Please find below a list of argumentative essay topics with a business focus. These topics were used for a college course in Vancouver, Canada, so they are particularly relevant to the Canadian context. Feel free to change 'Canada' in the questions to your particular region.
Note for students: If your teacher has asked you to develop a topic or research question for an argumentative essay, the best topic you can find is one that you come up with. Instead of copying a topic below, creating your own topic related to something you are actually interested in will enable you to enjoy and learn more from your assignment. Regardless, here is a list of research questions for argumentative essays that you can use for inspiration.
Jump to a topic category:
- Advertising & Marketing
- Business Ideas & Entrepreneurship
- Careers & the Workplace
- Health & Food
- Economics
- Education
- Employee Pay & Benefits
- Environment & Ethics
- Fashion
- Foreign Issues
- Human Resources & Hiring
- Investing & Personal Finance
- Law & Legalization
- Real Estate
- Shopping & Consumption
- Sports
- Tax
- Technology
- Travel & Tourism
- Workplace Productivity
List of Argumentative Essay Topics
Advertising & Marketing Topics
- Should advertisers be allowed to market their products to children?
- Should subliminal messages be allowed in company advertising?
- Is advertising on Youtube an effective/beneficial method to promote products?
- Should companies hire influencers to promote their products?
- Should companies adopt a product-orientation?
- Should companies adopt a market-orientation?
- Does marketing have an overall harmful effect on society?
- Should the advertisement of junk food be banned?
- Is telemarketing dead?
- Should companies use celebrities to endorse their products?
- Is direct-mail marketing still worthwhile in 2021?
- Should Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) be illegal?
- Should vaping advertisements be banned in Canada?
- Are loyalty programs still an effective strategy in 2021?
- Do coupon marketing strategies increase brand/product value?
- Should Canadian companies participate in Black Friday?
- Can a strong market monopoly be broken through a successful marketing approach?
- The Pink Tax: Do health and beauty companies unfairly target female consumers with higher prices?
- Should brands use storytelling to promote their products?
- Comparative advertisement is legal but is it also ethical?
- Will YouTube's (aggressive) advertising model drive away users?
- Is it ethical for companies to use personal data to target ads to consumers?
- Do pop-up ads affect the decision-making of consumers?
- Is distributing brochures and flyers an effective marketing method nowadays?
Business Ideas & Entrepreneurship Topics
- Will Bricks-and-Mortar shopping (in physical scores) survive?
- Are supermarkets killing local businesses?
- Should companies get involved in charity work?
- Is becoming a franchisee a good business opportunity?
- Is Canada a good place to start a business?
- Would creating a language school in Vancouver be lucrative?
- Are chatbots effective customer service tools?
- Does outsourcing improve the effectiveness of businesses?
- Does employee diversity positively affect businesses?
- Is Multilevel Marketing a legitimate business model?
- Is dropshipping a good business?
Careers & the Workplace Topics
- Should people pursue a degree in accounting?
- Is being a photographer a viable career?
- Should younger generations (or young people) consider video gaming as a career?
- Can social media influencer be considered a full-time job? / Should young people consider this as a possible career?
- Should companies/countries adopt a four-day workweek?
- Should regular employees be involved in the corporate decision-making process?
- Does shift-work have a negative impact on employee health?
- Is lifetime employment a thing of the past? / Should workers stay loyal to one company?
- Should leaders adopt a democratic leadership style?
- Should leaders adopt an authoritative leadership style?
- Should companies have dress codes? / Are strict dress code policies beneficial to companies?
- Should companies allow their employees to bring pets to work?
- Is the mental health of employees the responsibility of companies?
- Is leadership a learned trait?
- Is overtime counterproductive?
- Should companies provide benefits to gig workers?
- Should companies allow employees to listen to music during work?
- Is introversion a negative trait in the workplace?
- Can the taxi cab industry survive the advent of ride-hailing apps?
- Should Canada allow internationally trained doctors to practice?
- Should companies provide flexible work hours for employees?
- Should high school students work part-time?
Economics Topics
- Is hosting the Olympics a waste of money?
- Should the minimum wage be increased?
- Should [Canada] provide a living wage to workers?
- Should Canada adopt a Universal Basic Income (UBI)?
- Was the demonetization in India a success or failure?
- Should government privatize public services? / Does the privatization of public services improve cost-effectiveness?
- Should the [Canadian] government privatize healthcare?
- Does the 'gig economy' exploit workers?
- Will the gig economy replace the traditional employment landscape?
- Is worker exploitation necessary in order to maximize profits?
- Should workers in the public sector be allowed to unionize/go on strike?
- Has globalization hurt or helped developing countries?
- Should the Bank of Canada increase interest rates?
