Welcome to the International Business Research Guide
This guide provides links to key business resources including both public web sites and USC resources including databases, public websites, books and journals.
Please explore the tabs at the top of this guide and don't hesitate to contact Christy, Ed or Kim in the Gaughan & Tiberti Business Library if you have any questions.
Please comment below if you have any suggestions or feedback on this guide.
Thanks,
- Christy, Ed,and Kim
USC MARSHALL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS LIBRARY INFORMATION
The Gaughan & Tiberti Business Library is located in Fertitta Hall (1st floor; JFF 101) (map)
The Accounting Library is located in the Accounting Building (1st floor; ACC 105) (map)
Hours of operation for both libraries can be found here. Both libraries provide computers for student use, group study rooms, individual study space and collections of print journals, newspapers, reference works and other books.
In-person reference assistance is usually available from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM M-F, but it's usually best to email Christy, Ed or Kim to set up an appointment.
Public Websites for Country Information
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Bank for International SettlementsCentral Bank websites and Central Bank Research Hub
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Doing Business In...Published by World Bank. Country reports are temporarily suspended until 2023.
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Economist - Topics IndexSearch the alphabet to find articles indexed on countries worldwide.
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Export.govData collected by U.S. Commercial Service for promoting U.S. good abroad. Search for countries under Opportunities Tab; other resources include industry market reports, guides and statistics and events.
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Global Competitiveness ReportPublished annually by the World Economic Forum. Contains comparative rankings of countries along defined "pillars" (enabling environment, human capital, infrastructure, and readiness framework).
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Global Enabling Trade ReportPublished irregularly by the World Economic Forum (2016 is the latest edition).
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GlobalEdgeUniversity of Michigan's site for Global information and links
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Grant Thornton International Business ReportInternational Business Reports (IBR) Economy focus series vary by year.
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Heritage Foundation: Index of Economic FreedomPublished annually
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International Monetary Fund - Country ReportsEconomic and banking news and profiles
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International Trade CentreA partner for small business export success in developing countries.
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Legatum Institute - Legatum Prosperity IndexThe Legatum Institute is an independent, non-partisan pubic policy group based in London. Rankings by country and region and brief country profiles.
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Lex Mundi - Association of Independent Law FirmsIndex to 'Doing Business in' reports for a variety of countries prepared by independent law firms.
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OECDCountry ocioeconomic and statistical data as well as special reports that vary by country.
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Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeCountry specific data and factsheets on trade, exports, trade agreements and information to develop and coordinate international trade.
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PKF Doing Business inLinks to country reports published throughout the year.
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National U.S. Trade Data - U.S. Export.govIncludes TradeStats Express and Trade Policy Information System (TPIS) covering merchandise exports, imports, trade balances and State export dta
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U.S. Census Bureau: International Statistical AgenciesNational Statistical Offices/Agencies listed by country or organization
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U.S. Chamber of CommerceIncludes link to AmCham Directory
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U.S. State Department - Bilateral Relations Fact SheetsReplaces 'Background Notes'
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UNDP - Human Development ReportsReports, Indices & Data by Country on Human Development (e.g. Health, Education, Income, Gender, Poverty, Sustainability and Inequality
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World BankSocial and Economic statistics and special reports.
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World Economic ForumSearch for country insights, global trade analysis, global risk, and other international topic reports.
USC International Business Databases
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BCC Research This link opens in a new windowAll reports are "global" but contain regional analysis with some individual country data.
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EIU (Economic Intelligence Unit) This link opens in a new windowContains Country Reports, Country Commerce Reports and more from the Economist Intelligence Unit.
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EMIS This link opens in a new windowProvides coverage of emerging economies in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America including articles, financial statements, industry analyses, equity quotes, macroeconomic statistics, and market-specific information.
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Global Road Warrior This link opens in a new windowBusiness travel guide and country background information.
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IBISWorld This link opens in a new windowDetailed market research and analysis on over 700 U.S. industries as well as Global Industry Reports, China Industry Reports and Business Environment Reports.
