Business Research Topics for 2027: 7 Ideas Inspired by 2026 Business News
Hinksey Labs
7 min read
Looking for a business research topic for your IB Internal Assessment (IA), Extended Essay (EE), A-level project, AP Research paper, or an upcoming competition? The best place to start isn't necessarily a textbook. It's what's happening in business right now.
From Spotify's subscription price increases to Reddit's AI data deals, 2026 has introduced plenty of real-world questions worth investigating. Here are seven business research ideas for 2027, each connected to a recent development and a question you could explore. If you need help turning one into a project, our guide on how to do business research in high school covers the method step by step.
7 Business Research Topics to Explore in 2027
1. Spotify: How Much Can Subscription Prices Increase?
2026 news hook: in January 2026, Spotify announced another Premium price increase for subscribers in the US, Estonia and Latvia.
This creates an interesting business question: how do subscription companies balance higher revenue per customer with the risk of losing subscribers?
Possible research question: to what extent was Spotify's 2026 Premium price increase a justified strategy for improving revenue? Students could analyse Spotify's financial reports, competitor pricing, and customer perceptions of value.
Best suited for: IB Business Management IA or EE, A-level EPQ.
2. IKEA: Can Second-Hand Products Become a Growth Strategy?
2026 news hook: in October 2026, IKEA's second-hand marketplace expanded to the UK and Ireland, with Germany following a week later. IKEA Family members can buy and sell used IKEA furniture with each other, and IKEA is testing direct offers to sellers in Spain and Portugal.
The strategy raises questions about sustainability, customer loyalty, and whether resale platforms can benefit businesses that traditionally depend on selling new products.
Possible research question: to what extent could IKEA's second-hand marketplace strengthen customer loyalty and support its sustainability strategy? Students could examine the marketplace's growth, customer incentives, pricing, and the relationship between resale and traditional retail.
Best suited for: IB Business Management IA or EE, competitions.
3. Duolingo: Is User Growth More Important Than Short-Term Profit?
2026 news hook: Duolingo's daily active users grew 23% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, which its Q2 shareholder letter credited to a strategy of prioritising user growth and teaching better.
For freemium businesses, attracting users is only part of the challenge. Companies must also decide when and how to turn engagement into revenue.
Possible research question: to what extent should Duolingo prioritise user growth over short-term profitability? Students could investigate its subscription model, retention strategy, financial performance, and product development decisions.
Best suited for: IB Business Management EE, AP Research, competitions.
4. Reddit: Who Benefits When AI Companies Pay for User Data?
2026 news hook: Reddit's second-quarter 2026 results showed revenue up 61% on a year earlier. Advertising still brings in most of it, but its AI data-licensing deals raise questions about how platforms make money from content their communities create.
Possible research question: how can Reddit balance revenue from AI data licensing with the interests of its users and moderators? This topic combines business strategy, stakeholder analysis, digital platforms, and ethics.
It's also the subject of The Product Reddit Cannot Make, the first-place essay in the 2026 Hinksey Labs Business Essay Competition, which explored Reddit's data-licensing strategy and the case for reinvesting in its communities.
Best suited for: IB Business Management EE, A-level EPQ, competitions.
5. Starbucks: Can a Business Turnaround Restore Customer Loyalty?
2026 news hook: Starbucks reported 7.9% global comparable store sales growth in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, as it continued its Back to Starbucks turnaround plan. The company has focused on improving customer experience, operations, and its coffeehouse identity.
Possible research question: to what extent has Starbucks' Back to Starbucks strategy contributed to its 2026 sales recovery? Students could investigate customer experience, operational changes, loyalty programmes, and financial performance, while considering other factors that may have influenced sales.
Best suited for: IB Business Management IA or EE, A-level Business case studies.
6. AI Advertising: Does Transparency Affect Consumer Trust?
2026 news hook: new transparency rules under the EU AI Act began applying on 2 August 2026. Chatbots must tell users they are talking to AI, deepfakes must be labelled, and AI-generated content must carry machine-readable marks.
As businesses increasingly use AI in marketing, questions about transparency and customer trust are becoming more relevant.