- Should the WTO or other trade organizations be able to issue binding orders?
- Should government regulate monopolies?
- Should government provide free healthcare to citizens?
- Does brain-drain negatively affect the economy of India?
- Should government regulate the BC housing market?
- Are Multi-National corporations (MNCs) really beneficial to the host economy?
- Should government create policies to manage population?
- Should Canada invest more in its agriculture industry?
- Is China engaging in debt-trap colonialism?
- Is China's investment beneficial to Africa?
- Will China become the new world leader?
- Was BrExit a good decision for Britain?
Will a BRICS currency replace the American dollar as a reserve currency?
Education Topics
- Is a university degree needed for business success? / Does having an undergraduate degree guarantee a successful career?
- Should business schools focus on theoretical knowledge instead of practical skills?
- Are international student fees unfair to foreign students? / Are Canadian international students being exploited?
- Should young people pursue an online degree?
- Should Canadian colleges charge less for online programs? / Should tuition be lower for online learning programs?
- Should young adults do an internship as part of their education?
- Should unpaid Internships be legal?
- Should financial literacy courses be part of the national education system?
- Is studying abroad beneficial for a student's host country (or home country)?
- Is publishing independently the best method for new authors to promote their work?
Employee Pay & Benefits Topics
- Is the current basic requirement for weekly vacation in Canada adequate?
- In general, are CEOs overpaid?
- Are financial incentives the best way to motivate employees?
- Should college athletes get paid for their games?
- Should male employees be allowed paternity leave?
- Should companies provide childcare services for employees?
- Does the gender pay gap exist in the Canadian/North American workplace?
- Is a performance-based pay system a good motivator for employees?
- Does making more money make people happier?
- Should companies grant menstrual leave to female employees?
- Should companies allow employees to unionize?
Environment & Ethics Topics
- Should fracking be banned?
- Are CSR campaigns genuine or greenwashing?
- Is the hospitality industry sustainable enough?
- Should small companies pursue CSR?
- Should companies implement hiring quotas to ensure workplace diversity?
- Should organic food companies support fair trade policies?
- Should cosmetic companies be allowed to test their products on animals?
- Should government implement a carbon tax on polluters?
- Can renewable energies replace fossil fuels?
- Should government be able to censor Internet content?
- Should the Canadian seal hunt be banned? (ALT: Japanese whaling)
- Should the use of pesticides in agriculture be banned?
- Is the global coffee industry doomed?
- Should India adopt organic farming practices?
- Should single-use plastics be more heavily regulated in [Canada]?
- Is the adoption of EVs really environmentally beneficial?
Fashion
- Should designer brands start using vegan materials?
- Is Zara taking adequate measures to combat climate change?
- Should consumers support fast fashion?
Foreign Issues Topics
(*Replace [Canada] with your country of choice)
- Are immigrants worth the investment for [Canada]? / Do immigrants have a positive impact on the [Canadian] economy?
- Should [Canada] accept more refugees?
- Should international students on a study visa be allowed to work full-time?
- Should [Canada] accept more immigrants?
- Should Americans be required to have a visa to enter the Philippines?
- Does immigration in Canada increase crime?
Health & Food
- Will insect-based protein products replace traditional forms of protein?
- Is the food industry responsible for the problem of food waste?
- Is organic food worth the extra cost?
- Is the food industry to blame for the high obesity rate in the US?
- Should the food buffet model be discouraged/prohibited in the [Canadian] restaurant sector?
- Is laboratory-made food the solution to the food crisis?
- Are pharmaceutical companies unethically monetizing gender dysphoria in youth?
- Should public taxes be used to fund the safe use of hard drugs?
- Is the universal healthcare model sustainable?
Human Resources & Hiring Topics
- Should companies seek to hire employees internally?
- Should countries/companies enforce a mandatory retirement age?
- Should companies only hire experienced applicants? / Should companies hire university graduates with no work experience?
- Do dress code policies benefit companies?
- Should companies have policies to regulate workplace romance?
- Should workplaces conduct drug-testing?
- Is experience the most important factor for HR when promoting an employee?
- Can nepotism in the workplace be justified?
- Is money the most important factor when choosing a job?
- Is remote recruitment effective? / Should businesses shift to remote recruitment?
- Are virtual job interviews effective?
- Are job interviews an adequate/accurate measurement of an applicant’s skill?
- Should companies look at social media profiles of candidates when hiring?
- Should companies hire people with criminal records?
- Are work references a reliable tool in the hiring process?
- Is equal employment opportunity balance possible to achieve?
- Are good working conditions the most important factor when looking for a job?
- Are online job applications effective for hiring the best applicant?
- Should AI be used to screen job applications?
- Should local industries recognize the professional experience and qualifications of immigrants who enter the local labor market?
- Should companies hire employees through sponsorship?
Investing & Personal Finance Topics
- Is cryptocurrency/Bitcoin a good investment?
- Should people invest their own money or use a financial adviser?
- Should young people focus on passive investing?
- Should the Canadian government support/adopt cryptocurrencies?
- Is the stock market rigged?
- Is donating to charities effective? / Do charities make effective use of donations?
- Are credit cards a debt trap? / Should young people get a credit card?
- Is a car a good investment for people in cities?
- Should people purchase life insurance?
- Should short-selling be made illegal?
- Is payment for order flow an unfair business model for online brokerages?
Law & Legalization Topics
- Should government legalize psychedelic drugs?
- Should the sale of tobacco products be illegal?
- Should lotteries be banned? / Do lotteries unfairly target the poor?
- Should government allow the sale of genetically modified products?
- Should drugs be legalized in Mexico?
- Should recycling be legally required (in Canada)?
- Should sex work/prostitution be legalized?
- Are intellectual property rights effective in protecting a business's brand?
Sports
- Should FIFA consider human rights when it chooses its host?
- Are professional athletes overpaid?
- Is the gender pay gap in professional sports unfair?
- Should WNBA players receive equal pay to NBA players?
- Should young people consider a career in e-sports?
- Are e-sports the next 'big thing'?
- Should universities offer programs and scholarships for e-sports?
- Is being a high-performance athlete a viable career?
- Should sports betting be further regulated or prohibited in North America?
Shopping & Consumption Topics
- Should automatic gratuity for large groups be prohibited?
- Does tipping in restaurants improve service?
- Is the customer always right?
- Should customers base purchasing decisions on online reviews?
- Should female hygiene products be free (or subsidized)?
- Should consumers use grocery-delivery services?
Tax Topics
- Are progressive taxes fair (to all income earners)?
- Should churches be exempt from tax?
- Should the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) be eliminated?
- Should there be an additional tax on unhealthy products?
- Should online sellers without physical stores have to pay tax in the companies they operate in?
- Should there be a digital service tax (DST) on social media companies?
Technology Topics
- Will self-driving cars become a reality for consumers in the next decade?
- Should self-driving cars be legal?
- Should Amazon introduce drone delivery?
- Are cellphones unsafe for consumers? / Should government put tighter restrictions on cellphones for public safety?
- Should companies invest more in MIS (managerial information systems)?
- Should government regulate the use of cookies on the web?
- Should biodegradable straws be mandatory in F&B (Food & Beverages) businesses?
- Is a cashless economy possible?
- Can blockchain technologies replace centralized transactional systems?
- Is technology limiting the creativity of people?
- Does online shopping have addictive effects on consumers?
- Should Big Banks in Canada introduce 'tellerless' branches as people can do transactions in ATM (Automated Teller Machine)?
- Will 3D food change the food sector?
- Can electric cars replace traditional vehicles?
- Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) a threat to business?
- Should users be concerned about their privacy on social network platforms?
- Will the Metaverse be relevant five years from now?
- Should publishing companies shift to digital e-books?
- Will NFTs be a useful technology in the future?
- Will Tesla lead the North America EV industry in the future?
Real Estate
- Should Canada implement measures to target 'house-flippers'?
- Should foreigners be allowed to purchase property in [Country]?
- Should government regulate the housing market?
- Is the empty-homes tax unfair?
- Is becoming a real estate agent a good career choice?
Travel & Tourism
- Should airlines allow travelers to board planes with pets?
- Are travel agencies doomed to extinction?
- Does the AirBNB business model spell doom for the hotel industry?
- Is being a tour guide a viable career?
- Will fully automated hotels leave hoteliers unemployed?
Workplace Productivity Topics
- Should social media be banned in the workplace?
- Do smartphones have a positive effect on workplace productivity?
- Does peer pressure in the workplace benefit workers?
- Can employees be productive when working from home?
- Should employers allow napping in the workplace?
- Should employers limit smartphone use in the workplace / Do smartphones increase worker productivity?
- Do open-office plans increase productivity? / Should companies adopt open space plans?
- Should companies incorporate the practice of mindfulness in the workplace?
- Is a highly competitive environment beneficial for workers?
- Does art or workplace decor have a positive effect on productivity?
- Should 'quiet quitting' be normalized in the workplace?
-- Argumentative essay topics compiled by Matthew Barton, Creator of Englishcurrent.com (copyright) | Last updated: Q2 2024
Related Pages
Great list, thanks!
Great list of argumentative essay topics! I’m particularly interested in exploring the ethical implications of corporate social responsibility. It’s fascinating how businesses can impact society, and it would be interesting to dive into both sides of the argument. Thanks for sharing!