Information sources regarding international business can include anything from background information regarding the region or country to detailed information regarding a specific company. Sources listed here are only some of the sources available. In practice, each person will need to go beyond the basic sources to cover a specific topic as completely as possible. The TULANET, which includes books of all the Tulane Libraries, except the Law Library, is a point at which to begin a thorough search for international information. While the emphasis is on library material, material from electronic sources is also included.

Country Background Information

STAT-USA (National Trade Data Bank)
Databases produced by the US Department of Commerce, including the National Trade Data Bank and Country Commercial Guides.
Location: Web
The NTDB is the U.S. government's most comprehensive source of world trade data and business information. It is a trade library of over 200,000 documents from more than 20 federal agencies. It provides types of information needed to make export decisions and develop export strategies. Included below is a list of some of the publications that it includes: 

• Country Commercial Guides are produced annually at the U S. Embassies in the various countries and present a comprehensive look at the commercial environment through economic, political and market analyses. They include the areas of economic trends and outlook, political environment, information on marketing US products and services, best prospects for US exports, trade regulations, investment climate, trade and project financing, and business travel. The appendices will list statistics, contacts, commercial banks, market research reports, and trade event schedules.
• Market Research Reports are produced by the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service within the Commerce Department. Several types of reports are produced to keep US exporters informed regarding such topics as market analysis, market access, leading imports, trade barriers, market size, market characteristics, competitive analysis, market outlook, economic trends, trade events, and government regulations. Under the MRR series are reports titled Best Market Reports, Industry Sector Analyses, and International Market Insight Reports, which gives an overview in each country of practices such as export/import, commercial policies, foreign investment, intellectual property rights, taxation policies, regulatory agencies, and useful contacts.

Library of Congress Country Studies
This website contains the on-line versions of books previously published in hard copy by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Army. Because the original intent of the Series' sponsor was to focus primarily on lesser known areas of the world or regions in which U.S. forces might be deployed, the series is not all-inclusive. Some are outdated, but nonethless contain a detailed historical and political background.

Country Watch
Information and news on the countries of the world, and for the public and private sector organizations with global operations and interests

International Statistical Agencies 
Country by country list of the agency within the country that reports domestic statistical information

IMF Country Information
Includes country reports, working papers, and other news of interest pertaining to relations with the International Monetary Fund. 

World Factbook
From the U. S. Central Intelligence Agency

State Department Background Notes
Short country profiles in a pamphlet format produced by the US  Department of State. They provide basic cultural, demographic, and economic data. 

Country Reports, Bureau of Economic & Business Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State
Intended to provide a single, comparative analysis of the economic policies and trade practices of countries with which the United States has significant economic or trade relationships

Embassy Links
Links to embassies in Washington, D.C.

World Bank's Doing Business
Measures of business regulations and their enforcement

International Economic, Marketing, and Demographic Data

Reuter's Business Insight
Market research reports from an international and European perspective.

Datamonitor's Business Information Center
Includes market research reports and other information on 10,000 companies, 2,000 industries, and 50 countries

International Financial Statistics
Monthly statistics from the IMF

OECD Economic Surveys
In-depth reviews of Member countries' economies and selected non-Member countries.

International Monetary Fund. Government Finance Statistics Yearbook .
Location: Howard-Tilton Reference Desk (HJ 101 .G68)
Covering 135 countries, this annual publication provides detailed data on revenue, grants, expenditures, financing, lending, and debt of central governments over the last 10 years.

International Monetary Fund. Direction of Trade Statistics Yearbook .
Location: Business Reference (HF91.I65)
Import and export data by country for 184 countries. Data is listed in dollar value and over the last 7 years.

International Labor Organization. Yearbook of Labor Statistics .
Location: Business Reference (HD4826.I63)
Principal labor statistics for over 180 countries over the last 10 years. Includes statistics on employment, unemployment, work hours, wages, labor cost, consumer prices, and occupational injuries.

OECD. Monthly statistics of foreign trade .
Location: Howard-Tilton (HF91 .O672A).
Lists trade of the OECD member states.

Political Risk Services .
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe
Issues country reports, executive reports, fact sheets, and forecasts on 100 countries of the world. Topics such as political developments and stability, economic forecasts, financial risk, and export markets.

United Nations. Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis. International Trade Statistics Yearbook .
Location: Business Reference HF91.U473
Trade by country and trade by individual commodity over a 4 year period. Commodity statistics are given in weight and value.

United Nations. Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis. Demographic Yearbook .
Location: Business Reference HA 17 .D45
Includes population, birth and mortality rates, marriage and divorce statistics, and economic characteristics.

United Nations. Department of International Economic and Social Affairs . World Economic Survey .
Location Howard-Tilton HC 59 .A169
Annual publication which gives an overview and discussion of the major international economic developments of the past year, along with short-term forecasts for the different regions of the world. There is a detailed table of contents but no index.

United Nations. Department of International Economic and Social Affairs. Monthly Bulletin of Statistics .
Location: Howard-Tilton HC 57 .U66
Includes monthly statistics from member countries of population, employment, commerce and industry, wages and prices, and finance. Individual issues often contain special features.