Possible research question: how does labelling AI-generated advertising affect consumer trust in a brand? Students could compare consumer reactions to clearly labelled AI-generated advertisements and conventional advertisements, using a small, ethically designed survey or experiment.
Best suited for: AP Research, A-level EPQ, competitions. Using AI tools in the project itself? Our AI playbook for high school students covers how to use them responsibly in research.
7. Fast Fashion: Can Sustainability Regulations Change Business Strategy?
2026 news hook: in July 2026, an EU ban on large companies destroying unsold clothes, accessories and footwear began to apply. Medium-sized companies follow in 2030.
This creates new challenges for fashion retailers managing excess stock, production decisions, and sustainability commitments.
Possible research question: how should a fashion retailer adapt its inventory management strategy in response to the EU's 2026 rules on unsold clothing? Students could focus on one retailer and evaluate its inventory practices, resale options, production methods, and costs.
Best suited for: IB Business Management IA or EE, A-level EPQ, competitions.
Want to see a 2026 story taken all the way to a finished essay? Two more of this year's competition winners did exactly that: Haaland Hates Cruises on how the Strait of Hormuz fuel shock hit Norwegian Cruise Line, and Centrus Energy on the US ban on Russian enriched uranium.
Which Research Topics Work Best for Your Qualification?
Not every topic is suitable for every assessment. Before choosing, understand what your programme actually requires:
- IB Business Management IA: one specific organisation, a real business issue, and one key concept - change, creativity, ethics or sustainability.
- IB Extended Essay: a focused question that supports deeper analysis and evaluation, using a subject-focused or interdisciplinary approach.
- A-level / EPQ: an independent investigation that goes beyond your regular coursework, supported by credible evidence.
- AP Research: a clearly defined research gap, appropriate methods, and an original investigation.
- Business competitions: a timely business problem, evidence-based analysis, and a defensible recommendation - exactly the shape of the Hinksey Business Essay Competition's case study of one organisation facing a change.
For the IB Business Management IA, the business research project has a maximum of 1,800 words and draws on three to five supporting documents, according to the IB's subject guide. Students completing the EE in 2027 should also be aware that the IB's updated Extended Essay is assessed for the first time in May 2027.
A-level Business itself is generally exam-assessed; an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or independently assigned project is a separate research opportunity. AP Research also has its own course requirements, including prior completion of AP Seminar.
For competitions, always check the specific year's rules before choosing your question or format - our calendar of business and economics competitions collects this cycle's.
How Do You Turn a Business Trend Into a Strong Research Question?
A broad topic is only a starting point. "AI in business" could involve thousands of different questions, but "how does labelling AI-generated advertising affect consumer trust in skincare brands?" gives you something specific to investigate. Before committing to a topic, ask yourself:
- Is it specific? Can you identify a company, market, decision, or measurable outcome?
- Is there enough evidence? Can you access company reports, reliable news, industry data, or suitable primary research?
- Can you analyse it? Does the question allow you to evaluate different explanations or strategic choices rather than simply describe what happened?
- Is it manageable? Can you answer it within your assignment's word limit, deadline, and research requirements?
If none of these seven topics fits, the topic-finding prompts in our AI playbook and the "Finding Your Idea" section of the 90-day passion project plan will help you generate your own. For narrowing a topic into a question you can answer, see Step 1 of how to do business research in high school. The Hinksey High School Research Playbook covers how to move from an initial interest to a focused, realistic research project.
The Bottom Line
The strongest business research topics aren't necessarily the most complicated ones. A familiar company, a recent strategic decision, or a new regulation can provide the starting point for meaningful analysis. Use 2026 business news to identify the question, then use 2027 to investigate it.
Whether you're completing an IB assessment, an AP Research paper, or entering a business competition, choose a topic that genuinely interests you, has accessible evidence, and gives you room to form your own conclusions.
Want to take a topic like these further? In Research Scholars you can research a Hinksey partner's challenge or an organisation you choose, with an Ivy League or Oxbridge mentor, and finish with a full research paper. Research Fundamentals is a four-week way to start.
