Finance Thesis Proposal: A Look at [Your Proposed Thesis Title]

Introduction

This proposal outlines my research plan for a master's thesis in Finance. My proposed thesis, "[Your Proposed Thesis Title]", will investigate [briefly state your research question]. The rationale behind this research stems from [explain the motivation for your research, e.g., gap in the literature, practical problem, emerging trend]. This study aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by [mention the expected contribution, e.g., providing empirical evidence, developing a new model, offering policy recommendations].

Literature Review

The existing literature on [mention the broad area of your research] highlights several key findings. For example, [cite one or two relevant studies and their findings]. However, these studies often [mention the limitations of existing studies, e.g., limited sample size, specific geographical context, methodological constraints]. My research will build upon this foundation by [explain how your research will address the limitations or expand on the existing literature]. Key authors and works in this field include [mention a few prominent researchers and their influential publications].

Research Question and Hypotheses

My primary research question is: [Clearly state your research question]. To answer this question, I will test the following hypotheses:

• Hypothesis 1: [State your first hypothesis, e.g., "There is a positive correlation between X and Y"].
• Hypothesis 2: [State your second hypothesis, e.g., "The effect of X on Y is moderated by Z"].
• Hypothesis 3: [State your third hypothesis, if applicable, e.g., "Companies with higher A have lower B"].

Methodology

To test my hypotheses, I will employ a [mention your research method, e.g., quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods] approach. The data for this study will be sourced from [specify your data sources, e.g., Compustat, Bloomberg, CRSP, surveys, interviews]. The sample will consist of [describe your sample, e.g., publicly listed companies in the United States, hedge funds with assets under management exceeding $X]. I will use [mention your statistical techniques or analytical methods, e.g., regression analysis, event study methodology, factor analysis, qualitative coding] to analyze the data. Specifically, I plan to use [mention specific models or tests, e.g., OLS regression, Fama-MacBeth regression, t-tests]. I will also address potential issues such as [mention potential biases or limitations and how you plan to address them, e.g., endogeneity, multicollinearity, sample selection bias].

Expected Results and Contribution

I anticipate that the results of this study will show [mention your expected findings based on your hypotheses and the literature]. These findings are expected to contribute to the field by [explain the potential implications and contributions of your research, e.g., informing investment decisions, improving risk management practices, contributing to academic theory]. This research will be valuable to [mention the target audience for your research, e.g., academics, practitioners, policymakers].

Timeline

My proposed timeline for completing this thesis is as follows:

• [Month/Year] - [Month/Year]: Conduct literature review and refine research question.
• [Month/Year] - [Month/Year]: Collect and clean data.
• [Month/Year] - [Month/Year]: Perform data analysis and interpret results.
• [Month/Year] - [Month/Year]: Write and revise the thesis document.
• [Month/Year]: Thesis defense.

References

[List 3-5 key references related to your topic. Example: Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3(4), 305-360.]