness of risk assessment models used in insurance underwriting and their impact on pricing and coverage
• Evaluating the role of insurance in financial stability and economic development
• Investigating the impact of climate change on insurance models and products
• Exploring the challenges and opportunities in underwriting cyber insurance in the face of evolving cyber threats and regulations

Quantitative Finance

These topic ideas span the development of asset pricing models, evaluation of machine learning algorithms, and the exploration of ethical implications among other pivotal areas.

• Developing and testing new quantitative models for asset pricing
• Analysing the effectiveness and limitations of machine learning algorithms in predicting financial market movements
• Assessing the effectiveness of various risk management techniques in quantitative finance
• Evaluating the advancements in portfolio optimisation techniques and their impact on risk-adjusted returns
• Evaluating the impact of high-frequency trading on market efficiency and stability
• Investigating the influence of algorithmic trading strategies on market efficiency and liquidity
• Examining the risk parity approach in asset allocation and its effectiveness in different market conditions
• Examining the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence in quantitative financial analysis
• Investigating the ethical implications of quantitative financial innovations
• Assessing the profitability and market impact of statistical arbitrage strategies considering different market microstructures

Treasury Management

The following topic ideas explore treasury management, focusing on modernisation through technological advancements, the impact on firm liquidity, and the intertwined relationship with corporate governance among other crucial areas.

• Analysing the impact of treasury management practices on firm liquidity and profitability
• Analysing the role of automation in enhancing operational efficiency and strategic decision-making in treasury management
• Evaluating the effectiveness of various cash management strategies in multinational corporations
• Investigating the potential of blockchain technology in streamlining treasury operations and enhancing transparency
• Examining the role of treasury management in mitigating financial risks
• Evaluating the accuracy and effectiveness of various cash flow forecasting techniques employed in treasury management
• Assessing the impact of technological advancements on treasury management operations
• Examining the effectiveness of different foreign exchange risk management strategies employed by treasury managers in multinational corporations
• Assessing the impact of regulatory compliance requirements on the operational and strategic aspects of treasury management
• Investigating the relationship between treasury management and corporate governance

Financial Technology (FinTech)

The following research topic ideas explore the transformative potential of blockchain, the rise of open banking, and the burgeoning landscape of peer-to-peer lending among other focal areas.

• Evaluating the impact of blockchain technology on financial services
• Investigating the implications of open banking on consumer data privacy and financial services competition
• Assessing the role of FinTech in financial inclusion in emerging markets
• Analysing the role of peer-to-peer lending platforms in promoting financial inclusion and their impact on traditional banking systems
• Examining the cybersecurity challenges faced by FinTech firms and the regulatory measures to ensure data protection and financial stability
• Examining the regulatory challenges and opportunities in the FinTech ecosystem
• Assessing the impact of artificial intelligence on the delivery of financial services, customer experience, and operational efficiency within FinTech firms
• Analysing the adoption and impact of cryptocurrencies on traditional financial systems
• Investigating the determinants of success for FinTech startups

Commercial Banking

These topic ideas span commercial banking, encompassing digital transformation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the evolving regulatory and competitive landscape among other key themes.

• Assessing the impact of digital transformation on commercial banking services and competitiveness
• Analysing the impact of digital transformation on customer experience and operational efficiency in commercial banking
• Evaluating the role of commercial banks in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Investigating the effectiveness of credit risk management practices and their impact on bank profitability and financial stability
• Examining the relationship between commercial banking practices and financial stability
• Evaluating the implications of open banking frameworks on the competitive landscape and service innovation in commercial banking
• Assessing how regulatory changes affect lending practices and risk appetite of commercial banks
• Examining how commercial banks are adapting their strategies in response to competition from FinTech firms and changing consumer preferences
• Analysing the impact of regulatory compliance on commercial banking operations
• Investigating the determinants of customer satisfaction and loyalty in commercial banking

International Finance

The folowing research topic ideas are centred around international finance and global economic dynamics, delving into aspects like exchange rate fluctuations, international financial regulations, and the role of international financial institutions among other pivotal areas.

• Analysing the determinants of exchange rate fluctuations and their impact on international trade
• Analysing the influence of global trade agreements on international financial flows and foreign direct investments
• Evaluating the effectiveness of international portfolio diversification strategies in mitigating risks and enhancing returns
• Evaluating the role of international financial institutions in global financial stability
• Investigating the role and implications of offshore financial centres on international financial stability and regulatory harmonisation
• Examining the impact of global financial crises on emerging market economies
• Examining the challenges and regulatory frameworks associated with cross-border banking operations
• Assessing the effectiveness of international financial regulations
• Investigating the challenges and opportunities of cross-border mergers and acquisitions

Choosing A Research Topic

These finance-related research topic ideas are starting points to guide your thinking. They are intentionally very broad and open-ended. By engaging with the currently literature in your field of interest, you’ll be able to narrow down your focus to a specific research gap .

When choosing a topic , you’ll need to take into account its originality, relevance, feasibility, and the resources you have at your disposal. Make sure to align your interest and expertise in the subject with your university program’s specific requirements. Always consult your academic advisor to ensure that your chosen topic not only meets the academic criteria but also provides a valuable contribution to the field. 

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50 Best Finance Dissertation Topics For Research Students 2024

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Finance Dissertation Made Easier!

Embarking on your dissertation adventure? Look no further! Choosing the right finance dissertation topics is like laying the foundation for your research journey in Finance, and we're here to light up your path. In this blog, we're diving deep into why dissertation topics in finance matter so much. We've got some golden writing tips to share with you! We're also unveiling the secret recipe for structuring a stellar finance dissertation and exploring intriguing topics across various finance sub-fields. Whether you're captivated by cryptocurrency, risk management strategies, or exploring the wonders of Internet banking, microfinance, retail and commercial banking - our buffet of Finance dissertation topics will surely set your research spirit on fire!

What is a Finance Dissertation?

Finance dissertations are academic papers that delve into specific finance topics chosen by students, covering areas such as stock markets, banking, risk management, and healthcare finance. These dissertations require extensive research to create a compelling report and contribute to the student's confidence and satisfaction in the field of Finance. Now, let's understand why these dissertations are so important and why choosing the right Finance dissertation topics is crucial!

Why Are Finance Dissertation Topics Important?

Choosing the dissertation topics for Finance students is essential as it will influence the course of your research. It determines the direction and scope of your study. You must make sure that the Finance dissertation topics you choose are relevant to your field of interest, or you may end up finding it more challenging to write. Here are a few reasons why finance thesis topics are important:

1. Relevance

Opting for relevant finance thesis topics ensures that your research contributes to the existing body of knowledge and addresses contemporary issues in the field of Finance. Choosing a dissertation topic in Finance that is relevant to the industry can make a meaningful impact and advance understanding in your chosen area.

2. Personal Interest

Selecting Finance dissertation topics that align with your interests and career goals is vital. When genuinely passionate about your research area, you are more likely to stay motivated during the dissertation process. Your interest will drive you to explore the subject thoroughly and produce high-quality work.

3. Future Opportunities

Well-chosen Finance dissertation topics can open doors to various future opportunities. It can enhance your employability by showcasing your expertise in a specific finance area. It may lead to potential research collaborations and invitations to conferences in your field of interest.

4. Academic Supervision

Your choice of topics for dissertation in Finance also influences the availability of academic supervisors with expertise in your chosen area. Selecting a well-defined research area increases the likelihood of finding a supervisor to guide you effectively throughout the dissertation. Their knowledge and guidance will greatly contribute to the success of your research.

Writing Tips for Finance Dissertation

A lot of planning, formatting, and structuring goes into writing a dissertation. It starts with deciding on topics for a dissertation in Finance and conducting tons of research, deciding on methods, and so on. However, you can navigate the process more effectively with proper planning and organisation. Below are some tips to assist you along the way, and here is a blog on the 10 tips on writing a dissertation that can give you more information, should you need it!

1. Select a Manageable Topic

Choosing Finance research topics within the given timeframe and resources is important. Select a research area that interests you and aligns with your career goals. It will help you stay inspired throughout the dissertation process.

2. Conduct a Thorough Literature Review

A comprehensive literature review forms the backbone of your research. After choosing the Finance dissertation topics, dive deep into academic papers, books, and industry reports, gaining a solid understanding of your chosen area to identify research gaps and establish the significance of your study.

3. Define Clear Research Objectives

Clearly define your dissertation's research questions and objectives. It will provide a clear direction for your research and guide your data collection, analysis, and overall structure. Ensure your objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

4. Collect and Analyse Data

Depending on your research methodology and your Finance dissertation topics, collect and analyze relevant data to support your findings. It may involve conducting surveys, interviews, experiments, and analyzing existing datasets. Choose appropriate statistical techniques and qualitative methods to derive meaningful insights from your data.

5. Structure and Organization

Pay attention to the structure and organization of your dissertation. Follow a logical progression of chapters and sections, ensuring that each chapter contributes to the overall coherence of your study. Use headings, subheadings, and clear signposts to guide the reader through your work.

6. Proofread and Edit

Once you have completed the writing process, take the time to proofread and edit your dissertation carefully. Check for clarity, coherence, and proper grammar. Ensure that your arguments are well-supported, and eliminate any inconsistencies or repetitions. Pay attention to formatting, citation styles, and consistency in referencing throughout your dissertation.

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Finance Dissertation Topics

Now that you know what a finance dissertation is and why they are important, it's time to have a look at some of the best Finance dissertation topics. For your convenience, we have segregated these topics into categories, including cryptocurrency, risk management, internet banking, and so many more. So, let's dive right in and explore the best Finance dissertation topics:

Dissertation topics in Finance related to Cryptocurrency

1. The Impact of Regulatory Frameworks on the Volatility and Liquidity of Cryptocurrencies.

2. Exploring the Factors Influencing Cryptocurrency Adoption: A Comparative Study.

3. Assessing the Efficiency and Market Integration of Cryptocurrency Exchanges.

4. An Analysis of the Relationship between Cryptocurrency Prices and Macroeconomic Factors.

5. The Role of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in Financing Startups: Opportunities and Challenges.

Dissertation topics in Finance related to Risk Management

1. The Effectiveness of Different Risk Management Strategies in Mitigating Financial Risks in Banking Institutions.

2. The Role of Derivatives in Hedging Financial Risks: A Comparative Study.

3. Analyzing the Impact of Risk Management Practices on Firm Performance: A Case Study of a Specific Industry.

4. The Use of Stress Testing in Evaluating Systemic Risk: Lessons from the Global Financial Crisis.

5. Assessing the Relationship between Corporate Governance and Risk Management in Financial Institutions.

Dissertation topics in Finance related to Internet Banking

1. Customer Adoption of Internet Banking: An Empirical Study on Factors Influencing Usage.

Enhancing Security in Internet Banking: Exploring Biometric Authentication Technologies.

