| Start with the Basic Sources, identify your gaps, and be sure to consult the guide Resources by Topic, before using this guide. For assistance or to consult with a librarian, call the Information Desk ext. 4596. Drop by or call the Information Desk for extended assistance with a Reference Librarian. Contents:
Basic Sources
Factual Overviews
Specific Reports and Web Sites for Related Topics
Government Sites
U.S. Government Agencies
International Organizations and Development Banks
Reports from Commercial Services
Miscellaneous Books and Reports
Frequently Cited Periodicals Where to Go for Gaps in Information:
Fulltext Services to Search
Regional Web Guides to Internet Sources
Web Guides to Internet Sources
More Statistics Than You Need
Consultations with Librarians
Resources by Topic
Basic Sources Country Commercial Guide. U.S. Department of State. - Also available in the National Trade Data Bank/NTDB at Stat-USA - CCG's are prepared by U.S. embassies with a few by the U.S. Department of Commerce with the assistance of several other U.S. agencies. These reports present a comprehensive look at countries' commercial environments, using economic, political, and market analysis. If a current guide for your country is not at the State Department's web site try NTDB at Stat-USA where it may be divided in about 12 sections. When using NTDB, retrieve the table of contents first to ensure you have all parts.
Country Profiles. Annual, updated by quarterly Country Reports. EIU - synthesizes national and international data into this historical perspective on the long-term political and social issues affecting a country. The table of contents includes political background; population & society; currency; economy; national accounts; employment; wages & prices; major industry segments including energy and transport & communications; finance; foreign trade; and external payments & debt. Five years of statistical data is presented.
Country Reports. Quarterly. EIU - update the Profile and review the government's attitude towards business enterprise; economic policies and development plans; trends in production and demand; monetary and fiscal conditions; wages and prices; merchandise trade; capital flows; exchange rates and foreign debt.
Country Commerce Annual with updates. EIU - cover general operating environment, organizing an investment, incentives, licensing, competition and price policies, exchanging and remitting funds, corporate and personal taxes, capital sources, human resources, and foreign trade.
Country Finance Annual with updates. EIU. - review currency outlook, foreign exchange regulations, monetary system, banks and other financial institutions, short-, medium- and long-term financing techniques, equity financing, investment incentives, cash management, short-term investment instruments, trade financing and insurance, and tax considerations.
Dun's Exporters' Encyclopaedia. Information Desk1 HF3011.E9 - arranged by country, this annual resource has key contact information, an overview of trade regulations, documentation requirements, foreign investment info, consumer protection, product standards, regulations & requirements, marketing info, labeling & packaging, intellectual property rights, and transportation information.
Factual Overviews
Background Notes: Annual, usually. U.S. Department of State.
World Factbook. Annual. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and in the National Trade Data Bank at Stat-USA .
Walden Report via LexisNexis Academic (Reference >> Country Profiles) or LexisNexis (library: world ; file: profil - in library use only) - To search type: country(countryname) This report has the factual coverage of the previous title with the addition of two important features. A brief analysis section highlights economic growth and government reforms. The business environment is covered with concise descriptions of banking, finance, trade, industry, and many other topics.
Global Competitiveness Report. Annual. World Economic Forum Information Desk1 HB238.G56 - At a glance get a view of a country's position in comparison to 40 other major countries.
Countries' Government on the Web - Guides to Sites
The Electronic Embassy - links to the Foreign Embassies of Washington D.C. From there, select a country and find information on doing business in that country plus data on government, trade, unemployment, imports, exports, economic indicators, travel and more.
Mark Bernkopg's Central Banking Resource Center - locate a country's ministries of finance and economy as well as central banks.
Foreign Government Resources on the Web from the University of Michigan Documents Center
U.S. Government Agencies
U.S. Department of Labor:
Foreign Labor Trends - "designed to be an informative and authoritative source of information on labor institutions, practices, and recent key developments in the countries reported. Each report provides valuable information in assessing progress made by the reported country in complying with internationally recognized worker rights required under bilateral or regional trade agreements."
U.S. Department of State: the State Department and its embassies write numerous reports and press releases relevant to country studies. Major reports are available from their publications list on the web and are incorporated into the National Trade Data Bank. These include Background Notes, Country Commercial Guides and the following: -
Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade Practices. Annual to 2001. Also available at Stat-USA.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Annual. U.S. Department of State. Also available at Stat-USA. - Section 6 Worker Rights reports on labor unions, child labor and working conditions.
