From the globalEDGE Team

The Community College Portal is here! Listed under the Academy section, The Community College Portal contains a wide variety of helpful resources, including community college grants, conference listings, professional writing resources for students, and study abroad information and funding opportunities.

Fact of the Month

The Czech Republic is both the number one beer-brewing nation in the world and the first in per-capita beer consumption.

Feature of the Month: Czech Republic

Home to the historic regions of Bohemia and Moravia, the Czech Republic exists today as one of the most developed economies in the European Union. The country had a highly industrialized and balanced economy before the Communist takeover in 1948. During Communist rule, the economy transformed into a more centralized model, and industrialization was stressed to a larger extent than it had been. This led to the agricultural and consumer goods and services markets to fall by the wayside. After the fall of the Soviet Republic, the economy gradually became more privatized, perhaps most importantly in the banking and telecommunications sectors. This privatization allowed the Czech Republic to become first member of the Eastern Bloc to achieve the status of being a developed country. Today, the Czech Republic is primed for growth. The country ranks fifth on globalEDGE’s Market Potential Index (MPI), which measures the growth potential of developing markets. Primary factors for this ranking are its overall economic freedom and market consumption capacity. The principal industrial products of the Czech Republic are motor vehicles, machine-building, iron and steel, chemical production, and electronics, to name a few. The principal agricultural products are sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, and hops. The Czech Republic has opened itself up to trade by abolishing border controls and joining the World Trade Organization. The recent global financial crisis was largely sidestepped by the Czech Republic, as they had dealt with a similar, smaller crisis in the late 1990s, and, as a result, they currently have one of the smallest public debts in Central and Eastern Europe.

From the globalEDGE Blog

The Czech Republic is rising as one of the premier tourist locations in Eastern Europe, primarily due to the draw of Prague. Prague, the largest city and capital of the Czech Republic receives over 4.1 million visitors annually. It has served as the political, cultural, and economic base of the Czech empire for over 1100 years. Overall, the income from tourism composes a significant portion of the Czech GNP (5.5%), and makes up 9.3% of its overall export earnings. Tourists that visit the Czech Republic overwhelmingly choose Prague, with over seventy 70% of total tourists choosing to stay there. So what makes Prague so appealing to tourists that it can generate a substantial portion of the Czech Republic's GNP?

• Read more on the globalEDGE Blog!

Featured Resources

World Bank: Enterprise Surveys
This site contains data on the investment climate in 98 countries, based on surveys of almost 66,000 firms. Enterprise surveys measure business perceptions of the investment climate and can be used to analyze the link between job creation and productivity growth. Data featured covers over 500 indicators on topics such as bureaucracy, corruption, court systems, crime, finance, infrastructure, innovation, jobs, productivity, taxation, and trade.
Category: Statistical Data Sources

The Law of International Trade: A Business Overview
Produced by Warner Norcross & Judd LPP, this globalEDGE exclusive provides a thorough yet concise synopsis of major issues related to international trade law. Subjects covered include: Exporting, Importing, Contracts for the Sale or Purchase of Goods, Joint Ventures and Direct Investment, and a special section entitled "Traps for the Unwary." This is a must read for all business persons!
Category: Trade Law
 

• For a more comprehensive list of resources, check out globalEDGE's Resource Desk!

Featured Academy

Community College Research Center
The Community College Research Center (CCRC) is a research organization that studies the major struggles of community colleges and publishes research in support of policy changes. In addition to publications, their website houses information on seminars, CCRC fellowships, and presentations.
Category: CC Organizations

International Negotiations
The International Negotiations module offers one general insight into the following: the importance of negotiations; the basics of international negotiations; cultural influences on negotiations; culture-specific strategies and tactics used in the negotiation process; and qualities that an international negotiator must possess.
Category: Online Course Modules
 

• For more links to academy resources, check out our Academy Page on globalEDGE!

globalEDGE Business Review

"What is Fair Trade?"
By: Paulette L. Stenzel
Fair trade is a way of doing business that builds equitable, long-term partnerships between consumers in developed regions and producers in developing regions across the world. It takes steps toward a just and sustainable economic system that ensures that people get paid a fair price for their work. Fair trade is neither synonymous with nor the antithesis to free trade. Fair trade promotes environmental sustainability and bio-diversity - goals articulated by many of those who advocate free trade.
 

• If you wish to share your expertise on an issue in international business, visit our gBR Homepage to see how and where to submit your entry.

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