- Using Library Resources
- Washington State
- Domestic Trade
- International Trade
- Economic Development
- Keeping Current
Econ News Sources in Washington State
Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council produces monthly updates on the economy and revenue collections, a quarterly forecast, and an annual study of Washington’s economic climate.
Employment and Economic Information -Washington State Employment Security Department Data and analysis of Washington state’s employment conditions, economy, job market and work force.
Quarterly Business Review Produced by the Washington State Department of Revenue, this online quarterly publication begins with a very brief Overview of business activity for the previous quarter that summarizes economic activity, by major industry, in the state. The rest of the publication consists of very detailed tables about economic output and business sales.
Seattle Office of Economic Development This City of Seattle office provides links to information about economic conditions in the city of Seattle, economic and community development, funding resources, and small business assistance.
Think Tanks
These institutes are public policy research organizations that perform research, analysis and advocacy on economics (amoung other topics sometimes) and can be a rich source of content.
- Adam Smith Institute – Focused on domestic and international economic policies.
- Brookings Institute – Economic Development Topic
- Center for American Progresss – Economics
- RAND Corporation – Economics
- Wall Street Journal – Economy Section
- National Bureau of Economic Research – Founded in 1920, dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, and business professionals.
- Peterson Institute for International Economics
- American Enterprise Institute – Policy Studies: Economics
- Hoover Institute – Working Group on Economic Policy
Government Agencies & Statistics
A short list of federal agencies that publish economic material and statistics.
ALFRED (Archival Federal Reserve Economic Data) Retrieve vintage versions of economic data that were available on specific dates in history.
CPI (Consumer Price Indices) Data on changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services
Economic Indicators The U. S. Census Bureau has compiled a quick summary of the various types of national economic statistics and indicators.
EPI Datazone Issuing some 50 different labor market time series, the Economic Policy Institute [ EPI ] has compiled a “user-friendly” source for various statistical data sets on U.S. income, earnings, prices, etc.
FRED II – Federal Reserve Economic Data Maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, FRED II provides files that can easily be converted to Excel spreadsheets on interest rates, monetary statistics, consumer and producer price indexes, gross domestic products, etc.
GDP (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
National Bureau of Economic Research With a goal of “promoting a greater understanding of how the economy works,” the nonprofit National Bureau of Economic Research accesses ongoing university research projects and contains an invaluable listing of web links.
Producer Price Indexes (PPI) Measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for their output
U. S. Census Bureau Business & Industry This U.S. Bureau of the Census site includes the latest business, demographic and economic statistical reports released by the agency, and provides links to other major data series such as the:
U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis This WWW database publishes the latest information and statistical reports released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s BEA.
U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics As the primary federal agency for compiling labor economics and business data, the BLS web site provides accurate, up-to-date statistical analyses of the U.S. economy.
Socio-Economic Data Sets
U.S. Dept of Commerce
Bureau of Economic Analysis: International Trade and Investment Country Facts Get a a snapshot of statistics on trade and investment between the United States and another country. From the Bureau of Economic Analysis (Dept. of Commerce).
International Trade Administration The ITA includes basic international trade information, including import/export data by country, region, and product.
World Trade Organization The World Trade Organization provides quick access to specialized international topics such as: the goods & services industry, intellectual property, government procurement, environmental policy, etc.
Special Reports from the Financial Times The British publication, Financial Times, releases surveys on specific foreign countries, world financial markets and trade, geopolitics, global industries, etc.
Index of Economic Freedom A joint venture of The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation, this web site surveys some 161 countries and analyzes categories including trade and monetary policy, banking and finance, foreign investment, wages and prices, etc.
NGO’s and Think Tanks.
International Economics – Chatham House “Research covers issues critical to both emerging and developed economies, including global economic governance, the international monetary system, international finance and trade.”
Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel) “is an international center for research in global economic affairs, economic policy consulting, and economic education.”
Bruegel European economic Think Tank that tries to “improve the quality of economic policy with open and fact-based research, analysis and debate”.
Economic Development
Statistical & Data Compilations
AidData Provides granular statistics on the developmental finance activities of close to 100 worldwide donor agencies.
World Bank Open Data Browsable by country or indicator. A comprehensive compilation of global development data.
World Development Indicators Part of the World Bank Databank, this site provides authoritative statistical data on hundreds of development indicators. Gather information or compare data.
International
Internation Monetary Fund (IMF)
Seeks to promote sustainable economic growth and reduce worldwide poverty.
- IMF Data. Time series data on IMF lending, exchange rate, and other economic and financial indicators.
- World Economic Outlook. Includes an assessment of developing countries and those in transition to market economies.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
The OECD organization is committed to assisting developing countries and includes resources such as:
- Development Assistance Committe (DAC) – monitors and coordinates bilateral foreign aid.
- OECD Statistics Portal With an emphasis on the role of member countries, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development publishes statistical data that complements the information published by other international agencies and the federal government.
World Bank
This is the principal international organization responsible for administering international development.
- Topics. World Bank projects categorized by subject.
- World Development Report. Published annually since 1978 this report provides in-depth analysis and policy recommendations on specific aspects of economic development across the globe.
Nongovernmental Organizations and Think Tanks.
Center for Global Development (CDG). Scholarly institute devoted to research on development issues whose focus is policy-orientated.
Institute of Development Studies (IDS). A global institution devoted to development research. Policy oriented.
Overseas Development Institute. UK-based think tank which aspires to bridge the gabe between research andpolicy. With content that is searchabl
Blogs & Podcasts
These are great ways to keep current with Economics
Economics In Ten. Learn about the lives, times and ideas of the world’s greatest economic thinkers.
Paul Krugman’s Blog (New York Times). Macroeconomics, trade, health care, social policy and politics.
“The Sound of Economics” from the Bruegal Institute focusing on European and global economic policy.
Random Observations for Students of Economics. From Greg Mankiw, a Harvard Professor of Economics.

