Resource Desk
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Multi-Country
Current information on the business climate, news, history, political structure, economic landscape, and relevant statistical data are provided in a region and country-specific format, covering 197 countries. A rich collection of country and region specific international business links adds to the vast collection of information.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Provided by the BBC News-UK edition, the Country profiles section features general information, history, and political and economic background including audio and video clips for each country according to region.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
CSIS provides strategic insights and policy solutions to current and emerging global issues. Users can find analyses about regional affairs, international stability, and political risk. In addition, insights about longer-range consequences of current practices and policies (global aging, energy, among others) are available.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
The World Factbook is produced annually by the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. The documents contain all vital information and statistics, under the following headings: Geography; People; Government; Economy; Communications; Transportation; Transnational Issues; Defense Forces. The current version is for 2008. Also listed under Journals and Publications.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Country Commercial Guides for U.S. Investors
Country Commercial Guides are detailed business reports written for each country by the U.S. Commercial Service. The reports include a comprehensive analysis about the business environment of the country as well as information for currently available opportunities for U.S. companies. To access the reports, select "Country Commercial Guide (CCG)" under the "Report Type" field, and select a country of interest from the "Country" field. The most current version, as well as several years of archives, is available for each country.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade Practices
The U.S. State Department provided reports on general economic and trade statistics for a large number of countries around the world through 2001. Although this publication is no longer updated, the information presented provides a valuable insight into direct investment, economic indicators, and balance of payments. Use the menu on the left to access the reports for various years.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
CountryWatch provides users with up-to-date news, statistical data, comprehensive country backgrounds, country maps, and in-depth political, economic, investment, social, and environmental overviews. This information is available under a fee-based subscription but the site does offer a free 3-day trial.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
The Deloitte Country Guides provide information available for download in PDF format for a large number of countries. The focus is on investment climate, including issues such as taxation, business regulation, foreign investments, and labor issues.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Department for International Development: Country Profiles
This Department for International Development (DFID), an organization of the United Kingdom government, provides Country Profiles for countries receiving funding from the Department. The reports give a brief summary of the progress made by less developed countries in areas such as economic and political situations. In addition to country profiles, there is a Global Issues section that discusses policy and research, millennium development goals, fighting poverty, and global aid information.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Eldis: Regional and Country Profiles
Eldis provides information on world development issues. The Country Profiles section of Eldis features news, statistics, organizations and sector information by country and region. Other information also available from the Eldis include resource guides, recent news and events, and links to key development websites.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Emerging Markets Online is a market research service specializing in the energy and utilities sectors of the developing world. A catalog of expert industry databases, market research studies, industry newsletters and daily headline news services as well as consulting services are provided. Only basic headlines and sample reports are available for free. All other services and reports are offered for a fee-based subscription.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Energy Information Administration: Country Analysis Briefs
Web site provides detailed overviews of the energy resources and usage for each country in the world. The resource is updated regularly and can be downloaded as PDF files.
Tags: Industries, Energy, Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Euromonitor International offers quality international market intelligence on industries, countries and consumers. The site includes insight articles, reference book listings, global and country reports, and company profiles. Some information is provided on a fee-based subscription service.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Export.gov: Market of the Month Archives
This archive contains over two year's worth of posts on different international markets. Each profile contains information on market potential, government structure, trade agreements, business and political climate, and market research.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
An online database created by FedEx that gives up-to-date information on customs duties and tariffs of 120 countries for a wide variety of products categorized according to the Harmonized System (HS). A paid subscription is necessary to obtain information, but a free trial is available.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Financial Times: Special Reports
Financial Times publishes approximately 200 country and industry surveys annually which appear with copies of the newspaper most days of the week. Topics include financial markets, global industries, business management and developed and emerging countries. A summary is available for free, however the full reports are accessible only through an FT.com subscription.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Geared towards a younger audience, geographic.org helps the user learn more about world geography. Specialty topics link to climate, flags, maps, and countries. The “Country Ranks” feature positions 231 countries in various economic and demographic statistics.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: National Reports
GEM is a not-for-profit research program focused on providing data on entrepreneurial activity for over 40 countries. The site includes research and publications on a number of different topics and through its National Reports, GEM gives country-specific entrepreneurial information on an annual basis
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Global Insight provides the most comprehensive economic, financial, and political coverage of countries, regions, and industries available from any source—covering over 200 countries and spanning more than approximately 170 industries—using a unique combination of expertise, models, data, and software within a common analytical framework to support planning and decision making. A free trial is available.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Information Technology Landscape Worldwide
Information Technology Landscape is a database on all facets of Information and Communication Technologies in over 80 nations. Each report is organized to highlight top insights to that country's technology, including telecommunications, internet, labor, regulation, policy, and national technological competencies. Since this site is in relation to a MBA course, new countries are added and old countries updated each semester.
Tags: Industries, Technology, Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
International Development Research Centre
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a public corporation established by the Canadian Parliament, whose mission is to aid developing countries through the use of science and technology. The site contains numerous publications which deal with improving the economic, social, and cultural aspects of these developing nations.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
International Market Research Reports
Industry Canada provides extensive information on each country including Economic Trends, Investment Climate, Country Commercial Guides, International Business Practices guides, and industry sector information, among others. The information is all available in the form of PDF files, listed under the various subcategories on the site. All countries have demographic information from the CIA World Factbook.