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OECD iLibrary This link opens in a new windowOnline library of Organization for the Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistical databases, books and periodicals
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Passport This link opens in a new windowPassport: International company, country, industry and market information.
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ProQuest Statistical Insight This link opens in a new windowOffers three major sources (federal, state and international) of statistical data tables, publications and links.
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US Commercial Service Market Research LibraryInternational market research and country commercial guides available from the US Government. Registration is required for academic users.
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USA Trade Online This link opens in a new windowDescribes the use of Trade Stats Express and USA Trade Online for official US government import and export statistics.
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World Bank Worldwide Development Indicators This link opens in a new windowThe World Bank's World Development Indicators provides direct access to more than 700 development indicators, with time series for 208 countries and 18 country groups from 1960 to present.
USC Article Databases
Search for articles written about business in a specific country in ABI/Inform, Factiva and Lexis/Nexis Academic. Some possible topics are "COUNTRY NAME" or INDUSTRY TRENDS and Name of Country" Use database search tools (Search Builder, Advanced Search or Search Options) to limit by location (geography or region). Search for articles written about business in locally published publications listed under media.
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ABI/INFORM CollectionArticles from leading business journals, magazines, trade publications and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and much more.
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EBSCO Business Source CompleteBusiness news database. Search COUNTRY NAME by selecting 'SU Subject Terms' from drop down menu
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FactivaGood source of current news. You can limit your search to publications by country by going to the Search Builder then limit your search by "Region"
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LexisNexis Academic (Nexis Uni)Another good source of international business news, go to Power Search, then limit search by "Geography"
Gini-Coefficients
The Gini coefficient measure the inequalty among values of a frequency of distribution e.g. income on a scale of 0-1.
- A Gini coefficient of 0 expresses perfect equality where are values are the same.
- A Gini coefficient of 1 (100 on the percentile scale) expresses maximal inequality among value where one person has all the income.
- LIS Cross National Data CenterHome of the Luxembourg Income Study Database and the Luxembourg Wealth Study Database.
See Data Access for databases; registration is required to download microdata sets, but detailed 'Key Figures' in Excel can be downloaded without registration. - University of Texas - Inequality Project (UTIP)Datasets on pay inequality at the global level and the national level with interactive world map visualization.
- World Bank - Poverty & InequalityKeyword search "gini" to find documentation explaining the Gini-coefficient
- World Bank Development Indicators (WDI) & Global Development Finance (GDF)Select 'INDICATORS' tab. Select Gini Index. Data can e downloaded to a variety of formats.
- World Income Inequality Database (WID)Provides various measures of income inequality for 152 countries or areas, in some cases, prior to 1960.
Contact Us for Assistance
Christy Kane
Business Librarian, Acting Head of Business & Accounting libraries
(213) 740-1514
kanec@usc.edu
Eduardo Tinoco
Business Librarian
(213) 740-9167
etinoco@marshall.usc.edu
Kimberly Esser
Business Information Specialist
(213) 740-6255
kimberle@usc.edu
Gaughan & Tiberti Business Library
Fertitta Hall - JFF 101
(213) 740-8520
library@marshall.usc.edu
Country Risk Reports
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AM Best Country Risk - Public WebsiteAM Best is a full-service credit rating organization serving the insurance industry. Select country to download reports.
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Coface - Public WebsiteCoface is a trade receivables consulting firm and provides risk analysis by country.
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Euromoney Country Risk - Public WebsiteRisk analysis from ECR with emphasis on financial and political factors. Paid membership is required for full access.
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EBSCO Business Source CompleteIf you search under the Publications tab for POLITICAL RISK YEARBOOK, you will find links to the PRS Risk Reports for countries around the world.
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LexisNexis Academic (Nexis Uni)Risk guides from PRS Group International can be accessed via LexisNexis Academic on the Easy Search page. In the lower left corner, you will see a box called RESEARCH COUNTRIES. Select your country from the dropdown box and then select PRS RISK GUIDE & SERVICE and a date range (6 months is recommended) and click GO. Scan through the results for reports specifically on your country. Not every country will have a risk report.