2. The Impact of Mobile Banking Applications on Customer Engagement and Satisfaction.

3. Evaluating the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Internet Banking Services in Emerging Markets.

4. The Role of Social Media in Shaping Customer Perception and Adoption of Internet Banking.

Dissertation topics in Finance related to Microfinance

1. The Impact of Microfinance on Poverty Alleviation: A Comparative Study of Different Models.

2. Exploring the Role of Microfinance in Empowering Women Entrepreneurs.

3. Assessing the Financial Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions in Developing Countries.

4. The Effectiveness of Microfinance in Promoting Rural Development: Evidence from a Specific Region.

5. Analyzing the Relationship between Microfinance and Entrepreneurial Success: A Longitudinal Study.

Dissertation topics in Finance related to Retail and Commercial Banking

1. The Impact of Digital Transformation on Retail and Commercial Banking: A Case Study of a Specific Bank.

2. Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in Retail Banking: An Analysis of Service Quality Dimensions.

3. Analyzing the Relationship between Bank Branch Expansion and Financial Performance.

4. The Role of Fintech Startups in Disrupting Retail and Commercial Banking: Opportunities and Challenges.

5. Assessing the Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on the Performance of Retail and Commercial Banks.

Dissertation topics in Finance related to Alternative Investment

1. The Performance and Risk Characteristics of Hedge Funds: A Comparative Analysis.

2. Exploring the Role of Private Equity in Financing and Growing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

3. Analyzing the Relationship between Real Estate Investments and Portfolio Diversification.

4. The Potential of Impact Investing: Evaluating the Social and Financial Returns.

5. Assessing the Risk-Return Tradeoff in Cryptocurrency Investments: A Comparative Study.

Dissertation topics in Finance related to International Affairs

1. The Impact of Exchange Rate Volatility on International Trade: A Case Study of a Specific Industry.

2. Analyzing the Effectiveness of Capital Controls in Managing Financial Crises: Comparative Study of Different Countries.

3. The Role of International Financial Institutions in Promoting Economic Development in Developing Countries.

4. Evaluating the Implications of Trade Wars on Global Financial Markets.

5. Assessing the Role of Central Banks in Managing Financial Stability in a Globalized Economy.

Dissertation topics in Finance related to Sustainable Finance

1. The impact of sustainable investing on financial performance.

2. The role of green bonds in financing climate change mitigation and adaptation.

3. The development of carbon markets.

4. The use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment decision-making.

5. The challenges and opportunities of sustainable Finance in emerging markets.

Dissertation topics in Finance related to Investment Banking

1. The valuation of distressed assets.

2. The pricing of derivatives.

3. The risk management of financial institutions.

4. The regulation of investment banks.

5. The impact of technology on the investment banking industry.

Dissertation topics in Finance related to Actuarial Science

1. The development of new actuarial models for pricing insurance products.

2. The use of big data in actuarial analysis.

3. The impact of climate change on insurance risk.

4. The design of pension plans that are sustainable in the long term.

5. The use of actuarial science to manage risk in other industries, such as healthcare and Finance.

Tips To Find Good Finance Dissertation Topics 

Embarking on a financial dissertation journey requires careful consideration of various factors. Your choice of topic in finance research topics is pivotal, as it sets the stage for the entire research process. Finding a good financial dissertation topic is essential to blend your interests with the current trends in the financial landscape. We suggest the following tips that can help you pick the perfect dissertation topic:

1. Identify your interests and strengths 

2. Check for current relevance

3. Feedback from your superiors

4. Finalise the research methods

5. Gather the data

6. Work on the outline of your dissertation

7. Make a draft and proofread it

In this blog, we have discussed the importance of finance thesis topics and provided valuable writing tips and tips for finding the right topic, too. We have also presented a list of topics within various subfields of Finance. With this, we hope you have great ideas for finance dissertations. Good luck with your finance research journey!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i research for my dissertation project topics in finance, what is the best topic for dissertation topics for mba finance, what is the hardest finance topic, how do i choose the right topic for my dissertation in finance, where can i find a dissertation topic in finance.

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Silicon Valley Bank wasn't ready for the Fed's interest rate hikes, but that's only part of the story. Victoria Ivashina and Erik Stafford probe the complex factors that led to the second-biggest bank failure ever.

• 13 Mar 2023

What Would It Take to Unlock Microfinance's Full Potential?

Microfinance has been seen as a vehicle for economic mobility in developing countries, but the results have been mixed. Research by Natalia Rigol and Ben Roth probes how different lending approaches might serve entrepreneurs better.

• 16 Feb 2023

ESG Activists Met the Moment at ExxonMobil, But Did They Succeed?

Engine No. 1, a small hedge fund on a mission to confront climate change, managed to do the impossible: Get dissident members on ExxonMobil's board. But lasting social impact has proved more elusive. Case studies by Mark Kramer, Shawn Cole, and Vikram Gandhi look at the complexities of shareholder activism.

• 07 Feb 2023

Supervisor of Sandwiches? More Companies Inflate Titles to Avoid Extra Pay

What does an assistant manager of bingo actually manage? Increasingly, companies are falsely classifying hourly workers as managers to avoid paying an estimated $4 billion a year in overtime, says research by Lauren Cohen.

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The effects of heterogeneous CSR on corporate stock performance: evidence from COVID-19 pandemic in China

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Financial imperatives to food system transformation

Finance is a critical catalyst of food systems transformation. At the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit, the Financial Lever Group suggested five imperatives to tap into new financial resources while making better use of existing ones. These imperatives are yet to garner greater traction to instigate meaningful change.

• Eugenio Diaz-Bonilla
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Central bank digital currencies risk becoming a digital Leviathan

Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) already exist in several countries, with many more on the way. But although CBDCs can promote financial inclusivity by offering convenience and low transaction costs, their adoption must not lead to the loss of privacy and erosion of civil liberties.

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ESG performance of ports

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Venture capital accelerates food technology innovation

Start-ups are now the predominant source of innovation in all categories of food technology. Venture capital can accelerate innovation by enabling start-ups to pursue niche areas, iterate more rapidly and take more risks than larger companies, writes Samir Kaul.

Challenges for a climate risk disclosure mandate

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Current Issues in Economics and Finance

• Bandi Kamaiah 0 ,
• C.S. Shylajan 1 ,
• S. Venkata Seshaiah 2 ,
• M. Aruna 3 ,
• Subhadip Mukherjee 4

Department of Economics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India

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IBS Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India

Department of economics, ibs hyderabad, hyderabad, india.

Showcases several empirical techniques that enhance the quality of research and its applicability for policy analysis

Covers a wide range of contemporary macroeconomic issues presented in diversified themes

Contains contributions from researchers and academicians from various premier institutes

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

Front matter, fiscal policy, monetary policy and financial integration, impact of debt on short-run and long-run growth: empirical evidence from india.

• Nikita Pahwa

Fiscal Deficit and Economic Growth Relationship in India: A Time Series Econometric Analysis

• M. R. Anantha Ramu, K. Gayithri

Relationship Between Monetary Policy and Industrial Production in India

• Amrendra Pandey, Jagadish Shettigar

Co-movement Among Asian Forex Markets: Evidence from Wavelet Methods

• Anoop S. Kumar, Bandi Kamaiah

International Trade and Economic Growth

Nexus between international trade and economic growth.

• Laila Memdani

Causality Between Exports and GDP: An Empirical Evidence from BIMSTEC Region

• Gurpreet Kaur, Vishal Sarin, Jasdeep Kaur Dhami

Productivity and Firm Performance

Intellectual capital and financial performance: evidences from indian business process outsourcing industry.

• Mohd Anas Raushan, Ahmed Musa Khan

CSR as Investment: An Analysis of Ownership Structure and Firm Performance

• Vasiq Nuvaid, Sucheta Sardar, Sujoy Chakravarty

Productivity Performance of Indian Banks with FDI Contents

• Jayashree Patil-Dake

Is the Acquirer More Efficient Than Target? An Empirical Study from Selected Bank Consolidation in India

• M. Kollapuri

Agriculture and Food Security

Foreign exchange rate and agricultural performances: a time series exercise for india.

• Madhabendra Sinha, Partha Pratim Sengupta

Assessing Nutritional Intake from a Field Study in Odisha

• Bhabani Prasad Mahapatra, Bhagabata Patro

Dynamics of Food Grains Production in Telangana

• S. Indrakant

This book discusses wide topics related to current issues in economic growth and development, international trade, macroeconomic and financial stability, inflation, monetary policy, banking, productivity, agriculture and food security. It is a collection of seventeen research papers selected based on their quality in terms of contemporary topic, newness in the methodology, and themes. All selected papers have followed an empirical approach to address research issues, and are segregated in five parts. Part one covers papers related to fiscal and price stability, monetary policy and economic growth. The second part contains works related to financial integration, capital market volatility and macroeconomic stability. Third part deals with issues related to international trade and economic growth. Part four covers topics related to productivity and firm performance. The final part discusses issues related to agriculture and food security. The book would be of interest to researchers, academicians as a ready reference on current issues in economics and finance.

