Cultures
- CultureGrams This link opens in a new windowUse the menu in the left column to find information on cultures in a country, including:
"People" section--population, language, religion, and more
"Lifestyle" section--family, housing, diet, arts, and much more
"Society" section--transportation & communications, education, and health
- The World Factbook (CIA)Great for cultural statistics but does not provide much analysis
- globalEDGEArguably the best free online resource for global business information developed and hosted by Michigan State University.
TIP: Select a country and the "Resources" in the left column for links to that country's government resources--great for statistics, labor regulations, costs, etc.
Reference Resources for Cultural Information
SAGE Reference Online and Gale Virtual Library contain several useful reference books that can be accessed online and will helpful in developing a basic understanding of a country's culture.
- Sage Reference Online This link opens in a new windowSeveral useful reference sources on regional perspectives, family roles in different cultures, business considerations by culture, and more
*See examples below - Gale eBooks This link opens in a new windowEncyclopedias on modern-day cultures in Asia, Middle East, Africa, as well as information on food and arts by culture (see examples below)
*Useful categories to select in Gale: History, General, Business
Examples of Reference Resources
Examples of the books found in SAGE and Gale Virtual.
Handbook of World FamiliesCross-cultural perspective on the family by examining family life in 25 countries worldwide.
Cultural Sociology of the Middle East, Asia, and AfricaAspects of daily life included
Encyclopedia of Consumer CultureMedia, technology, environment, and many more topics covered
21st Century GeographyContains a section on regional perspectives with cultural data
Encyclopedia of Global ReligionDiscusses the effects of religion in different societies
Consumer Lifestyles
- Passport This link opens in a new windowHover over COUNTRIES & CONSUMERS to select a consumer datapoint
--Trends & Lifestyles
--Income & Expenditure
--Population & Homes
In the resulting screen you can select your country/geography under "Analysis Finder"
**Find information about technology, social media and cell phone use under COUNTRIES & CONSUMERS-->Technology, Communications & Media - Mintel Reports Database This link opens in a new windowDatabase mostly focuses on US and UK industries, but you can find reports on consumers in other countries, such as:
*Drinking Out of the Home
*Teen Lifestyles
*Marketing to Parents
Also useful:
*Asia-Pacific Retail Handbook
- Human Freedom RatingFind the rating of the human freedom measure by country
Online Resources
Consulting firms focusing in international activities will often publish reports that will contain useful information for understanding consumers and cultures in other countries.
Other useful organizations to consider include associations, think tanks, and foreign government websites.
Below are some example resources, but you should try others from similar resources (be sure to evalute the website for accuracy, currency, authority, and objectivity).
- Chinese Consumer Buying Preferences from DeloitteDeloitte publishes many useful reports on a variety of business topics in foreign countries.
- Meet the 2020 Chinese Consumer from McKinseyMcKinsey is a well-known global consulting firm that often makes its publications available online for free.
- Winning in Emerging Market Cities by Boston Consulting GroupBCG's report includes information like "Capturing the Consumer Opportunity" in the world's emerging market cities.
Books at USC
There is a lengthy series of "Culture and Customs" books in print at Thomas Cooper Library. See the catalog listing for your region.
Culture and Customs of the CaucasusCall Number: DK 509 .R68 2009There is a series of these Culture and Customs books for different regions located in Thomas Cooper Library. Use the Library Catalog to find your specific country.
