10 Economics Project Ideas for High School Students

Students who study economics during high school have significantly higher achievement scores, indicating better preparedness for college and employment. Economics is a required component of public education across the United States. However, only 29 states require public high schools to offer a standalone course in economics, and only 18 states actually require public high school students to take a course in economics in order to graduate, according to a 2024 report by the Council for Economic Education.

Studying economics helps students develop critical soft skills for analytics, problem-solving, and decision-making. Economic principles teach students to make informed choices using logic, data, and critical thinking. These job skills for high school students apply to personal finance decisions, as well as to business decisions, government, and even foreign policy choices.

The goal of this article is to present 10 exciting economics project ideas suited to high school students. These projects can be tailored to match your interests. They are designed to help you broaden your understanding of economics, igniting your passion for economic exploration while building valuable economics skills for college, employment, and life after high school.

Why Study Economics in High School?

Studying economics during high school is an excellent choice for students who are aiming to actively build and strengthen tangible life skills for future success. Below are the top considerations that students cite as driving factors in their decisions to learn economics.

1. Real-World Relevance: Economics is not just a subject, it’s a lens through which we can analyze and understand the world around us. Economic principles have direct applications, so studying economics allows you to make sense of real-world issues from global financial crises to everyday consumer choices.

2. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Studying economics builds and strengthens critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills. It challenges you to analyze situations, weigh pros and cons, and develop innovative solutions. These skills you learn in high school are invaluable in any field you choose to pursue. 

3. Preparation for the Future: Whether you dream of becoming an entrepreneur, a policymaker, or a financial analyst, a solid foundation in applied economics provides you with insights into the forces that shape society and economic growth. It’s an essential tool for navigating the complexities of the modern world. 

With that, let’s dive into the 10 economics project ideas. 

Economics Project Ideas for High Schoolers

1. The Impact of Social Media on Consumer Behavior

In the age of social networks, analyzing social media’s impact on consumer behavior is a pressing topic. Through this project, students will explore how platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok shape purchasing decisions and the effectiveness of product endorsements, sponsored content, and user reviews in driving consumer behavior. Students will also consider the implications for businesses and marketers in an increasingly digital landscape.

By completing this project, students will develop skills including data analysis, critical thinking, and digital literacy.

2. Minimum Wage and Employment Rates

This project allows students to investigate the complex relationship between minimum wage policies and employment rates. By examining historical data, regional variations, and the impact on various industries, students will consider the perspectives of both proponents and critics of minimum wage increases. Finally, they will use their analyses to explore potential long-term effects on job markets.

Students working on this project will build analytical reasoning, policy evaluation, and communication skills.

3. Cryptocurrency: The Future of Money?

Cryptocurrency’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. How viable of an investment option is it? And can it replace fiat currencies? In this project, students will examine the economic implications of digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum on traditional banking systems. They will analyze government regulations, investor sentiment, and the potential for disruption.

The key skills developed during this project include problem-solving, research literacy, and financial risk analysis.

4. Environmental Economics: The Cost of Pollution

The problem of environmental pollution and renewable energy sources are at the forefront of many policy decisions today. High school students can approach this problem in one of two ways. First, they can explore the economic fallout of environmental pollution. This involves diving into case studies of industries contributing to pollution and assessing the financial toll on healthcare systems, government budgets, and affected communities. The second option is to determine the economic viability of the proposed solutions via cost-benefit analysis. For example, students could explore companies like Tesla and determine whether they truly are a net positive to society.

Ethical reasoning, systems thinking, and data interpretation are a few of the critical skills demonstrated by successfully completing this project.

5. The Economics of Happiness

This project is an investigation into the intriguing connection between economic indicators and individual happiness levels. Students will analyze data sets to determine if there is a correlation between increased income, job satisfaction, and overall well-being. The primary goal for this area of economic research is to better understand the factors that contribute to positive and negative mental health on both individual and public scales.

Students will strengthen their empathy, psychology, and statistical analysis skills while working on this interdisciplinary research project.

6. Global Trade and Its Winners and Losers

Globalization has led countries to become more culturally and economically interconnected than ever before in history. This project takes students on a deep dive into the global trade landscape, investigating the winners and losers among countries and industries involved in international trade agreements. Students will come out with an improved understanding of the impact of tariffs, trade barriers, income distribution, and geopolitical factors on economic prosperity and inequality.

After successfully completing this project, students will have strengthened their communication and critical thinking skills and broadened their global perspectives.

7. The Economics of Education

You’ve probably heard it a lot online: “Don’t go to college! It’s a waste of money! You can do so much without a college degree!” Well, now you can put that theory to the test. Through this project, students will explore the economic benefits of education on individual and societal levels. They will analyze data to understand the correlation between educational attainment and income, employment rates, financial aid, and overall economic development. Finally, they’ll consider the long-term economic impact of investing in education and present their results.

Skills built during this project include strategic thinking, quantitative analysis, and clear communication of findings.

8. The Gig Economy

Freelance work has had a transformative impact on employment structures. Studying the so-called “gig economy,” students will use this project to determine the economic implications for workers, industries, and the broader economy. They will conduct a thorough investigation into the challenges and opportunities associated with the rise of freelance and gig work. Finally, they will communicate their research through a written report or presentation.

Students will build their problem-solving, data visualization, and time management skills through this particular project.

9. Behavioral Economics in Everyday Life

Behavioral economics is one of the newest and most popular fields within economics. While exploring this fascinating intersection between psychology and economics, students will conduct experiments to understand how psychological factors influence budgeting, spending, and other economic decision-making. They will explore concepts such as loss aversion, decision framing, and the impact of social norms on consumer choices.