• Macroeconomic Instability
• Inflation and Monetary Policy
• Wavelet Method
• Financial Integration
• Economic Growth
• Productivity
• Exchange Rate
• International Trade
• Food Policy
• development finance

Bandi Kamaiah

C.S. Shylajan, S. Venkata Seshaiah

M. Aruna, Subhadip Mukherjee

Dr. Bandi Kamaiah is currently Professor and Dean of School of Economics at University of Hyderabad, India, and President of The Indian Econometric Society (TIES). He has held multiple administrative positions as SAP and ASHIS Coordinator, Head of the Department of Economics at University of Hyderabad. He also served as the Head of RBI Endowment Unit, ISEC, Bangalore. With 140 research papers in international journals of repute, his areas of research interest are monetary and financial economics, applied time series analysis, macroeconomics and international finance. 

Dr. C.S. Shylajan is Professor and Dean Academics at IBS Hyderabad, India. Prior to this, he was a Post Doctoral Fellow at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta. He was also a Visiting Research Fellow at ICTP, Italy as part of a Research Program sponsored by UNESCO and Beijer Institute, Sweden. His areas of research interest are international economics, macroeconomics, environmental economics, etc. He was the Consulting Editor of  IUP Journal of Public Finance  during 2006-2012. He is currently Associate Editor of  International Journal of Ecology and Development . 

Dr. S.Venkata Seshaiah is Professor and Director at ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad, India. He was a Consulting Editor for  ICFAI Journal of Applied Economics  and he has also edited several books in the area of economic development. He is also a scientific adviser for many national and international journals. His areas of interest are financial economics, capital markets, business strategy, and behavioral economics. 

Dr. M. Aruna is Associate Professor with the Department of Economics at IBS Hyderabad. She obtained her PhD from Osmania University and has received short term fellowship from ICSSR, New Delhi. Her research has been published in journals like  Economic and Finance Review ,  Theoretical Economic Letters ,  Energy Revi ew Studies,  Indian Journal of Economics and Business Economics ,  Business Economics and Finance Review , and  Journal of Educational Planning and Administration .

Dr. Subhadip Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics, ICFAI Business School Hyderabad. He completed the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) in Economics from IIM Bangalore. His research has been published in journals such as  Economic Modelling  and also  Edited Volume by Springer  etc. His areas of research interest include international trade, applied econometrics especially with respect to micro level analysis of firms and industries, and development economics.

Book Title : Current Issues in Economics and Finance

Editors : Bandi Kamaiah, C.S. Shylajan, S. Venkata Seshaiah, M. Aruna, Subhadip Mukherjee

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5810-3

Publisher : Springer Singapore

eBook Packages : Economics and Finance , Economics and Finance (R0)

Copyright Information : Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017

Hardcover ISBN : 978-981-10-5809-7 Published: 22 January 2018

Softcover ISBN : 978-981-13-5497-7 Published: 12 December 2018

eBook ISBN : 978-981-10-5810-3 Published: 12 January 2018

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XII, 223

Number of Illustrations : 13 illustrations in colour

Topics : Macroeconomics/Monetary Economics//Financial Economics , Economic Growth , Development Finance

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10 Popular Posts on Economic Topics in 2021

What did people most want to know about the economy in 2021?

Inflation and COVID-19’s effects on the economy were top of mind, judging by the popularity of posts on those topics in our On the Economy blog, which offers frequent commentary, analysis and data from our economists and other St. Louis Fed experts. But examinations of longer-run trends, such as employment growth over 20 years, also attracted attention.

For readers of our Open Vault blog, which explains everyday economics and the Fed, the nuts and bolts of topical subjects like central bank digital currency and Fed “tapering” struck a chord, as did a post about the economic concept of externalities, explained with canine and pandemic examples. 

Here’s a look at a few of the posts that were among the favorites published from January through Nov. 30.

Inflation Trends

How covid-19 may be affecting inflation.

The changing of U.S. consumer spending patterns during the pandemic may have affected the measurement of inflation, according to an On the Economy post published in February. The Bureau of Labor Statistics gathers information about prices in the U.S., weights the prices and aggregates them for the consumer price index, or CPI. Inflation is measured as the CPI’s rate of growth over a certain period.

But what happens if a certain category of goods or services becomes a bigger, or smaller, part of consumer spending? Based on spending habits in prior years, the official weights might not be the “true” weights in 2020, when social distancing led to more eating at home and less spending in restaurants.

What Are Risks for Future Inflation?

As U.S. inflation surged in 2021, an October On the Economy post identified some upside and downside risks for future inflation. A follow-up post examined whether higher inflation could “be attributed to a small group of goods and services or whether it is a more generalized event.” Looking at the overall price change over the period of the pandemic, “the role of outliers is greatly diminished, revealing that higher inflation is perhaps a broader phenomenon,” the post said.

Economic and Monetary Policy Explainers

Externalities: it’s what pandemics, pollution and puppies have in common.

Externalities are costs and benefits that impact or spill over to someone other than the producer or the consumer of a good or a service. As a June Open Vault post explained, that applies to everything from pandemics to puppies. In a pandemic, a lack of social distancing by one person creates an externality that is negative: a higher risk of infection for everyone. Puppies that only bark at strangers, meanwhile, could provide a positive externality for neighbors as a warning system.

A June Open Vault blog post highlighted the Economic Lowdown series video “Externalities.” What makes pollution a negative externality is explained in this clip.

Here’s What the Fed Means by Tapering

As anticipation built this fall for a Federal Open Market Committee decision to “taper,” so did curiosity about what tapering is. An Open Vault post answered that question: The Fed can turn to large-scale asset purchases when economic conditions warrant, and tapering means reducing the pace of those purchases. The post, published a week after the Nov. 3 announcement of the FOMC’s decision to start tapering, also explained how tapering works.

What Is the Federal Open Market Committee?

Readers curious about what tapering is could have learned earlier in the year about the committee that makes that and other monetary policy decisions. As a February Open Vault post explained, the FOMC is the main monetary policymaking body of the Federal Reserve and is comprised of leaders from around the Federal Reserve System.

People and Places

Older workers accounted for all net employment growth in past 20 years.

Before there was the “Great Resignation,” there was an employment increase: A February On the Economy post said that a rise in employment of people age 60 and older was responsible for U.S. employment growth of 11.8 million from December 2000 to December 2020. (See chart.) Among those workers, the increase in employment is attributed to the group’s population growth and increased employment-to-population ratio.

Cumulative Net Change in the Number of Employed People since December 2000

House Prices Surpass Housing-Bubble Peak on One Key Measure of Value

The steady increase of a house price-to-rent ratio “would imply increasing overvaluation” of houses, a May On the Economy post said. That was the case in early 2021 (using data available through March), when an index measuring the ratio of house prices to rent in the U.S. had risen rapidly over the course of a year and reached its highest level since at least 1975.

Sign up now for the free symposium, which has the theme, “Leading the Way in Challenging Times.” The event will run 6 to 8 p.m. CT on Feb. 23-24. Participants will hear insights from leading economists.

Inspiring Young Women to Pursue Economics

A January Open Vault post previewed a February 2021 event that is “designed to inspire young women and underrepresented minorities who may be interested in econ—and to encourage those pursuing a degree to persist.” The next Women in Economics Symposium is set for Feb. 23-24, 2022.

Money and Finance

Wealth gaps between white, black and hispanic families in 2019.

Across education, family structure and generations, gaps persist between the wealth of white families and that of Black and Hispanic families, the authors of a January On the Economy post found.

For instance, they wrote: “More education was associated with more wealth for all the racial and ethnic groups considered. However, wide gaps remain at every education level, with Black and Hispanic families having less median family wealth than white families with the same education.”

And Black and Hispanic families are less likely than white families to have financial and other assets like homes and businesses, and when they do, those assets were more likely to have lower values.

Navigating the ABCs of CBDCs—Central Bank Digital Currencies

“You’ve likely heard of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or even Dogecoin, but you may not have heard of ‘Fedcoin,’ an informal name some have used for the idea of a digital currency tied to a central bank, namely the Federal Reserve,” a June Open Vault post said. The post highlighted short videos in which a St. Louis Fed economist answered questions on central bank digital currencies, including about possible effects on privacy and bank lending.

Heather Hennerich is a senior editor with the St. Louis Fed External Engagement and Corporate Communications Division.

Related Topics

This blog explains everyday economics, consumer topics and the Fed. It also spotlights the people and programs that make the St. Louis Fed central to America’s economy. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the St. Louis Fed or Federal Reserve System.

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Finance Research Topics to Sail Your Academic Research Successfully

Are you thinking of starting working on your research paper but still weighing which topic to select? Finance includes a whole series of stellar finance research topics. This list of these enticing finance research topics is here to relieve half of your pressure. Our expert writers cautiously draft these topic suggestions. Every topic on these lists is picked up by performing extensive deep research. These topic ideas will help you create an impressive research paper that will guarantee the highest academic grades.

If you’re doubtful about your topic selection, our experts have covered it too. They are here to provide you with their expert guidance or  help with research paper writing . But before we begin delving into the topic selection guide, it’s essential to know what precisely a finance research paper is.

Table of Contents

What Are Finance Research Papers?

Research is conducted to retrieve the outcome of a research topic. It follows analyzing the concerning results and framing the conclusion by making future recommendations. Students tend to explore, identify, interpret and evaluate their finance research topics’ primary and secondary sources. A finance research paper provides an excellent opportunity for students to extend their critical and analytical thinking on the conscripted topic.

Suggestions for Selecting Appropriate Research Topics in Finance

Whether it is financing research topics, or economics research topics the process of identifying the ideal research topic stays the same with every subject. So are you looking for some expert guidance in selecting the perfect topic? Look nowhere because these six essential tips are here to help you discover the classic research topics in finance.

• Significance:  the golden rule to dazzle finance research papers is to choose the most crucial topic in your field. Perhaps it’s a trending topic that needs further examination or an ongoing topic that reflects significant grounds for processes. However you can also include a historical finance research topic, but you must reflect on its association with the current world. It’s always vital to choose a topic that shows some significance in the present finance sphere. Thus the only extremity, in this case, is the significance of your finance research topic.
• Enigma:  Now, another golden rule for selecting financial research topics is to handpick a topic that incorporates an equal amount of thrill, captivation, understatement, and equivocalness. Formulate the topic appropriately so that your supervisor should feel enigmatic by reading the whole paper.
• Avoid complex terminology:  Your finance topic for research papers must showcase your clear and comprehensive ideas. Try dodging complicated terminology. How you frame and construct your whole research topic matters the most.
• Answer the unanswered questions : You can also comprehend finance questions that have not been answered before in your field. Provide additional research to identify suitable answers to those questions
• Reading scholarly articles:  Professional writing experts from Edumagnate.com suggest that previous reading articles can help you immensely with your research process. These articles and journals would give you an idea of various hidden finance research topics. You can narrow down those suggestions to frame a specific topic for your research.

