Major Research Tools

Europa World

Data, Full-Text

Up-to-date profiles of countries of the world. Includes political histories, economic statistics, and directory-style information on politics, media, and business. A "comparative statistics" section can be used to generate tables of comparative data on countries in formats suitable for exporting into Excel or SPSS.


IMF eLibrary data

Data

Time series data on the financial and monetary conditions of countries around the world. From the International Monetary Fund.


World Databank

Data
Coverage: 1960-present

Country-level, time series data from the World Bank. Topics covered include demographics, the economy, the environment, health, and education. Data may be saved as Excel or ASCII files.


Other Suggested Research Tools

Country Risk Assessment

Full-Text
Information assessing the risk in conducting business in countries worldwide.

Doing Business: Benchmarking Business Regulations

Data

Data on business regulations in 155 countries. Topics covered include starting a business, hiring and firing, and paying taxes. From the World Bank.


Eurostat

Data

Detailed statistical information on the European Union and EU member states, provided by the European Union.


Global Commodities

Data, Full-Text

Primary sources such as manuscripts/diaries, rare books, maps, paintings, advertisements, company records, etc., covering the global history of 15 major commodities: chocolate, coffee, cotton, fur, energy, opium, porcelain, silver & gold, spices, sugar, tea, timber, tobacco, wheat, wine & spirits. Also includes data on energy production, consumption, and reserves by country from 1965 to the present.


ILOSTAT Database

Data

Time series data on labor and employment for over 200 countries. From the International Labour Office.


International Trade

Full-Text

Sources for current and historical foreign trade statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.


OECD Economic Outlook Statistics and Projections

Data
Coverage: 1970-two years into future

Extensive macroeconomic time series data for OECD countries and non-OECD zones. Includes historical statistics as well as projections extending two years beyond the current date.


Penn World Table

Data

Coverage: 1950-2019

Times series, national accounts data for countries around the world. Provides data in a way that allows for meaningful comparisons between countries and over time.


QWIDS: Query Wizard for International Development Statistics

Data

Data on the volume, origin, and types of aid and resource flows to over 150 developing countries and territories. From the OECD.


SICE: Foreign Trade Information System

Full-Text, Gateway

Data, legislation, lists of links, and other information on trade in the Western hemisphere. Includes the full text of trade agreements. From the Organization of American States.


Statista

Data

Statistics and studies gathered by market researchers, trade organizations, scientific publications, and government sources on over 600 industries


Trade Statistics

Data

Data on U.S. commodity trade, including global trade patterns and state and metro-area export statistics.


UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics

Data

Country-level data covering trade and investment. Includes data on exports and imports by commodity, foreign investments, balance of payments, etc.


World Inequality Database

Data

Data on the distribution of income and wealth, both within countries and between countries.


World Investment Report

Data

Coverage: 1970 - present

Time series data on foreign direct investment. Includes aggregate data for the world and for regions as well as data for individual countries. Provided by the United Nations. Portions of the site require free registration.


WTO History Project

Full-Text

Collection documenting the 1999 protests of the World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle. Includes interviews with protest organizers and participants, photos, signs, fliers, and planning documents. Compiled by the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington.