First, consider whether you want to pursue a thesis in Economics or a legal subject. Generally, to write an MA thesis in Economics, candidates should:
Be comfortable with (or at least open to) Statistics and Econometrics.
Be prepared to take any additional courses necessary to support their thesis work.
Be ready to work independently and put in considerable effort.
I do not approve a thesis unless I believe it is both rigorous and well-written. If a thesis does not meet the required standards, I typically ask students to continue working on it until it does. This approach is shared by my colleagues in Economics and Econometrics courses.
With that in mind:
If you wish to write a "research thesis" and have the aptitude for it, you must be proficient in Statistics and Econometrics. If you are not, you will need to take the Econometrics courses offered within the EPOS English program. The use of Stata (or other statistical software like R) is required. If you’ve already embarked on an empirical thesis without the necessary background, it is your responsibility to acquire the skills needed. Research theses in Environmental Economics generally require econometric work.
Alternatively, you can choose to write a descriptive thesis or conduct a literature review. This option typically demands fewer technical skills, but it still requires a strong ability to master large volumes of material, a talent for concision, and an aptitude for critical thinking. Even for descriptive theses, the use of Excel may be required. In my experience, descriptive theses often take more time and effort to complete, and I personally find them a bit more challenging (though this is subjective).
Whatever you write must be grounded in the literature, anchored to data, or based on your econometric analysis. There is no room in an MA thesis for "common-sense" arguments.
Students are expected to work independently. Under no circumstances will the supervisor engage in micromanaging the thesis work.
Students must also be able to communicate appropriately with the supervisor. A brief guide is available at the bottom of this page. While originally intended for first-year students, it unfortunately remains relevant for students at all levels.
Any thesis in Economics will also be evaluated on the clarity of the writing, the relevance and interest of the topic, and the quality of its presentation.
Note: you need to login with your institutional account to read and download the Pdf files.
As for the timing, in my opinion, a sound MA thesis requires at least 5-6 months of work. Once again, this is subjective: some colleagues may well require less time.
In summary, writing and defending a thesis in Economics is not a formality, and graduation in a short time must not be taken for granted.
Quantitative theses on the following topics are particularly welcome. Needless to say, candidates can propose different topics.
Bureaucracy and quality of institutions
The causes and the behavioral outcomes of inequality and social cohesion
The drivers of social preferences and social beliefs formation
The long-term determinants of social capital
Climate change beliefs and attitudes
Environmentally sustainable behavior
The drivers of politicians' attitudes toward climate change
The societal and economic impact of refugee crises
The causes and outcomes of migration, discrimination, and segregation dynamics
Tolerance, creativity, and economic growth
The economic, societal, and political impact of social media
The economic, societal, and political impact of fast Internet penetration
The political and societal consequences of online misinformation
The behavioral and political outcomes of natural disasters