We answer a lot of questions here at the Business and Economics Library, and we’re always happy to help. But some people like to help themselves. To make this a little easier, we’re creating a knowledgebase, where you can search through the answers we’ve given to frequently asked questions. You can even submit new questions.

This tool is in the top left corner of our page. Go ahead and give it a try. And don’t worry, you can still contact us using the live chat widget, or by phone or email, or you can visit us in person.

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Will Russia and the rest of the CIS soon face a period of unrest and upheavals similar to the “Arab Spring,”  which has spread throughout the MENA region? A free publication by the Economist Intelligence Unit, called the Democracy Index 2011, discusses this issue in more depth and covers a host of other issues pertaining to the state of democracy worldwide.

Click on the following link and enter your information for instant access  Democracy Index 2011

Our increasingly digitized world offers unique opportunities for businesses hoping to expand their impact. eMarketer is a valuable resource for finding data and reports on electronic marketing. This database allows you to find charts and tables of digital usage across a variety of countries and industries. These can be exported to excel, jpeg, or PowerPoint and have citations built-in for easy usage.

In addition, eMarketer provides detailed reports on industry and consumer trends. For instance, in the “Online Holiday Shopping Preview,” eMarketer reported, “Consumers have become more resourceful and versatile at finding deals online. They effortlessly move across sites offering coupons, Black Friday promotions, flash sales, daily deals and comparison shopping tools.” This type of information allows companies to create better strategies to engage customers.

To access eMarketer, click here.  A video tutorial, found here, demonstrates the key features of eMarketer. Also, this website allows anyone (including students who have graduated) to receive a daily newsletter with two new articles every weekday. You can sign up for this service here.

KLD Research and Analytics, a database available to students through the library’s subscription to Wharton Research Data Services, is the leading authority on social research for institutional investors. KLD offers statistical data on 90+ social, environmental, and governance indicators for up to 3,000 publicly traded companies.  Over 40 peer-reviewed articles have used data from KLD to research trends in corporate social responsibility.

Access to KLD is quick and easy for students; first, access the WRDS database by clicking here. Log in using your BYU Net ID and password, enter your email into the email bar on the left-hand side of the page and you will be emailed an all access link to the WRDS database. Once you follow the link a list of all WRDS data sets will be on the left-hand side of the page, including the KLD database.

Interested in the sports, fitness, and recreation industry? The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) database is an excellent source for sports participation rates and an extensive amount of industry and market segment reports. SGMA industry reports highlight key trends in the industry, with statistical information on industry sales and outlooks for major product segments. Some of the reports you will find on the SGMA database include:
• Participation Report
• Industry Reports
• Market Segment Reports
• Financial Reports

The fastest growing team sport in the United States last year was lacrosse, with an increase in participation of 33%! Want to know the other fastest growing sports in the United States and which sports are expected to decline in future years? Check out the SGMA database by clicking here!

Come to the MCOM 320 Open Lab, Leticia Camacho, Business Librarian and David Cluff, Phil Bicker & Kimball Hicks, Business Student assistants will be there ready to assist you with your library research. Free printing!

• • Transportation
• • Tourism
• • Leisure and Entertainment
• • Multicultural American Lifestyles

This means not only can you find in-depth market research and analysis on things like tablet computers and lunch meat, but now you can also find reports like “Health and Fitness Clubs,” “Hispanic Media Consumption,” “SUVs and Crossovers,” and “Travel and Tourism – Turkey.”

Did you know that thanks to the economic downturn, 41% of families are dining out less, and 25% are playing boardgames more often? Now you do, and you didn’t even have to pay the $3,995 sticker price for the “Family Leisure Trends” report. This is some of the highest-quality market research available to us. Check it out here: Mintel market research reports

The Encyclopedia of Global Industries is a fantastic resource for understanding different industries on a worldwide scale. Over 125 separate industries are represented under 23 broad categories, selected by a group of business experts. Each article provides an industry snapshot, details on the organization of companies within the industry, historical background, current conditions, new technologies, work force demographics, industry leaders, and countries involved.

Unfortunately, there is no direct link to this resource, but it can be found by searching for Gale Virtual Reference Library in the “find a database” search bar on this site or the library’s website. Browse for this specific title in the business list of e-books. Once you have clicked on The Encyclopedia of Global Industries 5th Edition, use the drop-down menus under the Table of Contents to find an industry of interest or type the name of the industry in the search bar on the left side of the page. Gale also allows the entries to be viewed as a PDF, emailed, downloaded in an audio format, or translated into another language.