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
- Bank for International SettlementsCentral Bank websites and Central Bank Research Hub
- CIA World Factbookbasic information on issues for 266 countries (history, people, government, economy, energy, geography, environment, etc)
- Economist - SearchSearch The Economist website by country for articles published about them.
- Global InsightsMichigan State database that provides international business and trade information on over 200 countries, the US, approximately two dozen industry sectors, and many of the world’s trade blocs.
- Grant Thornton International Business Reportinsights into international business based on the world’s leading survey of mid-market companies.
- International Monetary Fund - Country ReportsEconomic and banking news and profiles
- International Trade CentreData and analysis from an organization that supports small businesses in developing countries
- Legatum Prosperity Indexannual ranking of 167 countries which uses 300 indicators to measure the current state of prosperity in each country and how it has changed over the past decade.
- LexMundi Country Guidesbackground information for corporate counsels on working in 100+ countries, compiled by local independent law firms.
- OECDone of the world's largest and most reliable sources of global statistical, economic and social data.
- Office of the U.S. Trade RepresentativeCountry specific data on trade, exports, and investments.
- PKF - Doing Business incountry reports published by a global network of accountancy firms.
- U.S. Census Bureau: International Statistical AgenciesNational Statistical Offices by country
- U.S. international trade statistics - export.govcurrent and historical U.S. goods trade data
- U.S. State Department - Bilateral Relations Fact Sheetsreports on US relations with other countries
- UNDP - Human Development ReportsReports, Indices & Data by Country on Human Development (e.g. Health, Education, Income, Gender, Poverty, Sustainability and Inequality
- World BankSocial and Economic statistics and special reports.
- World Bank Business Ready (B-READY)A new report benchmarking the business environment and investment climate in most economies worldwide.
- World Bank Doing Business archivenow discontinued, Doing Business measured business regulations for local firms in 190 countries.
- World Economic ForumSearch for country insights, global trade analysis, global risk, and other international topic reports.
USC International Business Databases
- BCC Research This link opens in a new windowAll reports are "global" but contain regional analysis with some individual country data.
- EIU Viewpoint (Economic Intelligence Unit) This link opens in a new windowContains Country Reports, Country Commerce Reports and more from the Economist Intelligence Unit.
- Global Road Warrior This link opens in a new windowBusiness travel guide and country background information.
- 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.
- Passport This link opens in a new windowPEST analyses evaluate external opportunities and threats for a business, looking at Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors. Search by "PEST analysis" and country to find PEST analyses for 210 countries under the Analysis tab.
- ProQuest Statistical Insight This link opens in a new windowOffers three major sources (federal, state and international) of statistical data tables, publications and links.
- US Commercial Service Market Research LibraryInternational market research and country commercial guides available from the US Government. Registration is required for academic users.
- 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.
- 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.
- ABI/INFORM Collection This link opens in a new windowArticles from leading business journals, magazines, trade publications and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and much more.
- EBSCO Business Source Complete This link opens in a new windowBusiness news database. Search COUNTRY NAME by selecting 'SU Subject Terms' from drop down menu
- Factiva This link opens in a new windowGood 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"
- Nexis Uni (formerly LEXIS/NEXIS Academic) This link opens in a new windowAnother 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.
Business & Accounting Libraries
This guide is part of a series that aims to provide resources for business-related topics and courses at Marshall and USC.
For additional research help, please contact us:
Country Risk Reports
- AM Best Country Risk - Public WebsiteAM Best is a full-service credit rating organization serving the insurance industry. Select country to download reports.
- Coface - Public WebsiteCoface is a trade receivables consulting firm and provides risk analysis by country.
- EBSCO Business Source Complete This link opens in a new windowIf you search under the Publications tab for POLITICAL RISK YEARBOOK, you will find links to the PRS Risk Reports for countries around the world.
- Global Risks ReportPublished annually by the World Economic Forum. Tracks global risk perceptions among world leaders across economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal, and technological factors
- International Institute for Management Development – World Competitiveness Rankingscomprehensive annual report and worldwide reference point on the competitiveness of countries
- Allianz Trade Country Reportseconomic analysis and risk ratings from a leading trade credit insurance company.
- Nexis Uni (formerly LEXIS/NEXIS Academic) This link opens in a new windowRisk 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.