International Marketing

This guide will help you find library resources and Web resources that are relevant to your research.

  • To access online databases off-campus, sign in with your Odin account and password (the same combination you use for your PSU Webmail). If you don't have an Odin account, create one at: https://www.account.pdx.edu/ and get it activated at any OIT lab on campus.
  • Books are listed with their call number (e.g., HC411 .F19) and location (e.g., Reference).
  • Chat with a librarian

Global Data Locators

** "A data locator provides an index to information relating to a specific topic; that is, country, region or product market... more commonly, they cover information from a variety of sources." A good starting point for research, it's not necessarily exhaustive or up-to-date.

International Business Resource Desk @ globalEDGE
From the Center for International Business Education and Research at Michigan State University. Lists an extensive list of online resources that include not only the most widely used Web sites and databases, but also exclusive information such as the MSU-CIBER Market Potential Indicators.
Business Information on the Internet
Includes a selection of Internet sites, including those from UK, European and non-US sources useful for international business.

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Major Data Sources

** Governments and international organizations are the largest producers of statistical data and research reports.

United Nations Statistics Division

Provides statistics in main categories such as economic, demographic & social, environment & energy, etc. Some data are freely available, while others are subscription-based. Highlights include:

  • UNESCO Statistics: "Global and internationally comparable statistics on education, science, technology, culture and communication." 
World Bank

Important source of information on economic, social and natural resource indicators. Highlights include:

  • World Bank Data : multiple databases including World Development Indicators; covers a wide range of topics.
  • World development report: with focus on a different topic each year, contains selected indicators for over 200 countries.
US Government

When looking for information related to US and international business:

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Country Background Information

Business Source Premier (enhanced business searching interface)
Multiple country profiles and reports from various publishers are available from the BSP database. Time coverage varies, some go back 10 years.
Library Research Guide: Profiles of Nations

A collection of links to various websites with nation profiles.

See Also: Business Customs, Regulations, Trade, & Culture

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Country Statistics

Global Market Information Database (Core Statistics)
Provides extensive statistics (economic indicators, social indicators, and industry data) on over 350 markets and 207 countries. Data come from national statistical agencies, World Bank, IMF, trade associations, etc.
World Bank Data
Multiple databases including World Development Indicators; covers a wide range of topics.
SourceOECD (soon to be called OECDiLibrary)

Full text access to books, journals and statistical databases produced by OECD. Key resources include OECD Economic Outlook, OECD Economic Survey, Main Economic Indicators, International Direct Investment Statistics Yearbook, International Migration, etc. We have access to all data except for IEA data.

International Financial Statistics
Published by the IMF (International Monetary Fund), it includes a broad range of time series data on exchange rates, balance of payments, international liquidity, money and banking, interest rates, prices, production, international transactions, government accounts, national accounts and population.
China Data Online
Provides extensive economic and social data on China at the national, provincial, county and city levels. Internet Explorer Required
Nationmaster
Statistical data and ranking and other relevant information from various sources.
International Data Base (IDB)
Published by the Census Bureau's International Programs Center (IPC), IDB is computerized source of demographic and socioeconomic statistics for 227 countries and areas of the world. It combines data from country sources (especially censuses and surveys) with IPC's estimates and projections to provide information dating back as far as 1950 and as far ahead as 2050. Data coverage includes population, households, literacy, labor force, etc.
International Statistical Agencies
Compiled by the Census Bureau, here is a list of sites where most raw data come from. Most sites are in their native languages, although some may have an English version. A similar list is also available from the UN site.
GEOHIVE
"A site with geopolitical data, statistics on the human population, Earth and more. The main kind of data you can find here is on the population of regions, countries, provinces and cities. Next to that there are some statistics on economic factors like wealth, infrastructure; statistics on natural phenomena." Check out "charts" on the left navigation bar.
UN Statistics Division

Multiple statistical databases on a broad range of economic and social indicators. Major databases include Infonation, Population of Capital Cities of the World, and Social Indicators.

EuroStat

Extensive range of statistics and reports relating to the European Union and member countries.

Globalization Index & others

Research reports by AT Kearney on various topics.

World Competitiveness Yearbook
Annual report on the competitiveness of nations, ranking and analyzing how a nation’s environment creates and sustains the competitiveness of enterprises.

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Business Customs, Regulations, Trade, & Culture

EIU Country Intelligence
Provides detailed reports on country commerce (operating conditions and business regulations), country finance (financial regulations and conditions), business briefings, business intelligence and summary analysis.
:: Trade-related resources ::
:: Key Reference Books ::  
  • The Europa world year book
  • Culturegrams: GT150 .C85 (Reference)
  • Craighead's international business, travel, and relocation guide to... countries: HF5549.5.E45 D56 (Reference)
  • Countries and their cultures: GN307 .C68 (Reference)
  • Worldmark encyclopedia of cultures and daily life: GN333 .W67 (Reference)
  • Use keywords such as “business etiquette” in PSU WorldCat.

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 Company, Industry, & Market

Bureau Van Djik Mint Global
Provides company profiles (over 50 million companies worldwide) and industry profiles (from Datamonitor). Best for looking up information on a specific company.
Bureau Van Djik Orbis
Provides company profiles (over 50 million companies worldwide) and industry profiles (from Datamonitor). Best for looking up a list of companies that match various criteria.
Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage
Company profiles, industry surveys, mutual fund information.
Business Source Premier
Comprehensive profiles on both public and large private (e.g., Hallmark Cards, Inc.) companies (with SWOT analysis), and detailed industry profiles.
LexisNexis Academic Universe
Go to the "Business" tab and find "company dossier" etc. Company information from multiple sources.
Global Market Information Database (Core Statistics)
Provides extensive statistics (economic indicators, social indicators, and industry data) on over 350 markets and 207 countries. Data come from national statistical agencies, World Bank, IMF, trade associations, etc.
Mintel Reports
Market research reports and consumer demographic/lifestyle profiles. Mostly for US, some for the global market.
Each user must set up a unique profile using an @pdx.edu address.
Investext
A "premier financial research database" that offers "investment, company and industry reports from over 500 brokers in North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East." Covers both public and private companies.
:: Advertising & Market Research Agencies::
  • The Advertising Red Books - Agencies: HF5805 .S72 (Reference): agency contact info, specializations, approx. annual billings and breakdown by media, various rankings of top agencies. Free trial to online database available.
  • Green book: International directory of marketing research houses and services
  • Blue Book: Marketing Research Association's Research Services Directory
  • ESOMAR: World Association of Opinion and Marketing Research Professionals Directory of Research Organisations

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Multi-purpose Resources

Business Source Premier
Search for miscellaneous information such as the market share of video games, anything related to video games in South Korea, etc.
LexisNexis Academic Universe
General and business news, press releases, magazine/journal articles from around the world.
Wall Street Journal Online
Full text articles from WSJ, 1984-present.
:: Related Databases & Guide::

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Ask the Library || School of Business Administration || Portland State University
Last Updated 10/18/2010 KW

Global Data Locators
Major Data Sources
Country Background
Country Statistics
Customs, Regulations, Trade, Culture
Company, Market, Industry
Multi-purpose Resources