Index to International Statistics .
Location: Howard-Tilton Reference
An index to the statistical publications on international intergovernmental organizations to include basic information on population, business and financial statistics, foreign trade, education, health, and other economic, demographic, and political characteristics.

Regional and Country Data

For books regarding a specific country or region, search TULANET by using the country name as a subject, and commerce or economic conditions or economic policy as a subheading. (Example: s=Mexico--commerce)

Besher, Alexander. The Pacific Rim almanac. Location: Howard-Tilton (HF 4030.7 .Z6 B47 1991)

Euromonitor. Asian Advertising, Marketing & Media Handbook : A Directory and Sourcebook. Location: Business Taiwan Collection (HF3301.85 .A1A85) Lists economic indicators, advertising data, and leading media organizations in 13 Asian countries.

Europe 1992 : a practical guide for American business . Location: Business (HC241.2 .E81287 1989)

The European business environment . Location: Howard-Tilton (HF 3496.5 .E945 1994)

Country Business Guide Series . Location: Business Library Subtitled The Portable Encyclopedia for doing Business With ..., we have the guides for Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, and Mexico.

China business : the portable encyclopedia for doing business with China . BUSINESS Taiwan Collection

Doing business with Latin America . Location: Howard-Tilton Latin American Library.

Dunung, Sanjyot P. Doing business in Asia : the complete guide. Location: BUSINESS Taiwan Collection (BUSINESS Taiwan ROC HF1583 .D86 1995)

Enderlyn, Allyn. Cracking Latin America : a country-by-country guide to doing business in the world's newest emerging markets . Location: Business (HF3230.5.A48 E53 1994)

The executive guide to Asia-Pacific communications : doing business across the Pacific . Location: BUSINESS Taiwan ( HF5718.2.A78 J36 1995)

Export Caribbean : a guide to doing business in the Caribbean . Location: Howard-Tilton Gov't Documents.

Russia survival guide : the definitive guide to doing business and traveling in Russia . Location: BUSINESS (DK510.22 .R87 1995)

Tuller, Lawrence W. Doing business in Latin America and the Caribbean : including Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Central America, South America. HT Latin American Library (HF 3230.5 .Z5 T85 1993)

Winsor, Anita. The complete guide to doing business in Mexico . Location: Business (HF3066 .W74 1994)

Export Information

For a complete list of our books, search TULANET by the subject of export marketing or exports. Keep in mind also that the Government Documents Section will have a good deal of information on the practical side of exporting. Included below are only a small sample of the total number of books regarding exports.

Export America (Online)
Issued monthly, and originally called Business America.

Trade services directory & guide. Location: Business Reference KF 6652 .O35 2001

Ports of entry & U.S. import regulations. Location: Business Reference KF 6652 .O35 2001

U.S. harmonized tariff schedule. Location: Business Reference KF 6652 .O35 2001

Export/import procedures and documentation Location: BUSINESS (HF1416.5 .J64 1994)

Gordon, John S. Profitable exporting : a complete guide to marketing your products abroad. Location: Business (HF1416.5 .G67 1993)

Sletten, Eric. How to succeed in exporting and doing business internationally. Location: Business (HF1416.5 .S57 1994)

The world is your market : an export guide for small business . Location: BUSINESS (HF1416.5 .W67 1990)

Periodicals and Newspapers

A convenient way to access the mainstream business periodical literature, both academic and non-academic, is through the ABI/Inform database in the library. While not inclusive, this database indexes a number of journals and magazines containing articles concerning international business and exporting goods and services from the US.

Listed below are some of journals and newspapers that will include articles dealing with international business and exports. All will be indexed in ABI/Inform, Factiva, Lexis-Nexis, or Business Source Premier.

Asia Money . Monthly magazine published by Euromoney that covers Asian financial markets, business, and the economy. Special issues often highlight particular countries or sectors.

Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly . Newspaper from Hong Kong that contains news regarding Asian markets. Full text in Lexis/Nexis.

Columbia Journal of World Business . Quarterly journal that contains articles of a more academic nature than a news magazine.

Economist . Weekly. This has sections labeled Economic Indicators, Financial Indicators and Emerging-Market Indicators. All major OECD countries are covered and a few others. Full text in Lexis/Nexis.

Euromoney . A monthly magazine that covers the world's capital and money markets. Special supplements focus on particular countries or topics.

Far Eastern Economic Review . Weekly. This publication gives economic and financial indicators for countries in the Far East.

Financial Times . Daily British paper that covers an international range of business topics. Full text in Lexis/Nexis.

El Financiero . Weekly newspaper from Mexico City that Latin American business news and markets.

Global Finance . Monthly publication written for money managers and others involved in international financing of business operations.

Journal of Commerce . Daily newspaper which reports on exporting and international markets.

Latin Finance . A monthly magazine that concentrates on Latin American business and financial markets.

Nikkei Weekly . Newspaper from Tokyo that contains news articles on Japanese business and the Japanese economy. Full text in Lexis/Nexis.

Online Databases
Bloomberg: Bloomberg provides information on financial market and commodity news. Major subject areas include equity valuation and derivatives, portfolio analysis, cross currency analysis, technical analysis, bond valuation, bond swaps and switches, and futures and options. There is online help within each sector, as well as an expert help file. There are also occasional Bloomberg workshops.