Finance Research Topic Ideas

The most cardinal step of identifying the researchable topics in finance is to look for topics that have never been researched. Missing out on the ideal topic can lead to various difficulties for your research paper on finance topics. We hope you must have selected your finance research topic. If not, no worries because we offer you this winning list of finance research topics that are your savior. So, have fun researching your ideal finance research topic.

Captivating Finance Research Topics

Look at these recurring finance research topics that various scholars have used in their research. Here are our top most exciting finance topics in no particular order.

• Acquisition and merger: A detailed study on the setbacks and benefits
• Detailed research on climate finance
• The revised index on the financial condition of the enterprises
• Accessing the ideological US economies and income tax policies
• Personal finance: A report on the interdisciplinary profession
• The topics of American economics and finance research
• A diagnostic framework for Investment management
• A conceptual review of Possible solutions to the capital asset pricing model
• The essence of money in the theory of finance
• A model for the future of e-commerce and the influence of manipulating commodity
• Activating commodities resilience: the history of the emergence of country funds
• Trusting in the future: financial management methods
• Finance: an introduction to the quantitative method
• An introduction to the dynamic copula methods in finance
• Corporate organizations: revitalizing enterprises for the competitive world
• An overview of the financial markets and developments

Enchanting Corporate Finance Research Topics

Another sure-fire option is selecting corporate finance research topics. So if you think there’s nothing to add in this domain, you might want to reconsider your decision. Let’s read out these most exciting corporate finance research topics:

• Quantitative risk analysis on operational and integrated risks
• The syndications of private equity and the potential risks
• Liquidity risk management: The liquidity route to a lower cost of capital
• The risks adjustments by the equity investors
• A bibliometric study on the dividend policy
• How is liquidity effective for balancing financial risks for organizations?
• SWIFT system: The pluses and minuses and how it operates
• A concise analysis of mutual funds and investments
• Ethical concerns associated with corporate finance management
• A comprehensive study on the fundamental of corporate risk management
• The relationship of risk management with investment management
• Microeconomics of technology adaption: how is microeconomics enhancing revenue
• The mathematical and computational methods of financial management
• How to access the vulnerable risk structures of corporate debts
• Asymmetric information on the monetary policy and the risk-bearing channels
• Corporate restructuring: financial solutions strategies in times of crises

A List of Personal Finance Topics to Write About

Personal finance is a vulnerable area that studies the management of finances, including savings and investing of money. Every individual wishes to enhance their financial stability. Research on this area tends to impact an individual’s living standards directly.

• Evaluation of saving strategies: alternate budgetary sources
• A customers perspective on the challenges, benefits, and security issues of mobile banking
• The great USA recession: how the USA recession has changed consumer behavior
• The analysis of personal financial literacy among American citizens
• The logic of budgeting: The best ways to save while on a budget
• Power budgeting techniques for American households
• A detailed analysis of the ideal ways to properly manage your taxes
• Practices, challenges, and security issues of mobile banking in America
• Convenient or affordable healthcare: a basic entitlement for every citizen
• Cost-effectiveness and detailed analysis of credit score
• The effects of a tax on fabricating financial decisions
• Saving money when you’re on a tight budget: perspective, perception, and a plan
• A descriptive study of the relationship between employee motivation and work productivity
• Consumer household finance: characteristics of personal finance as an incentive for the household to bear risks
• A comprehensive study of the financial benefits of working from home
• Measuring customer segments for personal finance services
• The influence of tax in making financial decisions for households
• The impact of inflation and interest rates on personal finances

Business Finance Topics for Research Paper

Every decision involved in business management comes with some financial implications. Therefore, business people must understand the fundamentals of finance. To elaborate your understanding of business finance, you must write on finance research topics about management, financial analysis, valuation, etc. Here are some brilliant finance research ideas for you:

• Risk and crises management in the global financial business
• Strategies of effective Financial management for SMEs
• Interest and inflation risk: industrial behavior in the context of inflation
• Business modernization: applications of business finance
• Business essentials: financial accounting of business enterprises
• Accessing and managing the business intelligence in SMEs
• Empowering self-help organizations by providing effective financial aid
• Increasing strategic accountability of corporate bodies
• Financial and ethical considerations for business finance

International Finance Research Topics

Since the international market is growing effectively worldwide, why shouldn’t we study some exciting international finance research topics for your research?

• Fundamentals of international studies on the dividend policy models
• Impact of global economic crises on organizations
• The market of corporate control on an international scale
• The roles and values of the circular economy for the prevention of global finance crises
• The aftermath of global financial crises
• Financial problems: how can banks lower the impacts
• The world experience of stock exchange: why are bank offices crucial?
• The role of the banking sector in decreasing financial crises
• China’s growth strategy: evidence and proofs from micro-level data
• Recent trends and crises in the foreign exchange market
• A handbook on the risk management analysis for hedge funds

Healthcare Research Topics in Finance

Finance management is highly crucial for an effective healthcare system. Are you interested in understanding this field in detail? If yes, then these are a few most relevant finance research topics on healthcare:

• The global campaign against the high prices of healthcare facilities in the US
• Re-conceptualizing strategies for achieving healthcare necessities for homeless citizens
• The dilemma of unequal access to cancer patients across the world
• The global campaign to eliminate inequalities in access to healthcare
• A review of UK’s health research funding: which healthcare department requires more funding?
• Why is there a need for free and privatized healthcare systems in different nations
• Enhancing healthcare financing in the US: essentials of the US healthcare systems
• How can different nations enhance their healthcare sectors without affecting the economy?
• A review of UK health research funding: why is finance research a priority for healthcare sectors
• What is the impact of free healthcare systems on the economy of a country
• Inequalities in access to healthcare systems by income in developed nations
• Impact of government funding on healthcare systems
• The origin of healthcare finances
• Worldwide free health: how can we achieve it?
• What is the impact of government on healthcare amenities?
• A comprehensive data on the healthcare history of the USA
• Lesson from developing countries on improving healthcare facilities

Read Also – Business Research Topics to Upgrade Project Submission

Finance Research Topics for Thoughtful Minds

We hope you have found your ideal finance research topic by now, but for those still confused about the topics, we have brought some additional interesting finance research topics for you.

• An overview of how financial systems affect the economic development of a nation
• The frontiers and evolvement of finance in the development of money relations
• The appendix to the anatomy of control of funds in different nations
• The integration of financial markets and securities
• Enhancing transparency and accountability in corporate enterprises
• Sustainability concerning green governance for industries that pollute the ecosystem
• Significance and regulations of risk management programs
• The public finance structure and the quality of life
• The dynamics of share price formation: How do interest rates impacts share price?
• The leasing puzzle: economics of leasing
• The uniqueness of bank loans: bank insolvency and the issue of non-performing loan

Complementary Finance Research Topics

If you are still confused about your research topic, the doors of a professional finance assignment help service are always open for your assistance. It is a list of some complimentary finance research topics for you, which comprises various aspects of financial studies. So here you go!

• The impact of finance on the evolving market relations
• Role and features of financial systems in developing nations
• Theory of public finance structure in the federal system
• The future and the economic aspects of finance
• Cyber security attributes affecting online banking and online transactions
• Plus and minuses of mobile banking in developed or developing nations
• A comparative study on behavioral finance and traditional finance
• Analytical issues and discretely disclosure in external finance
• Internal financing versus external financing
• Understanding the financial crises of 2007-2009

So here we are. Selecting the most appropriate finance research topic can be a little overwhelming. However, we hope this article has helped you with your topic selection. We have tried our best to loosen up some of your pressure by providing you with the above list of inspirational researchable finance topics. If you have other queries regarding any topic, don’t hesitate to call our professional writers.

By Alex Brown

I'm an ambitious, seasoned, and versatile author. I am experienced in proposing, outlining, and writing engaging assignments. Developing contagious academic work is always my top priority. I have a keen eye for detail and diligence in producing exceptional academic writing work. I work hard daily to help students with their assignments and projects. Experimenting with creative writing styles while maintaining a solid and informative voice is what I enjoy the most.

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Topics and methods in economics, finance, and business journals: A content analysis enquiry ☆

Jorge camargo.

a School of Mathematics and Engineering, Konrad Lorenz University, Bogotá, Colombia

Maximiliano González

b School of Management, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia

Alexander Guzmán

c CESA School of Business, Bogotá, Colombia

Enrique ter Horst

María–andrea trujillo.

This study analyzes the abstracts and titles of 33,454 business finance, economics, management, and business articles published in ISI (frequently cited) journals during 2013–14. The sample represents 46.4 percent of all papers published in ISI journals in those years, and 52.7 percent of the articles published in the selected categories. The journals were ranked in four Q categories according to their impact factors. The analysis revealed that some topics persisted in all Q groups, but others gained frequency by Q, which suggests that Q1 journals (those with higher impact factors) create trends that are followed by other publications. All Q groups have a methodological approach that is predominantly empirical rather than theoretical. In addition, while the business and management categories privileged case studies, economics studies emphasized panel data analyses. Finally, our study confirms the relevance of the English language in academia.

1. Introduction

All over the world, researchers are facing increasing pressure to “publish or perish”, and their preferences in terms of what to publish and where are weighed against the interests and trends of the academic editorial market. It has long been reported that journal editors influence the dissemination of certain ideas and trend topics (e.g., Hamelman and Mazze, 1974 ; Silverman, 1984 ; Chan et al., 2005 ; Bradbury, 2012 ). Our study shows how recent technological developments could help researchers undertake projects in their fields' preferred subjects of interest. This is important because the proliferation of academic journals hinders researchers' ability to choose the most appropriate place for their work. Moreover, in many institutions, tenure and promotion committees have trouble assessing a professor's academic contribution when analyzing his or her research output ( Weston, 1994 ).