- Foreign Per Diems: Maximum Travel Per Diem Allowances for Foreign Areas
The following reports are helpful for assessing political risk and safety.
-
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report
Patterns of Global Terrorism
- Travel Warnings & Consular Information Sheets.
- U.S. Trade Representative: the Document Library has the latest editions USTR reports in image/pdf file formats.
National Trade Estimates, Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) - Also at Stat-USA This is a key report used to determine the favored-nation status for U.S. trading partners. It includes information on intellectual property protection as well as other barriers. - A Country Study. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress - now prepares these Country Study/Area Handbooks. Various U.S. agencies use these country studies to introduce overseas personnel to their host countries. These books usually have major chapters on historical setting, society and its environment, education and culture, economic policy and structure, government and politics and national security. Many of the Country Studies are available at LC's web site; Horn Library collects all current handbooks. Search the WEBnet Library Catalog to locate edition.
U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service: - Market Reports are also at Stat-USA. American attaches prepare a number of reports on the market and distribution of agricultural and food products in foreign countries, the most comprehensive are General Market Overviews or Annual Marketing Plan Information Reports. These overviews look at a country's potential for importing U.S. food products with a review of the macroeconomic situation and influence on customer-ready food products, trade restrictions and barriers, the consumer, U.S. market position, French competition, local market trends and opportunities, marketing strategies, distribution systems (wholesale, retail & hospitality), the domestic food processing sector and food safety. Other market reports cover the market for some specific products and import regulations for select countries. Access these and other market reports from the FAS Online Country Information page by clicking Market Reports and then Market Specific Reports.
Stat-USA - is a U.S. Department of Commerce subscription service which provides U.S. economic data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and from the National Trade Data Bank. Users can usually search the Entire NTDB database or search and browse parts, such as the Country Commercial Guides. Be sure to browse the all Market and Country Research sections for relevant reports. The sections are arranged by country or can be searched.
International Organizations
Development Banks
African Development Bank
Asia Development Bank - reports cover Country Assistance Plans, Country Operational Strategy Studies, Economic Trends and Prospects, and more.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - financing the economic transition in central and eastern Europe and the CIS.
Inter-American Development Bank - as expected, this site has information on the Bank's policies and projects. The link to Research and Statistics points to economic, trade and social databases as well as reports on individual countries.
The World Bank Group - go to Countries click your map area or use the window box. Select your country for fulltext Country Briefs and browse the region table of contents. At the home page you can also enter your country in the search box for other publications including World Development Reports and World Development Indicators via the Babson library subscription.
International Monetary Fund - major world reports and press releases are available at this site along with a searchable catalog of IMF publications. Use the Site Search and Searth Title Only for your country. You can also go the Member Country Publications page to view reports on specific countries.
World Bank Affiliated Regional Development Banks
Regional Cooperative Organizations
- ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) - members include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, Vietnam.
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) -
European Union
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - OECD covers around thirty countries around the world. Sometimes it's easier to find online publications at their Washington site (http://www.oecdwash.org) with its Data Online. Recently the OECD has issued reports on E-Commerce and mobile phone pricing, as well as some of their reports list including the in-depth analyses of individual countries called OECD Economic Surveys via SourceOECD and in Reference HC10.
Organization of American States - excellent source for information on the structure and activities of the OAS including the current weekly report, press releases, and thorough description of the organization and its components. Click "Human Rights" for links to reports.
United Nations Organizations - Most of the sites below have information on specific countries. Other UN organizations can be located through their Organization Chart.
The United Nations: Regional Commissions - promote sustainable economic development within their area. Each publishes an annual review which may be available at their web site or in Horn Library's collection. Select the region of the world you would like to browse and click on that commission.
-
- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development - provides several interesting reports such as the World Investment Report with its country tables on foreign direct investment flows, stocks, mergers & acquisitions, etc.
World Trade Organization - formerly called GATT, WTO reviews the trade policies and practices of signing countries to assure compliance. Use the Search feature to locate brief information and press releases, some of which may be restricted. Summaries of Trade Policy Reviews are available at the web site. Full Policy Reviews may be available in Horn Library's collection.
Reports from Commercial Services
The accounting firms and commercial publishers produce most of these reports covering specialized topics from taxation and organizational structures to political risk and country customs. See also the Economist Intelligence Unit reports.
