Check the atlases and maps for geographic information. Also, go to Government Docs (6^th floor

and Reference (1^st floor) for maps and country profiles. Also search the library catalog for

country profiles (see example above). Other sources include:

Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations

REF G63 .W67 2004

This 6-vol set contains the geography, history, politics and economics of countries.
   

CIA World Factbook (Available through the Library’s VRD)

http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

Information about countries worldwide, including literacy rates, land area, forms of government, and much more.
 

Library of Congress-Country Studies (Available through the Library’s VRD)

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html

Provides a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world. 
 

Background Notes – U.S. Dept of State (Available through the Library’s VRD)

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/

Facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign

relations.

Much government and economic information will also be found in the above sources. Here are a few other sources to check:

Legal systems of the world: a political, social, and cultural encyclopedia

REF K48 .L44

 

European Political Facts of the Twentieth Century

REF JN12 .C643

Current brief facts on European political facts

 

Country Statistical Agencies (Available through the Library’s VRD)

http://www.census.gov/main/www/stat_int.html

Links to government statistical agencies for individual countries. Includes the latest

statistics on economic indicators and categories relevant to a particular country.  Not every

country has a government website.

Major industries will also be discussed in the above sources. Below are other titles that focus specifically on industry and company information. Company rankings, such as Fortune’s Global 500 or Business Week’s Global 1,000 are available on the 2^nd floor in periodicals and electronically through our business databases (see reference librarian for help).

Encyclopedia of Global Industries

REF HD2324 .E53 2003

 

Manufacturing worldwide

REF HG4057 .M366

Industry analyses, statistics, products, and leading companies and countries.

 

Directory of American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries

REF HG4057 .D572
 

Directory of Corporate Affiliations

REF HG4057 .A219

Directory of private companies, including corporate affiliations; International directory of corporate affiliations.

 

International Directory of Company Histories

REF HD2721 .I63 1988

This is a 64-volume set that includes a cumulative index to companies and persons.

 

Handbook of Country Risk

REF HG4538 .H324 2003

Guide to international business and trade.

Overview information:

 

Countries and their Cultures

REF GN307 .C68

  

Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life

REF GN333 .W67

 

Marketing:

 

Handbook of Cross-Cultural Marketing [Reserve Desk]

HF5415 .H393

 

Consumer Behavior and Culture: consequences for global marketing and advertising

HF5415.32 .M66 (4^th flr)

 

Customs & Etiquette:

For books on cultural aspects of doing business, you may search the Library Catalog:

• Ex: China and business and culture (keyword search)

 

You may also search by subject heading:

• Ex: Advertising-cross-cultural studies

                   Business etiquette

                    Social life and customs
 

World Trade Press publishes a series on numerous countries’ business, customs and etiquette called “Portable encyclopedia…” or “Passport…”  Search the catalog by publisher name.

• Ex: Passport Argentina : your pocket guide to Argentine business, customs & etiquette

 

Kogan Page also publishes a series called “Doing business with…”

• Ex: Doing business with Germany

 

Wiley publishes a series by Dean Foster called “Global Etiquette…”

• Ex: Global etiquette guide to Europe: everything you need to know for business and travel success.

Other titles include:

Intercultural Business Communication

HF5389 .C47

 

Mind your Manners: Managing business cultures in new global Europe

HD70.E8 M653
 

Kiss, bow, or shake hands: how to do business in sixty countries [Reserve Desk]

HF5389 .M67

Business Failures:

In search of stupidity: over 20 years of high-tech marketing disasters

HD9696.63.A2 C53

 

A short course in international marketing blunders: mistakes made by companies that should have known better [Reserve Desk]

HF1416 .W48

 

Blunders in international business [Reserve Desk]

HD62.4 .R53