While there are thousands of journals in all academic areas, the competition to be published in the leading ones remains as fierce as ever. Acceptance rates below 5 percent are common in top journals. Danielson and Heck (2010) demonstrated that, in a set of 15 high-impact accounting journals, a relatively small number of authors have published a disproportionate share of the articles. Using data for Ph.D. holders from over 25 years, Zivney and Bertin (1992) determined that less than 5 percent of the sample had published just one article per annum in finance, accounting, economics, and business.

Diamond (1986) , Gomez-Mejia and Balkin (1992) , Moore et al. (1998) , Leahey (2007) and Hamermesh (2018) demonstrated the economic impact of citations for scholars; the better the outlet where they publish, the higher the number of expected citations. Even though the citation data can be biased ( Haddad et al., 2014 ), they are still the main way to capture the influence and value of a research piece. Studies have long reported the link between publication rates and promotion and academic mobility ( Skeels and Fairbanks, 1968 ; Kenny and Studley, 1995 ; Sabatier et al., 2006 ; Zeng et al., 2017 ). Swidler and Goldreyer (1998) went even further and calculated that the present value of an article in a top finance journal ranged between $19,493 and $33,754, with additional returns for subsequent publications.

Given the small odds of publishing in top journals in any field, Danielson and Heck (2014) suggest gaining a better understanding of the “next-best” journals so that both novice and established authors may make more informed decisions about where to submit their academic manuscripts. Through these and other findings ( Borokhovich et al., 1995 , 1998 , 2000 ), researchers may become aware of prevailing and emerging topics in the literature and align their research agenda accordingly. Following Faria (2003) , assistant professors applying for tenure could balance their publication portfolios toward maximizing the number of papers published (influence), while tenured faculty may gear their publication effort toward the relevance of their papers (profusion).

There has been a rapid growth of bibliometric studies in areas such as medicine ( Xianliang and Hongying, 2012 ), big data analysis ( Akoka et al., 2017 ), environmental impact ( Geng et al., 2017 ), engineering ( Franceschini and Maisano, 2010 ), software engineering ( Garousi and Mantyla, 2016 ), and groundwater research ( Niu et al., 2014 ), among many other fields. Within a wider topic-review framework, Chen et al. (2016) applied co-word analysis on projects of China's National Natural Science Foundation, revealing “hot” topics such as game theory, supply chain management, and data mining. These studies use different methods to perform the analysis, such as counting key words frequency and publications, aggregating the h index of authors or the journal papers, or elaborating a systematic mapping of existence research. In this paper, we are not just counting or aggregating existing information. A simple word count for each category under analysis assumes independence among the different categories a priori. Instead, and as we explain in the methodology section, we calculate probabilities that are further modeled in a hierarchical manner that allows borrowing information from each category in order to have dependence among the four different categories (in our study, impact factor categories: Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4).

All in all, progress in what is called the “science of science” and a better understanding of the scientific output of any field will significantly affect promotion, tenure and recruitment decisions in academia, as well as the allocation of resources to high-impact research ( Zeng et al., 2017 ). Although there is general agreement that the key factor in publication is contributing something new and interesting to the literature, it is also true that finding an appropriate outlet is not the easy task that young researchers often take for granted.

This study reveals topics and methodological aspects in the finance, economics, management, and business literature during 2013–14. We analyzed the abstracts and titles of 33,454 papers published in 395 ISI journals under four categories: business (68 journals), business finance (61 journals), management (98 journals), and economics (168 journals). Our study reveals that some of the most frequent topics are present in all the Q groups (journal impact factors), but other topics gain frequency by Q groups.

Although we recognize that a trend represents a long-term phenomenon, our results suggest that Q1 journals attract researchers' attention and create trends that are followed by Q2, Q3, and Q4 publications. Moreover, all Q groups feature topics that also appear frequently in media and other outlets (e.g., financial crisis in finance and economics outlets; job satisfaction in business and management). This helps researchers keep abreast of issues in their disciplines and fosters dialogue between scholars and practitioners. As for methodology, our analysis found more empirical than theoretical studies in business and finance in all Q groups. Case studies predominate in business and management, but not in finance and economics. The latter features panel data analysis. As expected, most papers were published in English, confirmation of the relevance of this language in academia.

Even though our inquiry focused on four areas and a particular time period, it could be replicated in other fields and for any time horizon. The remainder of this paper is organized as follows: first, we present a review of the literature regarding the publication process; we then explain our research methodology and subsequently report and discuss our results. We close with some conclusions.

2. Background

Why is it so difficult to publish in academic journals? The main reason of course could well be not finding interesting and novel questions to work on. However, other factors might also intervene, such as not being able to find the best outlet for a research piece. Through an opinion survey and content analysis, Bradbury (2012) explored the editorial policies of top accounting and finance journals. He analyzed 66 reviews of 33 manuscripts submitted to the journals and concluded that many papers were submitted prematurely to the wrong journals and were lacking a proper flow of ideas and contributions. Indeed, an important part of the research process is choosing the correct journal, and “selling” the contribution in appropriate ways.

Macdonald and Kam (2007) have argued that the pressure to publish has changed the “unit of measurement” of the quality of a paper in terms of, not what to publish in terms of contribution to knowledge but where is publish. Flagg et al. (2011) find that Ph.D. candidates outside the top ranked universities can signal their future research productivity by publishing or having revisions in top-tier journals while still enrolled in the Ph.D. program. Therefore, getting published or having research projects of interest to the academic editorial markets is of high importance even in the very first steps of an academic career. Even as far back as in Hamelman and Mazze (1974) , there is a general call to make sense of the huge number of scientific publications in terms of the quality and utility. Back then, the main approach was to ask experts in each field to provide a “score” about the merit of a set of journals. Later, researchers used citation indexes to rank journals, and measure the concentration of citations across journals and across disciplines.

Journal editors play an important role in the scientific community as moderators of the scientific “conversation” among scholars. They decide which papers and related topics get published and which do not. Therefore, it is crucial that young researchers be aware of the types of conversations going on in their fields ( Silverman, 1984 ) so that they may balance their interests with those of their peers.

The publication outlet is not only relevant for researchers but also for higher education institutions. For example, Manning and Barrette (2005) state that business schools' accreditation agencies, such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and EQUIS, use measurements of research quality in their accreditation processes. Consequently, some business schools have implemented bonuses and other incentives to push not only the quantity but also the quality of the research output of their faculty, where traditional measures about the research quality is the journal ranking ( Theoharakis and Hirst, 2002 ).

The scientific analysis of journals' impact has become a discipline in itself (the science of science) and researchers have developed methods to address the importance of papers and journals. For example, Everett and Pecotich (1991) modeled the importance, similarity, and influence of journals using Poisson and Loglinear models to generate a “map” of journals' relative characteristics and configurations. In addition, Tahai and Rigsby (1998) study the “durability” journals analyzing the patterns of citations through the years and using this information to rank journals.

Currie and Pandher (2011) divide the methods to classify journals quality into two groups: the publication citation-based and the peer assessment methods. The Active Scholar Assessment (ASA) methods they proposed ask scholar to provide relative rankings as an endogenous function of perception of quality and awareness for each journal. They also compare their journal ranking with other sources (e.g., the ISI Citation Report) and found a more monotone and less steep descent in both quality and importance after the top ranked journals.

Baden-Fuller et al. (2000) point out a circularity issue when trying to define what a “quality journal” is. For instance, scholars from top universities publish their research in “top” journals, but the classification of “top” universities usually relays where they publish their work. In the same vein, Johnson and Podsakoff (1994) , argue that of course high quality papers appear in high quality journals, but they are considered high quality papers because they were published in high quality journals.

The evaluation of academic productivity in terms of publication is the main driving force to hiring, promoting and compensating academics. Faria (2003) posits a method to classify economists into two groups: those who seek quality (influence) and those whose aim is quantity (profusion). The quality factor was measured by the number of citations, the quantity factor by the number of publications. Given the difficulty and ever-increasing competition in the publication market, researchers tend to diversify their research portfolio. In Faria (2005) the same issue is tackled, but the economists are deciding whether to publish in international or national journals. In the theoretical models of these papers, the best strategy is to find a balance between quality and quantity, and national versus international journals.

In the case of finance, given the diversity of this research field, there is no consensus on how to measure journal quality. Oltheten et al. (2005) analyze 862 survey responses by finance academics worldwide and find no major variations regarding perceptions of the top four finance journals. However, using a probit model specification, these authors find that journal quality perceptions for journals other than the top four exhibit significant differences across geographical regions, research interests, level of seniority, and journal affiliation. These findings demonstrate that it is not an easy task to select research outputs outside of the very top journals.

Borokhovich et al. (1998) report that high-quality finance journals favor certain areas or topics, and young researchers' awareness of these highly influences their tenure achievement. In this vein, the authors found that articles about corporate finance were more likely to be published in better-quality journals than papers on financial institutions. Borokhovich et al. (2000) reached similar conclusions when they ranked the quality of papers by using the SSCI's (Social Sciences Citation Index) impact factors. Papers citing other papers outside the finance field exhibited higher impact factors than those which did not.

Also in the area of finance, but applicable to other fields, Armstrong and Sperry (1994) found a strong link between the ranking of business schools and the quality of their financial research in terms of citations and journal status. Moreover, in their analysis of journal-quality measures, Borokhovich et al. (1995) observed that 20 percent of the institutions accounted for more than 76 percent of the total influence in terms of citations. Although there is theoretical and empirical evidence of the differences in the quantity and quality of research outputs by discipline ( Swanson, 2004 ), the above-mentioned finding could be extrapolated to researchers and research teams that promote given topics not only in finance but in economics and business as well ( Zeng et al., 2017 ). In addition, tools such as the Hirsch spectrum are recently being used to assess the academic quality and reputation of journals, authors, and papers ( Franceschini and Maisano, 2010 ). According to Franceschini and Maisano, their paper “introduces the Hirsch spectrum (h-spectrum) for analyzing the academic reputation of a scientific journal. h-Spectrum is a novel tool based on the Hirsch (h) index. It is easy to construct: considering a specific journal in a specific interval of time, h-spectrum is defined as the distribution representing the h-indexes associated with the authors of the journal articles. This tool allows defining a reference profile of the typical author of a journal, comparison of different journals within the same scientific field, and a rough indication of prestige/reputation of a journal in the scientific community. h-Spectrum can be associated to every journal” ( 2010 , pg. 66).

In terms of citational analysis, many fields have listed the most influential journals and authors. In finance, Alexander and Mabry (1994) produce a list of the fifty most influential articles and authors, and identify topical trends in the finance research agenda. The citational analysis is also important to study the influence of certain disciplines on others. For example, Chandy and Williams (1994) show that management, economics, marketing, and finance disciplines had great influence in the international business disciplines. These analyses can be extended even further to show how individual scholars can influence a research agenda in a given field.

Related discussions also emerge in the management and business studies field. For example, Pierce and Garven (1995) argue that the proliferation of research outputs leads business researchers to deal with the necessity to develop a publishing strategy to achieve an appropriate and timely publication of their papers. Moreover, these authors argue that a low acceptance rate can be seen as a signal of journal quality. In addition, according to Macdonald and Kam (2007) , management departments usually create a list of “quality” journals. However, these lists are created using as a benchmark other lists from other management departments, resulting in an endogenous relationship between the journal list and the quality of the journal: are the lists composed of “quality” journals, or is a journal of high “quality” because is on the list? And yet, these lists allow researchers, especially young researchers from lower-rated institutions, to make informed decisions when deciding where to submit their work ( Geary et al., 2004 ).

According to Manning and Barrette (2005) the lists of ranked journals developed by prestigious business schools are followed by others. However, in business schools, due to the inherent diversity in research subjects and methods, there is no generally accepted ranking of journals to measure research quality. Moreover, the diversity present in business and management fields are not restricted to topics and research interest. There is also great diversity in terms of languages, cultures, countries, and, more importantly, research methodologies. For example, management fields use survey-based research more than in the finance field ( Baker and Mukherjee, 2007 ).

Another empirical regularity observed in the discussion of the quantity and quality of research output in the management field is the concentration of articles from universities and individuals. As stated in Swanson et al. (2007) higher concentration occurs when journals acquire goods, in this case research articles, from fewer suppliers, which in this case are universities and individual researchers. Using the Herfindahl-Hirschman indices, Swanson finds that privately sponsored journals are more concentrated by school than association-sponsored journals. For the case of the main 14 business journals, 10 association-sponsor journals are less concentrated than any of the four privately sponsored journal. Much of the higher concentration in the privately sponsored journals arises from faculty members at private schools publishing a high proportion of the journal articles. These findings are important because in business areas the high concentration found could imply that faculty at many schools find it very difficult to produce a research output comparable to their peers in other disciplines.

For those researchers who are not part of editorial boards, it is even more difficult to find an appropriate outlet for their research. For example, Chan et al. (2005) rank schools with an international business orientation using as a predictor the presence of faculty on the editorial boards of the leading international business journals. Among their findings, the top institutions share characteristics such as faculty getting published in top ranked journals.

Regarding trend topics in the literature, Danielson and Heck (2014) showed that authors in the highest productivity percentile were most likely to publish their latest articles in journals that had recently raised their impact factors. In the case of finance and business finance, they found that top academics were publishing in relatively new journals, such as Financial Management and the Financial Analysts Journal , and in new specialized publications such as the Journal of Financial Markets , the Journal of Corporate Finance , and the Journal of Financial Intermediation .

Literature reviews are another method widely used in the academic community to identify possible trends and areas for new contributions. For example, Lu (2003) reviews the strategic management literature and highlight areas in which key contributions are made and, more importantly, where new research questions could be pushed forward. Lu also identify the main institutions and researchers and examines the diversity of contributions in management research.

Some authors ( Griffith et al., 2008 ) use Delphi study (panel of experts) to determine the future research agenda in the field of international business. With this methodology, experts in the field respond to the main problems to be addressed and the most important empirical regularities to be explained. This in part could move the field to address specific topics and create research trends.

Bibliometric studies represent another methodology that has been used to target the most prolific and influential articles, authors and trends. For example, Pasadeos et al. (1999) used this process to find the most important authors and most cited papers in the public relations scholarly literature. Moreover, with this method they can also identify and measure paradigms and topical diversity. Bibliometric studies can also be of interest to find how certain areas of knowledge are organized around topics and paradigms ( Vieira and Teixeira, 2010 ). Badua et al. (2011) use bibliometric analysis to describe the evolution in terms of content in the field of accounting. Using this methodology, they were able to understand better the evolution of content and context of this literature. Issa (2016) uses bibliometric studies together with semi-structured interviews with editors, editorial boards, and selected authors to show that research in economics, finance, and entrepreneurship has an important influence on the published research for emerging economies, finding a small percentage of papers tackling theoretical issues and many having a quantitative approach. Overall, new technological developments, such as the one we present in this paper, could be of help for scholars in developing a publication strategy in the publish and perish environment.

3. Methodology

3.1. data collection.

We developed a set of Python scripts to build the data set through a crawling process. Some journals offer an API (Application Programming Interface) which allows downloading of metadata related to each paper from the publishers' web sites. These APIs offer various search services using key words, time spans, and other fields, through certain filters. However, since not all journals provide APIs, we had to build specific scripts to download the information for those lacking APIs.

We run our Python scripts in a Linux virtual machine provided by Amazon Web Services (cloud platform). The Linux machine had 32GB of RAM, 2 virtual cores, and 30GB of solid-state disk (SSD).

3.2. Data set

We defined as the unit of analysis 72,129 abstracts and article titles that represent the universe of all papers published during 2013–14 in ISI journals. The four different categories covered business (120 journals), business finance (94 journals), management (192 journals), and economics (344 journals). However, because of the API restrictions mentioned above, it was impossible to collect this full corpus.

Using the crawling process, we collected 33,454 abstracts and titles, or approximately 46.4 percent of the full target data set. Table 1 shows the distribution and coverage of sample journals by category; Table 2 shows the distribution of the sample papers by publisher; and Table 3 shows the distribution of sample papers by category.

Distribution and coverage of sample journals by category.

Distribution of sample papers by publisher.

Distribution of sample papers by category.

We structured all the abstracts and titles as a corpus in a single text document, removing special characters such as HTML tags, punctuation marks, and mentions. These elements were tokenized in English bigrams (the most frequent two-word combinations). Then, we built a “bigram matrix” equivalent to a “term-document matrix,” where each abstract for a given journal category (business, economics, business finance, and management) was considered a “document.” The entries in each cell of this matrix corresponded to the presence/absence of each specific bigram in each journal abstract.

The journals were ranked in quartiles that reflected the statistical distribution of their impact factors. We then applied the Multinomial Inverse Regression (MNIR) method, described by Taddy (2013) , modeling the journal impact factors corresponding to the abstracts. As Taddy mentions, the journal impact factor is a variable that proxies importance, and therefore it is directly linked to the abstract's content.

Content analysis is not new. It has been widely explored methodologically, employing regressions, support vector machines, and neural networks ( Pang and Lee, 2008 ) in various disciplinary contexts, including the tracing of ideology in political texts ( Yu et al., 2008 ), or of negative/positive nuances in economics and finance ( Tetlock, 2007 ; Loughran and McDonald, 2011 ). For additional details on the MNIR method, and its R package, and for insight on related methodological drawbacks, see Taddy (2013) .

3.3. Analysis procedure: a Bayesian approach

Jurafsky and Martin (2008) analyze each document (abstract or title) as an exchangeable set of tokens (uni-grams or, more generally, n-grams). When dealing with text corpora, tokens can be understood as regular stemmed words. For example, the words “taxation”, “taxes”, and “taxing” all become “tax”. For consistency, we use the same notation as in Taddy (2013) , where the vector x i = ( x i 1 , … , x i p ) ' is the vector of counts of the p possible tokens, or in our case of the bigrams. We define the empirical frequencies f i = x i / m i where m i = ∑ j = 1 p x i j . Each of the possible n documents (33,454 abstracts or titles) will be related to a content variable y i which can be ordered into discrete increasing categories. Modeling the conditional distribution of y i | x i can be computationally prohibitive. The approach in Taddy (2013) allows the collapse of token counts as x y = ∑ i : y i = y x i for every content category y ∈ Y . The basic multinomial inverse regression (MNIR) can then be written as in Taddy (2013) :

where x y is a p-dimensional multinomial distribution with size parameter vector m y = ∑ i : y i = y m i and probabilities q y = [ q y 1 , … , q y p ] ' . The Sufficient Reduction Score z i defined by Taddy (2013) is computed as z i = ψ f i . Intuitively the text sentiment variable z i gives the “average” factor loading contribution of document i .

Therefore, the text content score reduction variable z i is computed as the inner product between the multinomial inverse regression factor loadings ψ = ( ψ 1 , … , ψ p ) ' from each token (or n-gram counts) and the empirical frequencies f i from the token counts ( Taddy, 2013 ). This reduction score is similar in philosophy to Altman's z score, which gives a quantification of a company's credit quality that results in a credit rating or scoring ( Altman, 1968 ). The higher the z score, the higher the contents of bigrams with large factor loadings ( ψ ) . We select the most important bigrams on the basis of their decreasing order of probability of appearance, as in Eq. (1) of Taddy (2013) .

It is worthwhile to highlight that a simple word count for each category assumes independence among the different categories a priori. As suggested in Taddy (2013) , a more promising strategy is to use text-specific dimension reduction based on the multinomial implied by exchangeability of token counts. As shown in Taddy, a topic model treats documents as drawn from a multinomial distribution with probabilities arising as a weighted combination of “topic” factors. These probabilities are further modeled in a hierarchical manner that allows borrowing information from each category in order to have dependence among the four different impact factor categories (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). A previous method that is similar in spirit is the one proposed by Blei et al. (2003) , used during Trump's political campaign ( Gautrais et al., 2017 ).

The abstract bigrams collected from all Q journals were ordered from the most to the least frequent. We had a total of 2,942 bigrams for business finance journals, 2,280 for economics journals, 3,667 for management journals, and 4,879 for business journals. For the Q1 journals, we then determined the first 31 bigrams that referred to topics and methodological approaches. We chose 31 bigrams as a cutoff point to be able to collect at least the 20 most frequent bigrams regarding topics published in business finance, economics, management, and business. We consider this spectrum of topics wide enough for the reader to have a global appreciation of the most important topics discussed in each of the fields we study.

Subsequently, we looked for those bigrams in Q2, Q3, and Q4 journals and found that some were consistently present among those most frequent in all categories. For instance, in business finance, the bigram financial crisis was the most frequent in Q1, Q2, and Q3 journals, and it was the 5 th most frequent in the Q4 journals. We categorized topics in Q2, Q3, and Q4 journals as persistent when their number was close to that of the bigram in the Q1 rank (less than 10 numbers in difference).

Some bigrams gained frequency from the Q4 to the Q1 journals. For example, in the economics category, health care was the 257 th most frequent bigram in Q4 journals; 57 th in the Q3 journals; 15 th in the Q2 journals; and 2 nd in the Q1 journals. Table 4 lists the persistent topics and the topics that gained presence as the journal quality increased. It also displays bigrams associated with methodological issues such as empirical evidence, case study , panel data , and structural equations, among others.

Most frequent topics and methodology bigrams in abstracts of papers of Q1 journals by category.

Tables ​ Tables5, 5 , ​ ,6, 6 , ​ ,7, 7 , and ​ and8 8 show the most frequent bigrams for Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 papers in the business finance, economics, management, and business categories, respectively. For each Q1 bigram, we compared its respective frequency in Q2, Q3, and Q4 papers.

Most frequent bigrams in abstracts for Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 papers in business finance.

Most frequent bigrams in abstracts for Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 papers in economics.

Most frequent bigrams in abstracts for Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 papers in management.

Most frequent bigrams in abstracts for Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 papers in business.

4.1. Topic patterns

Some of the most frequent topics persist in all Q groups, but others lose frequency by category, which suggests that Q1 and Q2 journals attract researchers' attention and create trends that are followed by Q3 and Q4 publications. For example, in the business finance category, we found 10 persistent topics within the 22 most frequent Q1 bigrams: financial crisis, stock market, exchange rates, corporate governance, earning management, stock returns, interest rates, stock price, cash flow, and information asymmetry . For the same set of journals, the 10 topics within the 22 most frequent Q1 bigrams that lost frequency in Q2, Q3, and Q4 journals were: monetary policy, risk management, financial reporting, credit risk, systematic risk, accounting research, integrated reporting, banking sectors, financial market, and management accounting . For instance, systematic risk, which is the 11 th most frequent Q1 bigram in the business finance journals, ranks only 21 st in the Q2 journals, 73 rd in Q3 journals, and 300 th in Q4 publications ( Table 5 ).

These topic patterns occurred in the economics category as well. There, the 11 persistent topics within the 31 most frequent bigrams for Q1 publications were: financial crisis, economic growth, labor market, human capital, monetary policy, exchange rates, developing countries, stock market, business cycle, interest rate, and economic development . For the same set of journals, the 9 topics out of the 31 most frequent bigrams that lost frequency by Q category were: health care, United States, European Union, climate change, health insurance, risk aversion, oil price, stock returns, and credit risk. For example, European Union is the 8 th most frequent bigram in the Q1 journals, ranks 21 st in the Q2 journals, 50 th in Q3 publications, and 182 nd in the Q4 papers ( Table 6 ).

In the management category, 10 topics persisted within the 26 most frequent Q1 bigrams: supply chain, firm performance, new product, social capital, job satisfaction, human resource, resource management, decision making, product development, and business model. As was the case for business finance and economics journals, the frequency of some bigrams decreased from Q1 to Q4 publications. The 10 topics which showed that tendency within the 26 most frequent Q1 bigrams were: ERP environment, human capital, financial performance, corporate social, performance measurements, project management, strategic management, competitive advantages, social responsibility, and product innovation. For example, human capital, ranked 7 th in Q1 journals, 12 th in Q2 journals, 46 th in Q3 publications, and 165 th in Q4 papers ( Table 7 ).

In the business category, there were only 5 persistent topics within the 26 most frequent Q1 bigrams: new product, firm performance, product development, business model, and value creation. Unlike the more focused categories, of the 26 most frequent Q1 bigrams, 15 registered decreasing frequencies in Q2, Q3, and Q4 journals: supply chain, ERP environment, family firms, corporate social, chain management, human capital, social capital, social responsibility, financial performance, social media, job satisfaction, product innovation, small-medium sized, strategic management, and customer satisfaction ( Table 8 ).

These results indicate the persistence of some topics and the emergence of others, which could help scholars align their research agenda with the trends in their fields. In this regard, assistant professors applying for tenure and aspiring to publish in top journals could redirect their efforts to finding alternative publication outlets, while tenured professors could become aware of new topics of interest and relevance vis-à-vis journal impact factors (Qs); and business, finance, and economics practitioners could keep abreast of their disciplines' knowledge frontiers.

Furthermore, our findings reveal that certain topics and issues that are discussed in the media and other public outlets are also present in the academic literature. For instance, financial crisis and themes related to corporate scandals such as earnings management, integrated reporting, and corporate governance are topics within the business finance and economics categories and are persistently covered in media, while corporate social responsibility, job satisfaction, human capital, new products, and product development are the kind of topics found in the business and management fields. Thus the academic literature reacts to issues of public concern, creating a two-way dialogue between scholars and practitioners.

4.2. Methodological approaches and other issues

Our content analysis inquiry also revealed certain patterns of methodological approach. In the business finance category, bigrams such as find evidence, empirical evidence, empirical results, and data set suggest a preference for empirical research that is common to all Q ranks.

The economics category also displays a consistent preference for empirical research in all Q groups, as revealed by bigrams such as using data, find evidence, data set, and empirical results. Furthermore, these category abstracts provide more methodological details by including the bigrams panel data, per capita, general equilibrium, time series, statistical significant, and empirical analysis among the most frequent bigrams.

In the management category, the third bigram in all Q ranks is case study, indicating the prevalence of this methodology within the field. Moreover, the frequencies of bigrams such as data collected, structural equation, using data, and empirical evidence further confirm a preference for empirical studies. The business category displays a similar pattern. Case studies represent the most frequent research methodology, and bigrams such as empirical evidence, structural equation, data collected, and using data confirm an inclination for empirical inquiry, as was the case in all the other categories. Overall, methodological approaches in our sample of abstracts tend to be centered in empirical research; however, some categories show particularities.

Even though our full sample of abstracts leaned toward empirical research, the various field categories showed certain specificities. While the economics studies employed panel data sets and time series, management and business studies developed case studies. Interestingly, we found no bigram evidence of theoretical research. Finally, an expected higher frequency of papers written in the English language validates the relevance of this language in academic research.

These findings are useful to faculty facing tenure-track challenges and pressures to publish or perish because they reveal the methodological approaches most likely to be published. Theory-oriented scholars could realize their harder path to publication, while young management and business researchers could undertake case studies to increase their publishing possibilities. In addition, across all fields, authors would understand the academic relevance of the English language.

4.3. Analysis of title bigrams

We complemented our analysis by examining the presence of bigrams in papers' titles. In general, we found consistent results in terms of the topics and their Q rankings. For example, bigrams such as corporate governance , financial crisis , and exchange rate were among the most frequent for titles in the business finance journal set, and they remained persistent in all Q categories.

As for the bigrams that gained frequency from Q4 to Q1 publications, we determined that health care, oil price, and health insurance reflected this tendency in the economics journals, as had been the case in the abstracts' data set. In addition, we found methodological bigrams in some titles, such as panel data in economics, case study in management, and literature review in business, although with less frequency.

Although our findings for the titles data set were, in general, consistent, we determined that six bigram topics gained frequency and remained persistent in all Q ranks. These were: financial reporting, credit risk, and global financial in business finance journals; and corporate social responsibility, and family firm in business journals.

The analysis also revealed new high-frequency bigram topics in all categories, including emerging market, mutual fund , and hedge fund in the business finance journals; crude oil, systematic risk, and climate change in economics journals; corporate governance, sustainable development, and venture capital in management journals; and, socioemotional wealth, top management, and corporate governance in business journals. Table 9 lists the 20 most frequent title bigrams per category.

Most frequent topics and methodology bigrams in paper titles of Q1 journals by category.

5. Discussion & conclusion

What should I research? What is of interest to editors? What is the most appropriate methodology for a given project or research question? What are my peers publishing? What are the current hot topics in the literature? Which subjects are Q1 and Q2 journals publishing? Are there any subject differences between the Q1, Q2 publications and the Q3, Q4 ones? These are some of the questions that research-oriented professors must consider at some point in their academic career. In many cases, the answers are left to imagination or trusted to intuition, albeit they represent relevant decisions for academic productivity and professional development. The methodology we use in this paper, which departs from the most traditional surveys and expert opinions, could support researchers in answering this set of questions in any field and not only the ones under analysis in our study.

For the period under analysis, our study determines topics present in all ISI journals and Q ranks and suggests their consolidation as pertinent subjects within the fields. Moreover, it shows how certain topics gain frequency by Qs, which suggests that Q1 and Q2 journals raise awareness of emerging and relevant topics, and set trends that are followed by editors and authors in Q3 and Q4 publications. Our findings also stress the relevance and predominance of certain methodologies. Business, finance, and economics favor empirical research over theoretical inquiries, making it easier to publish the former. And while many economists employ panel data in their research, business and management scholars formulate structural equations and develop case studies.

These findings are valuable for different reasons. For example, they could support young doctoral students (and their supervisors), and young scholars in streamlining their research agenda from a broad set of possible topics of interest, to those topics with more visibility and likelihood of publication. This is not only relevant in terms of subjects, but also in terms of methodological issues. For instance, following our results, a young researcher in the economics field will know that publishing theoretical work will be more difficult to publish than empirical-oriented papers.