This project is designed to strengthen students’ skills in adaptability, attention to detail, and interdisciplinary research, among other areas.

10. The Economic Impact of a Pandemic

This project allows students to study the complex relationship between public health and economics by investigating the multifaceted economic consequences of pandemics. Students will examine the effects of past pandemics on industries, government policies, and the global economy. Next, they will analyze responses such as fiscal stimulus measures and changes in consumer behavior. Finally, they will communicate the lessons learned for future economic resilience. Additionally, students have the option to compare and contrast policy responses from past pandemics to COVID-19 in order to understand how economic policy tools have developed over previous decades.

This project is perfect for students aiming to become more adaptable, to develop critical thinking skills, and to broaden their global perspectives.

If you’re looking to expand your economics knowledge beyond a research project, check out our related guides to economics summer programs for high school students, and learn more about what you can do with an economics degree.

Economics and Business Projects By Polygence Scholars

Understanding China's South China Sea Assertion Through Geopolitical, Economic, and Strategic Lenses

Polygence alum Sam explores the ever-changing geopolitics of the South China Sea. His paper tackles the diplomatic landscape of the South China Sea and specifically looks at why China is aggressively asserting its control over the region. He examines the situation through economic, geopolitical, and strategic lenses. 

The impact of the Sri Lanka Civil War on Economic Outcomes

Polygence alum Sanjith dives into the academic work that has been done around the deadly civil war between the infamous rebel group LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka, primarily in response to the minority Tamil people's demand for their own state. He attempts to clarify the academic work relating to the direct and indirect consequences of the conflict on important economic characteristics, including as GDP growth, tourism, investment, and poverty levels, by synthesizing historical data, economic indicators, and post-war trends.

Propositions on the effects of Emotions on the Stock Market based on Appraisal theory, Approach and Avoidance Motivations

Polygence alum Thrista explores the effects that emotions have an effect on investment behavior. Emotions like fear, anxiety, and anger have been frequently studied for their effects on investor behavior and how they affect the stock market, but the effects of other relevant emotions such as sadness, surprise, nostalgia, and excitement have not been as extensively studied. Her paper summarizes previous research on emotions and investment behavior and develops a generalizable model incorporating approach and avoidance motivation and appraisal theory. 

The Primary Market of Concert Ticketing: Evaluating Live Nation Entertainment's Involvement with Recent Inefficiencies

Polygence alum Parker explores the frustrations associated with record-high prices of concert tickets of 2023 on the primary market that many attribute to the Live Nation Entertainment merger. Since this merger, LNE has maintained a substantial market share that critics argue is the source of recent inefficiencies. However, there are many components contributing to the current conditions of the concert ticketing industry's primary market. They examine the 2010 merger's ramifications and the factors contributing to the aftereffects of the merger, determining that pent-up demand, a pandemic-weakened supply chain, and rising concert production costs most accurately explain recent events, not LNE's market power. 

How Can I Find the Best Economics Project for Me?

To identify your ideal economics project, start by determining your specific areas of interest. Which aspects of economics are you most excited to learn about? For example, microeconomics projects study decision-making by individual consumers and companies: supply, demand, resource allocation, and pricing. Macroeconomics, on the other hand, is concerned with collective economies: governmental monetary policies, interest rates, unemployment rates, stimulus, and more. It’s up to you to decide the area of economics that best aligns with your interests.

After deciding on the sub-topics within economics that you’re excited about, you should then identify the skills that you want to acquire or strengthen. Are there specific technical skills that you value, such as data analysis or policy evaluation? What would be your dream job in economics, and what skills would you need to get there? Consider how you could use the project to enhance and demonstrate your set of soft skills such as communication, adaptability, and time management.

Now, it’s time to brainstorm project ideas. In addition to the list above, Polygence’s Project Idea Generator is a great place to start. For even more ideas, you can also browse our list of completed projects in economics.

Finally, consider speaking with a trusted economics mentor. An experienced economics researcher can help you refine your project search by identifying research gaps that match your own personal, academic, and professional goals.

How Economics Projects Build Essential Soft Skills

Beyond strengthening technical abilities, completing an economics project also helps students grow the soft skills that matter just as much as, and often more than, traditional hard skills. Many projects require collaboration, which gives students opportunities to develop essential group work skills such as communication, active listening, and shared decision-making. These experiences also strengthen social skills for high school students, helping them navigate teamwork, resolve disagreements, and contribute to a positive working environment — all of which are core components in the ongoing conversation about soft vs. hard skills in education. Whether students are presenting findings, coordinating roles, or interpreting feedback, they learn how to show initiative, communicate clearly, and adapt to new challenges, real-world abilities that future employers, internships, and college admissions committees value highly.

Conclusion

Students wishing to acquire and apply economics knowledge in a practical setting can explore Polygence’s Work Lab. This is an opportunity for high school students to work with leaders at actual startup companies, gaining hands-on skills while tackling exciting problems for real-world impact. These are not boring office internships: Work Lab requires students to take on real responsibilities, adapt to challenges, and practice critical thinking and creative problem-solving.

Polygence also offers a research mentorship program for high schoolers who are excited to explore economic principles through a research lens, like in many of the projects described above. Participating students work with research mentors over ten one-on-one sessions to design, execute, and showcase an economics project based on their own interests and goals.

Additionally, Polygence Pods are a great option for students who want to continue exploring their interest in economics before launching a full independent project. Pods take place over six sessions with a mentor and a small group of like-minded peers. Upcoming economics Pods include topics such as stock market research and venture capital for startups.

Economics is a vast and ever-changing field. Find out how Polygence can help you find your niche in the market!