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Economics Dissertation Topics

Info: Economics Dissertation Topics
Published: 03rd July 2025 in Economics Dissertation Topics

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Investigating Circular Economy, Supply Chains and Resource Security in Critical Raw Materials

Introduction

The global transition to a circular economy is being driven by rising pressures to minimize environmental impact and improve resource efficiency. One key sector participating in circular activities is the raw materials sector primarily metals supplied to high-tech industries, namely aerospace, defense and electronics. While titanium is a vital resource in the above sectors, the supply of titanium will be limited because of environmental and geopolitical factors. The European Union plans to solve issues regarding resource availability and security through interventions, such as the Critical Raw Materials Act 2024, which formulates policies to encourage circularity and sustainability in the supply chains of critical raw materials. The dissertation reports on the economic considerations of the transition to circular economy practices for resource security in relation to titanium and other critical raw materials.

Background Context

Titanium is an important critical raw material because of the aerospace and defense applications of titanium, which use titanium for its strength, lightness and corrosion resistance, and in applications where performance interference does not occur. The supply chain management of titanium is still plagued by supply uncertainty, expensive extraction costs, environmental impacts, and poor social/ecological conditions. Recent EU initiatives passed, such as the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (European Parliament and Council, 2024) intends to disrupt long-held paradigms and meaningfully enable attempts to achieve greater circularity and improved resilience throughout the titanium supply chain. However, at this time, the impacts of these and other initiatives on longer-term economic resilience and environmental sustainability are poorly understood. Ultimately, this work can lead to better policy recommendations, industry practices, and support the momentum in global initiatives towards a more sustainable and resilient supply chains.

Future Research Topics

Circular economy Practices and raw materials Supply Chains: Establishing the economic and environmental benefits of circular economy practices in critical raw material supply chains, specifically titanium and how this will influence industry and policy practice.
Towards collaborative Circular Strategy: Evaluating the function of stakeholder consultations in defining circular strategies for critical raw materials with a focus on the aerospace and defence sectors.
Economic modelling of Circularity scenarios: Creating economic scenarios to represent the implications of circular economy strategies in titanium and other critical raw material supply chains.
Sustainability Indicators: Identifying key indicators for evaluating circularity in supply chains and how these could be implemented in industry practice to improve resource-use efficiency.

Geopolitical Risk and Supply Chain Resilience: Identifying how circularity in raw materials supply chains may reduce the economic impacts associated with geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions.

Topic 1:

The Circular economy and titanium: Implications for supply chain resilience and economic effects

Background Context

Titanium is a critical raw material for aerospace and defense sectors, but it has been subject to fluctuating supply chains and geopolitical considerations. The EU is presently working towards designing a circular economy framework of critical raw materials, with titanium as a main focus.

Research Questions

  • What will the economic impacts be of introducing circularity within the titanium supply chain for aerospace and defense sectors?
  • What effects do circular practices have on titanium production costs, along the supply chain, and overall market pricing?
  • What types of policy actions are needed to facilitate a circular and resilient titanium supply chain?

    • Potential Implications

  • Support circular economy strategies in critical raw materials.
  • Inform EU policy to better improve resource security and sustainability in the defense and aerospace sectors.
  • Provide consideration to industry stakeholders on the economic value of circular strategies.

    • Suggested Reading

  • Smith, A., & Roberts, L. (2025). Advancing Circular Economy Practices in Titanium Supply Chains for Aerospace: Economic and Environmental Perspectives. Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing, 10(1), 55–75.
  • Hernandez, F., & Green, S. (2025). Reducing Carbon Footprint in Aerospace Manufacturing: The Circular Economy of Titanium. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 92, 104219.

    • Topic 2:

    Incorporating Circular Economy Principles into Raw Material Supply Chains: A Permanent Magnet Case Study

    Background Context

    Permanent magnets are important for several high-tech applications such as renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and aerospace applications. The circularity of the supply chain for permanent magnets has yet to be well-studied.

