What is a literature review?
A literature review provides a survey of relevant scholarly literature on your topic. You will be conducting a brief literature review for this project which means aim for 3-5 academic/scholarly research papers and/or technical policy reports that lay a foundation for your analysis in your paper.
Why do we need literature reviews?
"The literature review demonstrates your familiarity with scholarly work on your topic and lays the foundations for your paper. The particular issues you intend to raise, the terms you will employ, and the approach you will take should be defined with reference to previous scholarly works." (from The Young Economist’s Short Guide to Writing Economic Research)
What do I write about in a literature review?
For this specific project, you should aim to briefly describe each piece of scholarship: (1) What is their main research question? (2) How does the author(s) answer their research question? (3) What are is the author(s) main finding? You should also describe how these works relate to your specific project: (1) How does your analysis build on or how is your analysis informed by what has already come before? (2) What makes your paper so different from what is already out "there"?
What's different about academic writing in Economics as opposed to other disciplines?
In Economics, academic writing often takes the form of an empirical research paper. Unlike some disciplines that emphasize theoretical argumentation, narrative analysis, or qualitative interpretation, Economics research relies heavily on real-world data from observations, experiments, and simulations. The purpose is to test theories, quantify predictions, and provide data-driven insights into economic phenomena.
This type of writing is both technical and structured. Readers expect clear explanations of methods, data sources, assumptions, and statistical results, often presented through tables, graphs, and models. Your goal is to take a complex, quantitative subject and make it accessible through rigorous analysis and transparent presentation. You should anticipate frequent and regular revision of your analysis and presentation which is why it is key to give yourself plenty of time when writing and revising.
Writing in Economics from Duke University's Thompson Writing Program
The Young Economist’s Short Guide to Writing Economic Research from Pamona College's Writing Program & Center for Speaking, Writing, and the Image
Writing a Literature Review in Economics from Prof. Barry Eichengreen's Economics 191 course taught at University of California Berkley
Sample Paper in Economics from Prof. Tomas Dvorak at Union College
Good examples of undergraduate econometrics papers on many topics from Georgia Institute of Technology
When it comes to searching for relevant literature for your literature review keep in mind:
Listed below are databases that specialize in economic and social science literature as well as white papers, research reports, and more from NGOs and Think Tanks. Use these in addition to tools like Google Scholar to locate relevant works for your literature review. For help building out search strings for your relevant topic, consider emailing or making an appointment with your librarians.
What Citation Style Should I use?
You should use Chicago Author-Date Style. ZSR provides online access to the latest (18e) Chicago Manual of Style here.
How do I know when I should cite something in my project?
"Citations include, but are not limited to, quotations. In general, you need to give credit with a citation anytime you use someone else’s ideas. If you use someone else’s ideas without using the same wording, use a general citation such as 'according to Friedman (1986), ...' If you use another author’s exact words, you must enclose the passage in quotation marks and cite the source, including page number. Lengthy passages (more than two or three sentences) should be indented from both margins, single spaced, and presented without quotation marks (but still cited appropriately)." from Reed College Economics Department's Citation Guide.
Are there any tools out there that can help me create accurate citations and compile my reference list?
Yes! ZSR suggests several different citation tools that can help automate your citation and reference lists plus help you keep track of potential sources for your literature review. Check out:
If I use AI in my literature review, should I cite it?
Yes! And always verify appropriate use and any qualifiers your faculty member has put on your use of AI in any assignment. You can see examples of Chicago Style AI citations here.