Shana Gass, MSLS, MS
Reference Librarian
Liaison for Management
Cook Library, Towson University
Questions? Email me: sgass@towson.edu

Library Databases: Log in with your 14-digit library barcode (on the front of your TU OneCard) + last name

Don’t have your OneCard? Log in here with your username (NetId) and password and you can retrieve the barcode.

Key Web Sites for International Business

• GlobalEdge from Michigan State University
  Free registration recommended. Countries, industries, statistics/indicators, resource desk, glossary and more.
  
  Also helpful:

• Library of Congress’ Portals to the World – Spain
  

• OFFSTATS: Official Statistics on the Web [browse by country/region, topic]

Country Profiles

Covering history, economics, politics, culture, society, etc., depending on the profile

• BBC: Spain Country Profile

• Business Source Complete > Country Profiles, including Economist Intelligence Unit ^{[library database]}
  
  Search steps: http://screencast.com/t/YjVhOWY3NDUt
  
  

• Economic Intelligence Unit (CIAO database) - Spain ^{[library database]}  

• Economist Intelligence Unit - Global Tech Forum: Doing e-Business in Spain

• Countries & Their Cultures: Spain ^{[library database]}  

• Doing Business in Spain – U.S. Ambassador to Spain

• Europa World Plus: Spain profile ^{[library database]}  

• Living in Spain - By Expats, For Expats

• U.S. Commercial Service – Spain

• U.S. Department of State – Background Notes – Spain

Risk Ratings & News

• Lexis Nexis Academic > PRS Political Risk Service/PRS Group International Country Risk Guide ^{[library database]}  
  
  Tips:

  • Be sure to adjust date limit before searching (try 1 year).

  • Afterwards, you probably want to sort by relevance.
    

• Factiva > Search for risk news for a country! ^{[library database]}  
  
  Step 1: Using the Intelligent Indexing categories – click Region. Search for, then select your country.
  Step 2: Next, again in the Intelligent Indexing, click Subject. Search for Risk News; select.
  Step 3: Finally, hit the green Run Search button.
  
  To see the Intelligent indexing technique in action, take a look at the tutorial below [requires Flash]
  (different search topic, but should give you the gist of it)
  
  

• Other sources of Risk info:

  • A.M. Best [country risk rankings from this credit rating company]

  • Aon [register for a free political risk map from this consulting co.]

  • A.T. Kearney - Global Retail Development Index

  • Coface @ratings [Coface provides debt recovery/insurance & ratings services]

  • OECD Country Risk Classification [measures credit risk]

  • ONDD - Belgian Export Credit Agency ["visualize the risk zones"!]

  • World Economic Forum has Global Risk reports for a bigger picture

  • For more, see Global Edge's links to free sources of risk info

Country Statistics & Rankings

• Doing Business – World Bank

  • Spanish Economy

• Market Potential Index – Michigan State

• OFFSTATS: Official Statistics on the Web [browse by country/region, topic]

• World Bank – Development Indicators

  • Spain

• International Monetary Fund

  • Data (some is not free)

  • Financial Data (summary) by Country

News

If you don’t read Spanish, try Google Translate……but don’t start an international incident ;)

• BBC – Europe

• Economist – Europe

• Financial Times - Europe

• Kidon Media-Link: Spanish news links (a few are in English)

• NY York Times – Spain

• Topix News – Spain [various sources]

• Wall Street Journal – Europe & European Union

• And of course library databases Factiva & LexisNexis Academic

Government & International Organization Web Sites

• European Union

International Labour Organisation

• International Monetary Funds

  • Spain - Country info

  • IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook for Europe

• NATO

• Spanish Stock Markets

  • Bolsa de Madrid

  • Bolsa de Barcelona

• United Nations

• U.S. Department of Commerce - International Trade Association

• U.S. Consulate in Barcelona

• World Trade Organization

 

International Companies

LexisNexis Academic > Business >  Company Dossier > Dossier Create List of Companies ^{[library database]}  
Search by region, industry code, revenue, etc.

 

Kompass (not all info is free)

 

Solusource

associated with the Thomas Register of Manufacturers -- international manufacturers directory

 

Large international companies may be profiled in:

 

Business Source Complete > Company Profiles & SWOT Analyses from Datamonitor ^{[library database]}  

Search Steps:

Search for name of company.

On left hand side, select Narrow by > Source Type > More > SWOT Analyses OR Company Profiles


Examples:
IKEA

Banco Santander S.A.

 

International Industries

 Industry Associations / Info

• Asociación Española de Banca

• European Retail Roundtable

• International Olive Oil Council

• Espavino.com: Spanish Regions & their Wine
  

Business Source Complete > Industry Profiles ^{[library database]}  

Search steps: search for industry and country/region

Examples:          
spain and soft drinks

automobile* and europe

Next, on left hand side, select Narrow by > Source Type > More > Industry Profiles

Examples: Insurance Industry Profile: Spain

 

Factiva ^{[library database]}  

You can search for news by region AND industry!

Step 1: Using the Intelligent Indexing categories – click Region. Search for, then select your country.

Step 2: Next, again in the Intelligent Indexing, click Industry. Search for your industry [look at descriptions (i icons) if you are uncertain about what to choose]; select.

Step 3: Finally, hit the green Run Search button.

 

 

To see the Intelligent indexing technique in action, view this tutorial:

(the example is refrigerators in China!)

 

 




Questions?

Want assistance with finding info on Spanish business?

Shana would be happy to help you.




Take me to Shana's Courses page.
Take me to the Cook Library Web Site, and make it fast!