The previous reasoning leads us to another contribution of this methodology, which is to help scholars develop their research and publications agenda in a more conscious and strategic way. A proper research and publication strategy allows professors to concentrate their research efforts around subjects and methodologies according to their visibility and impact aims. Furthermore, more established researchers could also find this kind of methodology useful in order to validate their beliefs regarding where academic discussions are focusing. That is, which topics are consolidated and which are emerging as new in their field. They also can do a similar assessment regarding applicable methodologies for their work.

Even the editors of Q3 and Q4 journals could find this methodology and analysis useful in terms of gearing their journals toward certain topics being published by Q1 and Q2 journals. This could help the journals gain a better positioning among researchers in their fields. Overall, our paper shows the relevance of content analysis to help researchers face the challenges of their academic career and help editors in better editorial management.

Lastly, our analysis raises venues for future research. For example, it could be interesting to analyze the research outlets of professors after they get tenure to identify possible changes in terms of quantity and influence of their publications. Another valuable analysis would be to perform this study in the same fields and same methodology we apply, with the aim of identifying time patterns with a time horizon of 5 or 10 years, a period long enough to identify changes in methodologies, topics and trends in these fields. Finally, this method could be used to find regional or geographical analysis with the aim of identifying differences in terms of topics and methods for several research fields.

Declarations

Author contribution statement.

Jorge Camargo, Maximiliano González, Alexander Guzmán, Enrique ter Horst, María–Andrea Trujillo: Conceived and designed the analysis; Analyzed and interpreted the data; Contributed analysis tools or data; Wrote the paper.

Funding statement

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Competing interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

No additional information is available for this paper.

☆ Authors are in alphabetical order and contributed equally to this work.

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How the American middle class has changed in the past five decades

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This report analyzes data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplements (ASEC) of the Current Population Survey (CPS) to study how the economic status of the American middle class has changed since 1971. It also examines the movement of demographic groups in and out of the American middle class and across lower- and upper-income tiers from 1971 to 2021.

The CPS is the U.S. government’s official source for monthly estimates of unemployment ; the ASEC, conducted in March each year, is the official source for its estimates of income and poverty . The COVID-19 outbreak has affected data collection efforts by the U.S. government in its surveys, limiting in-person data collection and affecting the response rate. It is possible that some measures of economic outcomes and how they vary across demographic groups are affected by these changes in data collection. This report makes use of updated weights released by the Census Bureau to correct for nonresponse in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

In this analysis, “middle-income” adults in 2021 are those with an annual household income that was two-thirds to double the national median income in 2020, after incomes have been adjusted for household size, or about $52,000 to $156,000 annually in 2020 dollars for a household of three. “Lower-income” adults have household incomes less than $52,000 and “upper-income” adults have household incomes greater than $156,000.

The income it takes to be middle income varies by household size, with smaller households requiring less to support the same lifestyle as larger households. The boundaries of the income tiers also vary across years with changes in the national median income. Read the methodology for more details.

The terms “middle income” and “middle class” are used interchangeably in this analysis for the sake of exposition. But being middle class can refer to more than just income, be it the level of education, the type of profession, economic security, home ownership, or one’s social and political values. Class also could simply be a matter of self-identification.

Household incomes have risen considerably since 1970, but those of middle-class households have not climbed nearly as much as those of upper-income households. The median income of middle-class households in 2020 was 50% greater than in 1970 ($90,131 vs. $59,934), as measured in 2020 dollars. These gains were realized slowly, but for the most part steadily, with the exception of the period from 2000 to 2010, the so-called “ lost decade ,” when incomes fell across the board.

The median income for lower-income households grew more slowly than that of middle-class households, increasing from $20,604 in 1970 to $29,963 in 2020, or 45%.

The rise in income from 1970 to 2020 was steepest for upper-income households. Their median income increased 69% during that timespan, from $130,008 to $219,572.

As a result of these changes, the gap in the incomes of upper-income and other households also increased. In 2020, the median income of upper-income households was 7.3 times that of lower-income households, up from 6.3 in 1970. The median income of upper-income households was 2.4 times that of middle-income households in 2020, up from 2.2 in 1970.

The share of aggregate U.S. household income held by the middle class has fallen steadily since 1970. The widening of the income gap and the shrinking of the middle class has led to a steady decrease in the share of U.S. aggregate income held by middle-class households. In 1970, adults in middle-income households accounted for 62% of aggregate income, a share that fell to 42% in 2020.

Meanwhile, the share of aggregate income accounted for by upper-income households has increased steadily, from 29% in 1970 to 50% in 2020. Part of this increase reflects the rising share of adults who are in the upper-income tier.

The share of U.S. aggregate income held by lower-income households edged down from 10% to 8% over these five decades, even though the proportion of adults living in lower-income households increased over this period.

Older Americans and Black adults made the greatest progress up the income ladder from 1971 to 2021. Among adults overall, the share who were in the upper-income tier increased from 14% in 1971 to 21% in 2021, or by 7 percentage points. Meanwhile, the share in the lower-income tier increased from 25% to 29%, or by 4 points. On balance, this represented a net gain of 3 percentage points in income status for all adults.

Those ages 65 and older made the most notable progress up the income ladder from 1971 to 2021. They increased their share in the upper-income tier while reducing their share in the lower-income tier, resulting in a net gain of 25 points. Progress among adults 65 and older was likely driven by an increase in labor force participation , rising educational levels and by the role of Social Security payments in reducing poverty.

Black adults, as well as married men and women, were also among the biggest gainers from 1971 to 2021, with net increases ranging from 12 to 14 percentage points.

On the other hand, not having at least a bachelor’s degree resulted in a notable degree of economic regression over this period. Adults with a high school diploma or less education, as well as those with some college experience but no degree, saw sizable increases in their shares in the lower-income tier in the past five decades. Although no single group of adults by education category moved up the income ladder from 1971 to 2021, adults overall realized gains by boosting their education levels . The share of adults 25 and older who had completed at least four years of college stood at 38% in 2021, compared with only 11% in 1971.

Progress up the income ladder for a demographic group does not necessarily signal its economic status in comparison with other groups at a given point in time. For example, in 2021, adults ages 65 and older and Black adults were still more likely than many other groups to be lower income, and less likely to be middle or upper income.

Married adults and those in multi-earner households made more progress up the income ladder from 1971 to 2021 than their immediate counterparts. Generally, partnered adults have better outcomes on a range of economic outcomes than the unpartnered. One reason is that marriage is increasingly linked to educational attainment , which bears fruit in terms of higher incomes.

Married men and women were distributed across the income tiers identically to each other in both 1971 and 2021. Both groups nearly doubled their shares in the upper-income tier in the past five decades, from 14% in 1971 to 27% in 2021. And neither group experienced an increase in the share in the lower-income tier.

Unmarried men and women were much more likely than their married counterparts to be in the lower-income tier in 2021. And unmarried men, in particular, experienced a sizable increase in their share in the lower-income tier from 1971 t0 2021 and a similarly large decrease in their share in the middle-income tier. Nonetheless, unmarried men are less likely than unmarried women to be lower income and more likely to be middle income.

Adults in households with more than one earner fare much better economically than adults in households with only one earner. In 2021, some 20% of adults in multi-earner households were in the lower-income tier, compared with 53% of adults in single-earner households. Also, adults in multi-earner households were more than twice as likely as adults in single-earner households to be in the upper-income tier in 2021. In the long haul, adults in single-earner households are among the groups who slid down the income ladder the most from 1971 to 2021.

Despite progress, Black and Hispanic adults trail behind other groups in their economic status. Although Black adults made some of the biggest strides up the income tiers from 1971 to 2021, they, along with Hispanic adults, are more likely to be in the lower-income tier than are White or Asian adults. About 40% of both Black and Hispanic adults were lower income in 2021, compared with 24% of White adults and 22% of Asian adults.

Black adults are the only major racial and ethnic group that did not experience a decrease in its middle-class share, which stood at 47% in 2021, about the same as in 1971. White adults are the only group in which more than half (52%) lived in middle-class households in 2021, albeit after declining from 63% in 1971. At the top end, only about one-in-ten Black and Hispanic adults were upper income in 2021, compared with one-in-four or more White and Asian adults.

The relative economic status of men and women has changed little from 1971 to 2021. Both experienced similar percentage point increases in the shares in the lower- and upper-income tiers, and both saw double-digit decreases in the shares who are middle class. Women remained more likely than men to live in lower-income households in 2021 (31% vs. 26%).

Adults 65 and older continue to lag economically, despite decades of progress. The share of adults ages 65 and older in the lower-income tier fell from 54% in 1971 to 37% in 2021. Their share in the middle class rose from 39% to 47% and their share in the upper-income tier increased from 7% to 16%. However, adults 65 and older are the only age group in which more than one-in-three adults are in lower-income households, and they are much less likely than adults ages 30 to 44 – as well as those ages 45 to 64 – to be in the upper-income tier.

All other age groups experienced an increase in the shares who are lower income from 1971 to 2021, as well as a decrease in the shares who are middle income. But they also saw increases in the shares who are upper income. Among adults ages 30 to 44, for instance, the share in upper-income households almost doubled, from 12% in 1971 to 21% in 2021.

There is a sizable and growing income gap between adults with a bachelor’s degree and those with lower levels of education. In 2021, about four-in-ten adults with at least a bachelor’s degree (39%) were in the upper-income tier, compared with 16% or less among those without a bachelor’s degree. The share of adults in the upper-income tier with at least a bachelor’s degree edged up from 1971 to 2021, while the share without a bachelor’s degree either edged down or held constant.

About half or a little more of adults with either some college education or a high school diploma only were in the middle class in 2021. But these two groups, along with those with less than a high school education, experienced notable drops in their middle class shares from 1971 to 2021 – and notable increases in the shares in the lower-income tier. In 2021, about four-in-ten adults with only a high school diploma or its equivalent (39%) were in the lower-income tier, about double the share in 1971.

Note: Here is the methodology for this analysis.

• Economic Inequality
• Income & Wages
• Middle Class

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