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
International Monetary Fund: Staff Country Reports
Freedom House publishes three studies a year dealing with political issues. The Freedom in the World survey evaluates the state of political rights and civil liberties around the world, providing ratings and narrative reports for 192 countries and 18 related territories. The Press Freedom Survey is an annual country-by-country worldwide assessment of freedom of the press, examining press laws, political and economic constraints on news reporting, and cases of press freedom violations. The Nations in Transit is a comprehensive annual progress report on the status of the political and economic reforms in the 27 emerging democracies and transitional countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Archived reports are available for all three publications. Also listed under News & Periodicals: Publications.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Internet Center for Corruption Research
A joint initiative of Transparency International and University of Passau, the Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries by the extent of corruption in public administration. A new index is published every year. There is also a separate report on the willingness of leading exporting countries to bribe internationally.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Library of Congress: Country Studies
Prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, the series is comprised of books, each examining a different foreign country. Each book looks at the particular country's history, society and environment, economy, government and politics, and national security. Most of the books have not been updated recently, but provide relevant background and historical information.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Link2Globaltrade, in conjunction with the British Chamber of Commerce, provides country profiles, including information on the economy, statistical data, and society and government information. The site also provides news and a comprehensive visitor’s guide to each country.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
A service provided by the European Commission in cooperation with member states, consists of a number of databases analyzing non-EU countries Market Access conditions, barriers to trade, among other relevant issues. Access to the Sectoral, Trade Barriers Database, Statistics, and Studies sections is free. However, information under the Exporters Guide, Applied Tariffs, and WTO Bound Tariffs is only available to users connecting from any of the 27 European Union member states.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada offers detailed reports on foreign markets to businesses and organizations. Site requires a registration to view market reports. Also available in French.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Mondaq Business Briefing is a service dedicated to professionals and business people involved in international trade and investment. Legal, regulatory, and financial commentary, along with analysis and new updates from world leading professional advisers in over 80 countries on a multitude of international topics are provided free of charge. One time registration is required.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) is a unique web portal that offers free, on-demand country analysis and information on all things related to foreign direct investment in 175 countries. The site combines business and public resources with World Bank Group analysis to provide users with a single entry point for the full-spectrum of information needed to make a decision about investing in a foreign country.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Public Broadcasting Service: Commanding Heights
Maintained by the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Commanding Heights offers insight into globalization, world trade, and economic development with respect to the global economy. The Countries section of the web site offers reports on the economic development trends of 41 countries from 1910 to the 2003. A glossary of trade terms is also provided on this page, along with a special section for educators.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Public Risk Services (PRS) maintains multiple databases of country-specific information, reports and an international risk guide as part of its primary business, monitoring the climate for international business around the world. Most of these are only accessible to registered users for a fee, although there are free samples available.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
An online search portal for women owning businesses in the international spectrum. This site offers an online country resource and a business to business networking place.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
The Economist Intelligence Unit
The EIU produces objective and timely analysis and forecasts of the political, economic and business environment in almost 200 countries. It also produces reports on certain strategic industries and on the latest management thinking useful to multinational companies, exporters and importers, and any group that needs to know about political, economic and business developments across the world. Free registration is required to access some of its services.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
The Economist Intelligence Unit Viewswire
The EIU, a part of the Economist group, is an information provider for companies establishing and managing operations across national borders anywhere in the world. Viewswire features the latest online reports in politics, economics, finance, business, and regulations. Most reports are accessible only through a fee-based subscription (14 day free trial period). There is also customized versions of the website for Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia, all in English.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
The Economist: Country Briefings
Provided by economist.com, in partnership with the Economist Intelligence Unit, this site contains comprehensive information on countries including country profiles, recent news, political and economic forecasts, statistics, and more. Also provided are Country Forecasts, which provide mid- and long-term economic projections for these countries for a subscription fee.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
U.S. Department of State: Background Notes
Provided by the US Department of State, Background Notes contain information (such as facts on each country's history, economy, and government, among others) for all nations that the US has relations with. Information is updated as often as it is received for each country.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
U.S. Department of State: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Copies of annual country reports on Human Rights Practices submitted by the U.S. Department of State to the U.S. Congress. In accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights are taken into account. Report for the most recent year and several past years are available on the site.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
UNICEF is usually known for its charity work for children. However, its website also provides news, articles, and background information on each country. Most of the content concerns children but the extensive statistical information that is given cover a wide range of topics including, economics, nutrition, health, education, and demographics. This site is also available in French, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
USDA Foreign Agriculture Service: Country Reports Selector
Provided by the U.S. Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) and the Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS), country reports are market access reports that provide technical specifications for food and agricultural imports for countries worldwide. Downloadable reports are available by country in PDF and Word formats.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
Provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement for over 130 countries. They indicate the regulatory costs of business and can be used to analyze specific regulations that enhance or constrain investment, productivity and growth.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
World Trade Organization: Trade Policy Reviews
The World Trade Organization (WTO) periodically reviews all member countries' trade policies, depending on each country’s share of world trade. Trade Policy Reviews provides the press releases, summaries of Secretariat, governments’ reports, and chairpersons’ conclusions on these reviews. A complete list of reviews since 1995 is also available.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 27, 2009
Worldmapper provides a unique graphical representation of global data spanning everything from trade to health statistics. The maps are generated to show the extent of each measure by color and size, giving an understandable overall picture of how the factor affects each part of the world. The best way to view the maps is in the PDF format. This site is useful for academicians, researchers, or anybody who wants to learn more about conditions across the globe.
Tags: Global
Last reviewed by globalEDGE on: October 19, 2009
It is not possible for us to keep these resources up-to-date without your help. Please contact us if you know of a site that should be added here, or if any of these links have expired. Of course, comments and suggestions for improvements are always welcome. We thank you in advance.
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