Individual Research Paper

The purpose of the Individual Research Paper is to encourage the application of concepts, theories, and decision-making processes covered in the textbook and in class. In addition, it is designed to provide practice in formal
written communication.
The student’s Research Paper should be approximately 8-10 pages in length. The Research Paper should contain at
least three credible outside sources of reference and should follow APA format. The paper should focus on a specific
company or an industry for analysis. The firm or industry analysis should consider the following:
1. Evaluate the current market and any firm-specific demand and supply conditions impacting the price and
volume of sales for the industry and the firm. An examination of the factors that have caused any changes
in demand or supply in the past should be used to explain past trends. In addition, any forecasted changes in
demand or supply should be considered to predict future movements in prices and the volume of sales
impacting the health of firms and the industry.
2. Assess the current role of government in the industry. Suggest changes in government policy to improve
firm behavior and market outcomes.
3. What role has any elasticities of demand and supply played in impacting firm behavior and market
outcomes? What suggested actions do you recommend for firms in this market to enhance their revenues or
profitability?
4. How has your firm or industry under consideration used the profit-maximizing and loss-minimizing
production rules to guide their behavior? Have there been any challenges facing your company or industry
that have prevented firms from maximizing their profits or minimizing their losses? What suggestions do
you propose for your firm or industry?
5. Evaluate the degree of competition facing your firm or industry. What strategic decisions do you suggest
for firms in this market if they wish to enhance their profitability? What suggestions do you have for
government policymakers?
6. Examine any technological and global trends that are likely to impact your firm or industry. Is there
anything the government could do to improve this industry’s global competitiveness?

Your firm or industry analysis should also include a tabulation of annual output of the industry for the years 2010-
2019 from bea.gov, and a discussion of the trend in the data for those years (15 points max). Providing the name of
the industry or company to the instructor by August 15 is worth five points.

The company is Southwest Airlines.

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