Research papers on the economy can address unemployment, industry and retail. Unemployment topics can focus on how countries deal with high unemployment, what programs they use to get people back to work and the process in place to help those without a job. Research papers on industry can cover what industries make an economy work, how those industries change over the years and where countries export products. Research papers on retail can focus on shopping and buying habits of consumers in countries with economies fueled by capitalism or socialism. The economies of many countries are affected by political strife, war and unrest; examining those issues also make for great research papers.
Many countries deal with social issues much differently than the United States. Researching how countries deal with issues such as the war on drugs, hunger and crime are all areas for students to research. Topics on the war on drugs can address treating those addicted to drugs, fighting illegal drugs and legalizing drugs in certain countries. Crime topics can address how various countries punish offenders and how court systems operate. Research can also include examining crime statistics and doing a compare/contrast paper on countries with similar populations.
Health care varies from country to country, and researching topics such as patient care and government-run health care systems make for good research papers. In patient care, researchers can analyze bioethics, stem cell research, physician-assisted suicide, doctor and nurse shortages and treatment of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Topics about a government-run system can focus on the benefits and detriments of the plan and who pays for health care; topics can also analyze the type of care versus the type of care in other countries. Comparing figures from one country to the next can also help in research.
People in countries around the world do not enjoy the same press freedoms that people in the United States enjoy. Examining media issues such as political influence and media saturation can make for interesting research topics. Learning how people get their news in countries where the government controls the press can lead to research topics about political influences and control over the population. Looking into how government control affects the outcomes of elections, pay and trade between nations can all make great research topics.