The goal of your summary is to report in a brief and accurate manner the main gists of thearticle. The main objective is not to offer an evaluation or opinion of the original article, butto report the writer’s main ideas and findings. This means that you will need to indicate to yourreader the writer’s main point or points or purpose for writing. You will also need to point outhow the writer develops or supports his or her main point.

The summary should be between eight and ten pages (one-inch margins, double-spaced, 12-point Times font) and should include the following:

Introduction – Give a brief introduction to give the necessary background to the study andstate its purpose in your own words. Why was the study conducted? What was it about? Clearlystate the research question, in your own words, posed in the article. Do not copy the researchquestion if it appears in the article. You should paraphrase the author’s research question (thatis, write in your own words).

[Suggested length: 2 pages.]

Background literature – A summary of earlier work on this topic. Note, this does not meangoing through each article cited by the author and explaining what each did. You shouldsummarize this information, while citing relevant work. Discuss the economic theory ortheories used in the paper. Briefly summarise the main argument of the theory (or theories).Clearly mention the hypotheses tested in the paper.

[Suggested length: 2-3 pages. ]

Data and model estimation – A brief description of the data (and sources) used in the study.In your own words, describe the empirical/econometric model(s) used to test the hypotheses.

[Suggested length: 2-3 pages. ]

Findings – In your own words discuss the major findings and results. Discuss the implicationsof the results for policy makers and/or the general public.

[Suggested length: 2 pages. ]

Conclusion – A statement of the results the author finds from empirical work. Briefly discuss

the limitations (if any) and direction for future research.
[Suggested length: less than 1 page. ]

References – A list of references cited in your paper. This list does not count toward your pagelimit. This includes the research paper you are summarising, and the work you cite in yoursummary of earlier findings. Refer to the APA Style Guide for how to appropriately cite workin your paper and compile a list of references.