- Culturgrams: The Nations around Us. Reference GT 150 .C85 vols. 1-2 - Brigham Young University's Culturgrams are the best source of information on country cultures and customs for the international traveler. For each country there is a description of general attitudes, personal appearance, greetings, gestures, visiting customs, eating habits, lifestyle (family, dating and marriage, diet, recreation, holidays), as well as brief information on history, transportation, communication and health.
Doing Business in . . . HLB International
Doing Business in . . . PriceWaterhouseCoopers & Ernst & Young Information Guides. Reference HC 59.P58 C7 - review the business environment, foreign investment & trade, investment incentives and restrictions, the regulatory environment, banking and finance, business entities, labor relations plus auditing and taxation.
IBFD International Tax Materials - IBFD via LexisNexis Academic - Legal Research, Tax Law - In the Select Source window choose International Tax Materials-IBFD, enter your country name and expand your date range to cover recent years.
Hilfe Country Report. Hilfe Limited. LexisNexis - library: world ; file: allwld or Factiva - To search type: hilfe country report and country(countryname). In Factiva, try sn=hilfe and hd=countryname - Contains political and economic comments and analysis with statistics and forecasting. Check "Executive Summary" for key current events and forecasts.
PRS Group International Country Risk Guide. Updated several times annually. LexisNexis - library: world ; file: ibccrg, ibcrpt - in library use only - Enter world and for the file, ibccrg. To search type: country(countryname) The report contains detailed information on the country's political, economic, socioeconomic, business, and legal conditions. Included in this report is an assignment of risk category to the profiled country and some countries include an IMF Assessment of the country's economic performance.
Political Handbook of the World. Annual. Information Desk1 JF37.P6 - summarizes government and politics of each country: political background, constitution and government, foreign relations, political parties, legislature, cabinet and intergovernmental representation.
Miscellaneous Books, Reports, Videos etc.
- WEBnet Library Catalog - enter your country to find the latest books, videos and audio materials received on your country. If you would like to limit to videos, click the Power Search link, choose the format option "VM," and enter your country as words or phrase.
Netlibrary andEbrary offer a wide range of online books as well.
-
- Frequently Cited Periodicals
Country Monitor. Biweekly via EIU and ISI Emerging Markets
Euromoney, older issues Factiva and Horn Library Periodicals- use the Search feature to identify and view Euromoney's guides and other articles on financial markets.
IMF/World Bank Issue, September (annual) Information Desk1 HG3881.I57665 Annual World Economic Analysis with country risk information is now part of the IMF/World Bank issue.
Financial Times also via LexisNexis Academic and selective articles via Factiva
Horn Library International Newspapers and Microfilm - Periodically provides Country Briefs, Industry Briefs, Company Briefs, and surveys on Finance and Investment analyzing economic and market conditions.
In LexisNexis Academic, choose General News Topics and for your source, Major Newspapers. In keyword section, type country name, in the Additional Terms area type publication(financial times) and section(survey) and headline(country name)
In Factiva, type in: sn=Financial Times and keywords
Major Regional Periodicals
Asia
- Business Asia. Biweekly. via EIU. Horn Information Desk1
Far Eastern Economic Review. Weekly. Review Publishing Co., Ltd. Horn Library Periodicals and Factiva and LexisNexis You may be asked to register before you can view articles at the web site. - Europe
Business Europe. Biweekly. via EIU.
Business Eastern Europe. Biweekly. EIU and ISI Emerging Markets
MEED Middle East Economic Digest via General Business File ASAP - to locate issues in Infotrac Web, log in and open the General Business File. Click the PowerTrac icon on the lower left and enter jn MEED Middle East Economic Digest and da mm/yy
- Latin America
Business Latin America. Biweekly. EIU. and ISI Emerging Markets
LatinFinance via Factiva
Fulltext Services to Search
Stat-USA - is a U.S. Department of Commerce subscription service which provides U.S. economic data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and from the National Trade Data Bank. Users can usually search the Entire NTDB database (temporarily unavailable) or just parts, such as the Country Commercial Guides or the Market Research Reports. The latter may include general economic information as well as product and industry reports.
ISI Emerging Markets - concentrates on emerging markets, including , with commercial and government reports providing News, Company & Industry Information, Financial Market data & reports, Macroeconomic Analysis and Legal & Current Affairs information. Within the Macroeconomic section are FERI monthly economic forecasts and EIU country alerts, views, updates, consensus forecasts, risk summaries and fact sheets. The Search feature allows you to search the entire country section for information.
