Country Economic Analysis Information
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About this Article
When looking for information about a country’s economic strengths and weaknesses, or if you are looking for information about investment in another country, one can always turn to encyclopedias and yearbooks for factual and statistical information. It is often easy to find some of a country’s economic indicators (GDP, CPI, GNP, etc.) freely available on the internet. But if you are looking for statistical information, combined with some analysis of the numbers, take a look at the following sources. Many of the resources below will also prove useful if you are looking to expand a company's operations to another country.
Electronic Resources
EIU
- Format: Subscription Database
- Connect to: Economist Intelligence Unit
The EIU databases contains full-text reports on several dozen countries that provide country profiles (Country Profile section), economic and political trend analysis (Country Reports section), financial information (Country Finance section), and commercial information (Country Commerce section). Of particular interest is the Country Finance Section which contains:
- Market assessment
- Market watch
- Country at a glance
- Banks
- Other financial institutions
- Monetary system
- Currency
- Foreign-exchange regulations
- Taxation and investment incentives
- Cash management
- Securities markets
- Currency and derivatives markets
- Short-term investment instruments
- Short-term financing
- Medium- and long-term financing
- Trade financing and insurance
CountryWatch
- Format: Subscription Database
- Connect to: CountryWatch
This online database provides “country specific geopolitical intelligence on each of the 192 countries of the world. ” Includes basic information on each country, constantly updated news stories, links to official websites, etc. Topics include government, economy, investment climate, and social and environmental issues. Of particular interest in this database is the section called ‘Investment Overview’ which includes:
- Investment Climate (gives an overview of how receptive a country is to foreign investment, and may contain information about particular industries, commodities, and potential trade areas). See also Exporter's Encyclopaedia.
- Taxation (depending on the country, this section offers corporate tax information, income tax information, tax benefits and incentives. Please note that this gives an overview, not the actual country tax code)
- Stock Market (contains information on the stock market, and if applicable, information for foreign and institutional investors).
- Commercial Guide (PDF)
- Partner Links
Political Risk Yearbook
- Format: Electronic Publication
- Access information is below
This resource contains country forecast and country conditions. Includes information such as forecast scenarios, political framework, investment climate, climate for trade, and other political and economic factors. This resource is available electronically in Business Source Complete. The best way to find this resource is to open Business Source Complete, click on "Publications" and then type in "Political Risk" in the Browse Publications box. You will then be able to browse the available reports by the country name.
Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations
Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations
This electronic book "presents easy-to-understand information on 200 countries and dependencies from around the world. Entries discuss a variety of topics in detail, from banking and securities to climate, from government data to demographic statistics.” While this source does not contain an in-depth economic analysis of each country, it is a great source for country overviews.
World Development Indicators
World Development Indicators provides statistics on a wide range of development-related topics such as population, environment, economy, health, and education.
Doing Business: Benchmarking Business Regulations
Doing Business: Benchmarking Business Regulations "provides indicators of the cost of doing business by identifying specific regulations that enhance or constrain business investment, productivity, and growth."
Print Resources
Country Forecasts
- Format: Reference Book
- Location: Alden 2nd Floor Reference HC10 .C66
- Link to: Country Forecasts in the Alice online catalog.
- This print publication, which is updated every six months, is a “concise summary of the present prospects and future evolution of the climate for business in 100 countries. The information provided for each country presents and overview of its political and economic climate and social characteristics.”
OECD Economic Surveys
- Link to OECD Economic Surveys in the ALICE online catalog.
These print publications are available for a number of countries and provide very thorough analysis of a country’s current and forecasted economic conditions. Clicking on the link to the resource will show what titles are available in ALICE, Ohio Univeristy Library's online catalog.
Nations of the World
Nations of the World: A Polictical, Economic & Business Handbook
- Format:Reference Book
- Location: Alden 2nd Floor Reference D32 N37x
- “Profiles every nation and self-governing territory around the world (Introduction).”
- Each nation contains: Country overview, a map, key facts, key indicators, risk assessment, country profile, and business directory.
The handbook of country risk
- Format: Reference Book
- Location: Alden 2nd Floor Reference HG4538 .R57x
- Link to The Handbook of Country Risk in the Alice online catalog
- Provides up-to-date analysis of the risks involved in trading in over 140 countries, giving each a unique risk rating, highlighting key economic indicators, likelihood of payment, risks and opportunities in emerging markets, and industrial sector performance overviews