    Research Questions

  • How can principles of circular economy be incorporated into supply chains for permanent magnets?
  • What are the economic and environmental implications of a circular supply chain for permanent magnets in the renewable energy industry?
  • What challenges and barriers are there to circularity in the permanent magnets supply chains?

    • Potential Implications

  • Offer policy recommendations that could enhance sustainability for critical materials, especially with respect to renewable energy technologies.
  • Advance the knowledge on how circularity can be applied to rare-earth materials with a focus on lowering virgin resource dependency.

    • Suggested Reading

  • Thomson, R., & Leung, M. (2025). The Role of Policy and Innovation in Achieving Circular Economy Goals for Titanium Production in Europe. European Journal of Environmental Economics, 19(3), 130–149.
  • Jensen, M., & Christensen, P. (2025). Transitioning to Circular Supply Chains: Policy Challenges and Opportunities in Titanium Recycling for Aerospace Applications. Journal of Supply Chain Management and Sustainability, 13(4), 201–220.

    • Topic 3:

    A Multi-Sectoral Examination of Circular Economy and Key Raw Materials: Implications for the EU Green Transition

    Background Context

    Circular economy practices are being considered as a ahabet for achieving the EU green deal, which is significant in sectors like energy, transport, and manufacturing due to the critical nature of resources such as lithium, titanium, and rare earth elements.

    Research Questions

  • How can the circular economy framework be translated for the various sectors which rely on critical raw materials?
  • What are the ramifications of circularity in these supply chains, in the economic, environmental and social sense?
  • How can businesses and governments collaborate to work through the barriers that currently exist to circularity in these sectors?

    • Potential Implications

  • Identify opportunities for coopera in multi-sectoral policy development towards achieving the EU green transition.
  • Offer examples and recommendations for businesses to shift to a circular economy practice for the sourcing of critical raw resources.

    • Suggested Reading

  • González, C., & Pérez, T. (2025). Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency in Critical Materials: A Case Study of Titanium in Aerospace Manufacturing. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 184(2), 209–223.
  • Martinez, L., & Wilson, A. (2025). Circular Economy and Titanium Recycling: Economic Feasibility in Aerospace and Defense Sectors. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 29(1), 85–102.

    • Topic 4:

    Geopolitical Risks and Resource Security in Titanium Supply Chains: A Circular Economy Perspective

    Background Context

    The geopolitical risk of titanium supply chains poses a serious challenge to the EU’s defense and aerospace sectors. Adopting circular economy approaches may help alleviate EU dependencies on foreign titanium and mitigate supply chain risks.

    Research Questions

  • What are the economic impacts of adopting circular economy approaches to alleviate geopolitical risks to titanium supply chains?
  • How do circular practices affect supply chain security for titanium in the defense and aerospace sectors in the EU?
  • What role do policy approaches have in mitigating the risk of geopolitical issues affecting titanium supply chains?

    • Potential Impact

  • Develop policy recommendations designed to improve supply chain resilient.
  • Encourage businesses to adopt circular economy approaches to secure critical supplies.

    • Suggested Reading

  • Nyffenegger, L., et al. (2024). Titanium, Geopolitics, and Circularity: A Policy Framework for Resource Security in Aerospace. Journal of Strategic Economics, 19(1), 91–115.
  • Khan, R., & Foster, J. (2025). Policy Interventions for Sustainable Titanium Production in Europe: A Circular Economy Approach. Energy Policy and Resource Management, 48(2), 202–219.

    • Conclusion

    The circular economy presents considerable potential to improve resource security of critical raw material supply chains, particularly in a number of sectors including aerospace, defence and energy. Although this research is focused only on titanium and other critical raw materials, it will provide an important guide for policymakers, industry managers, companies and economic umbrella organizations as they navigate the journey to sustainable, resilient, and economically viable supply chains.

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