ProQuest - provides several databases that are good for country research. Search tips for better results:
To focus search use the Advanced Search and in one of the boxes enter your countryname choosing in Geographical Name and enter your topic in another box. If too many articles, change topic box from Basic Fields to Subject. If too few articles, change topic box to Text.
- Examples:
turkey in Location AND patents in Subject
Turkey in Basic Fields and patents in Text Finding only a citation? check the full text finder.
EBSCOhost
Infotrac Web- Choose your database, either -
- Expanded Academic ASAP for politics, economics, arts and sciences, or
- General Business File ASAP for business and economics. After selecting your database, enter your country name. Choose the subdivisions to browse results by general topic. To search fulltext for a topic, at the search screen click on Advanced Search. Enter su countryname and ke topic
LexisNexis - Horn Library Workstations 1-2 Search tips and downloading instructions are on the flipcharts at the workstations. You may want to search the broad net: news; allnws, mags, wires, script or a world area library such as asiapc. Consult a librarian for further assistance.
LexisNexis Academic - Choose, Reference, Country Profiles or Guided News for world news sources.
IDEAS Internet Documents in Economics Access Service - searchable database providing with abstracts of working papers of the economics profession, often with links to full text.
Factiva - search the fulltext of the Wall Street Journal and over 8000 other periodicals.
FirstSearch - Several general and fulltext databases that may be helpful for long-term projects: PAIS International, EconLit.
Regional Web Guides
International Institute for Asian Studies(IIAS): Gateway to Asian Studies
Central and East European Legal, Political, Business and Economics WWW Resources.
Russian and East European Studies Internet Resources: REESWeb - "a comprehensive index of electronic resources on the Balkans, the Baltic states, the Caucusus, Central Asia, Central Europe, the CIS, Eastern Europe, the NIS, the Russian Federation, and the former Soviet Union."
Latin America Network Information - LANIC is maintained by the Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of Texas. Users can select from country and subject directories or search the entire database. Wide coverage and links to major information sources makes this an excellent starting point for research.
Latin World - according to the home page, "here you will find everything you want to know about the region and its people." This is a well-organized commercial directory site arranged by country. The business section has links to companies, exporters, organizations, products, and services. The culture section leads to art, magazines, music, and traditions. There are also sections for economy and finance, government and politics, news, and sports.
Latinvestor - Latin american financial portal with information on companies, industries, and more.
Political Database of the Americas - a joint project of Georgetown University and the Organization American States (OAS). The database provides information on constitutions, government branches, elections, political parties, and international affairs. Features include keyword search, resources organized by country, and a current events page.
Internet Resources for Latin America and its Border and Latin American Information are slow to load but rich in resources.
Web Guides to Internet Sources
International Law for Business: Updates and Websites - Professor Hotchkiss has links to sites covering topics such as non-western legal traditions, intellectual property and the legal structure of international trade.
International Information. Horn Library Research Guide
More Statistics Than You Need
The Universal Currency Converter (TM) - produced by Xenon Laboratories, is able to generate a currency table based on a selected currency from a variety of countries around the world.
INFONATION allows you to view and compare the most up-to-date statistical data for the Member States of the United Nations. You can select and compare up to seven countries.
World Development Report. Annual Information Desk1 HC59.W6 - appendices provide comparison tables on infrastructure, economic, financial, human resource and environmental data.
World Development Indicators. Annual. Information Desk1 HC59.W62
IFS: International Financial Statistics. Monthly. Periodicals and monthly data loaded on Workstation 18 For each country 2-4 pages of economic and financial statistics plus comparison tables at the front. Library workstation has data that can be extracted to Excel format.
UNESCO. Statistical Yearbook. Annual. Information Desk1 AZ361.U45 - More detailed comparison tables on education, technology, culture and the media.
United Nations. Statistical Yearbook/Annuaire Statistique. Irregular. Information Desk1 HA12.5U63 Comparison tables of country statistics on population, education, health, culture & communications, economic activity and labor force data, international trade, finance and development. Stats are updated in the Monthly Bulletin of Statistics.
Latin America at a Glance. EIU. 2000. Information Desk1 HC 125.L343 2000 Economic and social indicators.
United Nations. Year Book of Labour Statistics. Annual Information Desk1 HD4826.I63 - Employment by industry and occupation, wages, cost of labour, cpi, etc. See also International Labour Organization.
Consultations with Librarians
Call x4596 if you are having difficulty using a resource or can't find what you need. You can also send an email message to reference@babson.edu. If extended assistance is needed come to the library or make an appointment with a reference librarian.
|
