Getting the Edge on Global Data
Jinfo Blog

By Gary Price

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Let’s face it: Conducting international business research can be a stressful undertaking. Often the most challenging part is getting your bearings and getting started.

This is why I like the globalEDGE portal from Michigan State University. It’s a great place to get basic info and quickly identify resources that might be useful in your quest to answer the query. It’s also a great development tool to find resources worthy of a place in your local collection or bookmarks. Best of all, access to globalEDGE is completely free.

The site is organized into six sections each filled with content. Here are just a few highlights.

First up is the Resource Desk. This section is home to a massive and continuously updated directory of sites that have been hand chosen by the staff of globalEDGE. The directory can be keyword searched or browsed.

Other useful features are the RSS feed or web page containing new additions/updated sites. The Resource Desk section is also home to the Market Potential Index and the wonderful Database of International Business Statistics (registration required, free).

The second section is Country Insights. It contains statistical data for 199 countries around the globe. You’ll also find links to Country Comparator, which allows you to quickly compare statistics from one country with another.

Another section is titled State Insights and contains statistics, trade info and more for each of the 50 United States.

The fourth section of globalEDGE is Industry Profiles. Here you’ll find background, news, events, and stats organized by industry.

The next section contains the globalEDGE blog, with news and commentary of interest to those involved in international business. News of new blog postings is also available via Twitter.

The final section is the Global Academy. Here, you’ll be able to access academic info including course syllabi, info on publishers, conference announcements, and the globalEDGE Job Bank.

What we’ve listed above only scratches the surface of what globalEDGE has to offer. Spend some time here and you’ll come to find this site a useful companion when conducting international business research. I also recommend subscribing to the globalEdge monthly newsletter. It’s a great way to stay current with the content and features this wonderful portal offers.

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