What topic is the man going to write about?

Jane: I know it’s early but do you know anything about our first assignment?
John: Yes, it’s already up on the economics faculty notice board. There’s a choice of essays up there. I think there are about 10 topics you can choose from. I can’t remember any of the titles though, apart from the one that I think I’m going to write about.
Jane: What’s that one, then?
John: It’s about the short term future of third world economies.
Jane: Ooh. I don’t like the sound of that. It seems very wide ranging.
John: It is, but remember that I travelled through parts of Africa and Asia during the summer vacation , so that has made me more interested in the subject, and also given me some first hand ideas on the subject.
Jane: Does the essay list mention how long the essays have to be and the deadlines?
John: Yes. You remember that last year all the essays had to be 3, 000 words in length? Well, that’s gone up by a thousand words!
Jane: Oh no! That’ll take ages.
John: I know. I was hoping that they’d stay at 3, 000 words or only go up to 3, 500, but no luck, I’m afraid.
Jane: What about the deadline?
John: The first one has to be in by October 30th and the second by November 30th. It looks like one essay a month the same as last year.
Jane: Well, at least that hasn’t changed, but as it’s the end of September now, that leaves only a month to get the first one done. I’m going to get onto that straight away.
John: Yes, you’d better. If you want to talk about it, I’m going to be at the campus cafeteria at 1: 30 for lunch. We could go over some questions.
Jane: I can’t then, as I’m going to the sports hall to work out. How about 3 this afternoon in the economics common room?
John: That should be OK. We’ll be right by the economics course office where the questions are, so that’ll be convenient for checking the titles.
Jane: OK. See you then. Bye.
John: Bye.