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ECONOMY AND TRADE
"The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,000. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II."
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE U.S. ECONOMY
 Outline of the U.S. Economy, Bureau of International Information Programs/U.S. Department of State, September 2009
The U.S. economy of the 21st century little resembles that of the 18th century, but acceptance of change and embrace of competition remain unchanged. Venture Capital Meets Hi-Tech, eJournal USA, Bureau of International Information Programs/U.S. Department of State, May 2008
This eJournal explores the phenomenon that drives uncounted Americans - and now citizens of other nations - to create fledgling "start-up" businesses that explore and exploit the latest developments in high technology. It also investigates the closely related "venture capital" phenomenon. How investors match their funds to (hopefully) winning ideas is a big part of the start-up story.- USA Economy in Brief, Bureau of International Information Programs/U.S. Department of State, July 2007
This mini-publication discusses the factors that make the U.S. economy the world's most productive, competitive, and influential. It focuses on workers and productivity, small and large business, the service economy, goods and services, the role of government, and the concept of "creative destruction," the process where jobs, companies, entire industries come and go because of their success or failure in the marketplace. USA Economy in Brief includes colorful charts to illustrate, for instance, U.S. annual exports and imports and the U.S. trade deficit.
 Benefits of Trade: Costs of Protectionism
eJournal USA, Bureau of International Information Programs/U.S. Department of State, January 2007
Removing trade barriers through World Trade Organization and other negotiations promises to lift millions of people around the world out of poverty. Maintaining protectionist practices hurts millions, especially in the developing world, by preventing sustained economic expansion. While developed countries need to drop their own protectionist practices, developing countries stand to gain the most benefits by removing their protectionist barriers to imports from each other. Protectionism bolsters the politically designated few while harming the many; the problem and the solution are political. This issue of eJournal USA has articles from authors inside and outside the U.S. government describing the benefits of trade and the costs of protectionism.
- Salary
Calculator
- For additional information, please see separate page on International
Trade
STATISTICAL INFORMATION
- Overview
of the Economy - Bureau of Economic Analysis/U.S. Department of
Commerce
- USA
Statistics in Brief (U.S. Census Bureau/U.S. Department of Commerce)
- a supplement to the Statistical
Abstract of the United States, presenting national summary data
and state population estimates
- Treasury
Bulletin, a quarterly published by the U.S. Department of the Treasury,
which contains a mix of narrative, tables, and charts related to Treasury
issues, federal financial operations, international statistics, liabilities
and financial commitments of the U.S. government
- FedStats
- the gateway to statistics from over 100 U.S. Federal agencies
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. Department of Labor)
- the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.
INSTITUTIONS
-
U.S. GOVERNMENT
- U.S. Department
of Commerce
- U.S. Department
of the Treasury
- U.S. Commercial
Service - The U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of
Commerce brings together exporters and importers of U.S. goods and
services around the world.
- Federal
Reserve System - The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the
United States, was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation
with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial
system.
- Office of the U.S.
Trade Representative - The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
(USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international
trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and leading or directing
negotiations with other countries on such matters. The U.S. Trade
Representative is a Cabinet member who serves as the President's principal
trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade and related investment
matters.
- U.S. International
Trade Commission (USITC) - an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial
federal agency that provides trade expertise to both the legislative
and executive branches of government, determines the impact of imports
on U.S. industries, and directs actions against certain unfair trade
practices, such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement.
- United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) - the principal U.S. agency
to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying
to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms
- United States Patent
and Trademark Office - The basic role of the Patent and Trademark
Office (PTO) is to promote the progress of science and the useful
arts by securing for limited times to inventors the exclusive right
to their respective discoveries.
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NON-U.S. GOVERNMENT
- European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - The EBRD uses the tools
of investment to help build market economies and democracies in 27
countries from central Europe to central Asia.
- International Monetary
Fund (IMF) - an international organization of 184 member countries.
It was established to promote international monetary cooperation,
exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic
growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial
assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment.
- Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - The OECD groups
30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government
and the market economy. With active relationships with some 70 other
countries, NGOs and civil society, it has a global reach. Best known
for its publications and its statistics, its work covers economic
and social issues from macroeconomics, to trade, education, development
and science and innovation.
- The World Bank
Group - one of the United Nations' specialized agencies and one
of the world's largest sources of development assistance. It supports
the efforts of developing country governments to build schools and
health centers, provide water and electricity, fight disease, and
protect the environment.
- World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - an international organization
dedicated to promoting the use and protection of works of the human
spirit
- World Trade Organization
(WTO) - the only global international organization dealing with
the rules of trade between nations
- National Bureau of
Economic Research - a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research
organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of how
the economy works.
- Hoover's Online
- a companies database, searchable by company name, ticker symbol,
executive name, industry, or stock quote
YELLOW PAGES
A selection of phone directories offering access information about American
companies:
JOB SEARCH
- CareerJournal.com
(The Wall Street Journal) - a career site for executives, managers
and professionals. Positions featured include senior and general management,
sales, marketing, finance, technology and a range of related fields.
- CollegeJournal
(The Wall Street Journal) - a free site for undergraduate, graduate
and MBA students who want job-search and career-guidance information.
The database includes entry- and executive-track-level general management,
sales, marketing, finance and technology positions, as well as a range
of related fields and internships.
- Monster - job
search tools and career advice
- Occupational Outlook
Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics/U.S. Department
of Labor, is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed
to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about
their future work lives. Revised every two years, the Handbook
describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training
and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide
range of occupations.
TRADE SHOWS
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