• Reliable statistics should provide an indication of the method of compilation; or, if the statistics have been taken from another source, then that source should be identified. This is especially important for statistics/data you find on the Internet. Take a moment to read any methodological or technical notes associated with your statistics.
• Note the method by which your statistics have been gathered (survey or questionnaire, by phone or mail). How large is the sample? The collection method and sample size are related to the validity of the data.
• Match your variables closely in time. This is important for the validity of your hypothesis. Read box headings or accompanying documentation carefully to find out the dates.
• Statistics may be available on the Web in a variety of formats (.pdf, .csv, .html); the Save Data and Open Data in Applications page will help you to save the statistics in the most useful form.
• Make sure you copy any bibliographic information you will need to cite your statistical sources in your paper.
• Start to find your statistics early. If you have trouble finding what you need, please ask me.

Statistical Resources

Statistics by Country and Statistics by Topic subject pages - Use the resources on these pages if you are looking for pre-defined (or summary) data already formatted into a table, and downloadable into Excel. Excel files may be easily downloaded into Stata. The sources on this page may also allow you to choose variables by working through a series of menus. Note that if the statistics you need do not go back far enough in time electronically, we may have a paper equivalent that does.

Data subject page - Use the resources on this page if you are looking for raw data to download into a statistical software package (e.g. SAS, SPSS, Stata) and manipulate to suit your needs. From some of the sources on this page, you can also download user-created tables into Excel.

Business subject page - This page lists sources for financial statistics on companies and industries. Includes sources for stock market prices.

Statistical Abstract of the United States - basic U.S. statistics downloadable to Excel.

Historical Statistics of the United States- U.S. statistics from over 1000 sources; all tables downloadable as .csv and .xls; create customized tables and spreadsheets. Mostly national, not much state data.

International Financial Statistics [IMF]- Includes statistics such as exchange rates, fund accounts, interest rates, comsumer prices, imports and exports, industrial production, and commodity prices from 1948 for more than 200 countries.. We have the paper equivalent, both monthly (through 2003) and yearly, at Docs HG 3881 .I626. Data can be downloaded in Excel, tabbed text, etc. Guide to searching the IFS Online.

SourceOECD [OECD]- contains data on a variety of topics and from a variety of countries. Can go back as far as 1960. Note that Wellesley's subscription does NOT include the IEA databases. You can browse the individual databases on the left bar or use the search boxes. When choosing variables, you MUST expand folders. You will NOT get data if you just check the box without expanding the folders. Wellesley has a subscription to all OECD online publications.Source OECD has a glossary of statistical terms.

UN Common Database (UNSTATS)- 450+ statistical series from international data sources. Economic, social, financial and development topics. 1945+. Click on "definitions" for a description of the series (variable). You have several options for searching:

• Basic view = 1 series (variable), up to 10 countries, up to 20 years (in 4 5-year intervals); download file as .csv
• Country profiles = pre-selected variables, pre-selected years, country by country, no downloading available
• Advanced data selection = download several series (variables), several countries, and years (year by year) as .csv, .xls, .html
• Quick data selection = choose variables by their codes
• Topics list = view all available series; then countries and years available are listed

World Development Indicators [World Bank]- Includes more than 500 time series indicators for 207 countries plus regional and income groups for 1960+; retrieves and exports the data in popular spreadsheet formats. Includes statistics for people, environment, economy, and states and markets. We have the 1999 paper edition at HC59.15 .W657. Guide to searching the WDI [from Emory University].

National Bureau of Economic Research Data Page - variety of datasets, mostly economic.

For detailed trade statistics, see the class page on International Trade Theory

CD-ROMs Containing Statistics and Data

The following CD-ROMS are mounted on the CD-ROM computer in the Clapp reference room. We also have a number of U.S. government-produced census, justice, education, health, and trade statistical CD-ROMS that are not mounted; records for these CDs are in the Library catalog. To find CDs that contain data, do a keyword search, put * in the search box, and limit by location to Clapp Docs CD-ROM. Ask for more information at the Clapp reference desk (or contact me) when you know which particular statistics or CD you need. The data on these CD-ROMS may also be available through ICPSR. Some of our older CD-ROMS may not work with Windows XP.

• Balance of Payments Statistics [IMF].
• Direction of Trade Statistics [IMF]. (1948+) Statistics on the value of imports from and exports to a country's most important trading partners.
• Global Development Finance [World Bank] - Complete data on the external debt and international capital flows of developing countries; more than 200 time-series indicators for 138 countries plus regional and income groups from 1970+
• Government Finance Statistics [IMF] - 2 CDs cover 1970+. Annual data on revenue income by source (tax, lending, bonds, etc), and expenditure by sector (defence, education, health, etc) for all levels of government (national, state, local). Data are in local currencies.
• International Trade Statistics from the World Trade Organization. Trade data by region, country, or commodity; downloadable to Excel.
• United Nations Demographic Yearbook Historical Supplement 1948-1997 - Contains population, birth, death, and marriage and divorce statistics for about 229 countries or areas. We have the paper equivalent in Docs UN Sales XIII.

Economic Article Resources

The following databases provide either full-text articles or citations (information about when and where the article was published). Once you have a citation for an article, use the Find It! @ Wellesleylink from each citation to search one or more electronic journal sources through the Wellesley College Library Catalog. Use the name of the journal as the title and make sure you look at the dates covered carefully! If Wellesley does not own the article, you can request it via Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

EconLit- 1969+. EconLit is the electronic bibliographic database of the American Economic Association. This database indexes books over 60 pages, articles in journals, chapters in books, conference proceedings, dissertations (from 1987), book reviews (from 9/1994) and selected working papers (from 1984).

NBER Working Papers- Also accessed via the Library catalog by title, or from the E-resources A-Z list. The National Bureau of Economic Research is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization founded in 1920. The working papers are written by leading scholars in their particular fields. The papers may be searched by keyword or browsed by NBER Program. In many cases, the full text may be viewed using Adobe Acrobat.

JSTOR collection - Online archive of core journals in Economics, Demographics, Political Science. Journals can be browsed or searched by keyword. (Adobe Acrobat [.pdf] format). There are 30 economic journals included in this database, from vol.1 to within about 5 years of current.

PAIS [Public Affairs Information Service] - articles about political, social & economic issues, public affairs. Citations to articles from 1915 onward. Use the Infobridge link to find the full-text.

How to cite information

• APA Style for Citing Electronic Resources
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th. Ed.) Science Ref, Science Reserve, and Clapp Ref BF 76.7 P83 2001
• Chicago Manual of Style. Clapp Ref Z253 .C57 2003 and online.
• Writers' Workshop Bibliography Styles Handbook - Instructions for citing print and electronic resources in APA and MLA format.

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