(Advice) MSc topic on M&A, macro, business development, corporate finance

Hey guys, can anyone tell me if research on cross-b M&A ( plus other fdi modes) is still trendy? I am doing msc in finance, and I would like to link it with the general performance in specific industries, but it seems so commonplace and there are so many papers on it.

Are there any emergent topics in international strategy and firm performance evaluation that maybe interesting and useful to research? As we are better to choose the topic we like, I would prefer something, which allows me to come across multiple case studies, learn about business models, processes, internationalization modes, corporate finance, macro, business cycles + apply industrial economics theory and make it in the frame of today's turbulent economy. It should be 60/40 quant/qualit work.

Any suggestions from consultants and those who have any ideas will be highly appreciated. As I plan to start in consulting, I would like to choose the topic which will be relevant for me as for a future candidate.