Economics: useful websites

This page lists useful, free internet resources for economics. See databases for economics for a list of key online sources purchased by the University to help you find information in this subject.

Key sites

• EconBiz
  The virtual library for economics and business. It offers you research in internet resources, online catalogues and full texts online and it provides access to information services of libraries. Allows you to search many sources simultaneously.
  
  
• RFE (Resources for Economists on the Internet)
  This is a major gateway to economics information online, edited by Bill Goffe. The site is sponsored by the American Economic Association, listing over 1500 resources in 97 sections and sub-sections. Provides descriptions of most resources. RFE is part of the WWW Virtual Library for Economics (along with WebEc).
  
  
• Intute: Economics
  Provides access to high quality resources on the Internet for the academic community. Sites are evaluated and categorised by subject specialists based at UK universities. There are 13 main sections each of which is further subdivided.
  Please note: Updates to Intute ceased in July 2011. Links on the site will no longer be checked.
  
  
• Biz/ed
  UK-produced guide to economics and business internet sites, covering: current topics, learning materials, data, company information, virtual worlds, reference sources, support for teachers and lecturers.
  
  
• WebEc
  WebEc is part of the WWW Virtual Library for Economics (along with RFE) and contains links to over 4000 sites. It is compiled by staff at the Helsinki School of Economics and the University of Helsinki Faculty of Social Sciences.
  
  
• WWW Links in Economics
  Detailed listing of useful sites for economics, compiled by the Marshall Library of Economics, University of Cambridge.

Guides and tutorials

• HEA Economics Network
  The Economics Network is produced by the UK's Higher Education Academy. The centre provides a range of free services to support university teachers of economics.
  
  
• Internet for economics
  One of a series of tutorials written for the Intute Virtual Training Suite. This tutorial aims to improve Internet information skills, knowledge of key Internet sites, Internet search skills and critical thinking skills. The links basket option provides a useful listing of sites relevant to Economics.
  
  
• Evaluating websites: a guide
  Hints on assessing the reliability of information you find on the Internet.
  
  
• The web
  A brief guide to finding information which includes links to the main search engines.

General economics-related sites

• British Library of Political and Economic Science (library for London School of Economics)
  The Library collects material on a worldwide basis, in all major European languages. The collections total over four million items, including 31,000 past and present journal titles. The Library subscribes to approximately 3000 e-journals, just part of its electronic information provision. Please check access for visitors.
  
  
• BUBL
  BUBL provides a limited number of carefully selected resources covering all academic subject areas. Access is possible either by subject or Dewey Decimal Classification (used in Reading University Library). There are 15 main sections with many sub-sections.
  Please note: Updates to BUBL ceased in April 2011. Links on the site will no longer be checked.
  
  
• Economist Intelligence Unit Country analysis
  Access the Economist Intelligence Unit's latest data, analysis and forecasts for 187 countries and its Global Forecasting Service. Access is free but you are required to register first.
  
  
• German National Library of Economics (ZBW)
  The German National Library of Economics (ZBW) is also the library of the Kiel Institute for World Economics and the world’s largest library for economic literature. Access to the collections of over two million books is through the online catalogue, ECONIS.
  
  
• WWW Virtual Library: Business and Economics
  The WWW Virtual Library is made up of a large number of subject sections compiled by volunteers expert in their subject areas.

Econometrics

• Econometric Resources on the Internet
  A selection of links maintained by John Kane author of Econometrics: an applied approach.

Statistics and data

• UK Statistics Authority
  Key economic statistics include: GDP, retail sales, public sector, inflation, trade, and employment.
  
  
• Eurostat
  Under “Economy and finance” data includes: main economic indicators, national accounts, government statistics, financial accounts, exchange rates & interest rates, monetary & other financial statistics, prices, and balance of payments. There are other themes also relevant to economics.
  
  
• ESDS
   “The Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS) is a national data service that came into operation in January 2003. ESDS provides access and support for an extensive range of key economic and social data, both quantitative and qualitative, spanning many disciplines and themes. It comprises a number of specialist data services that promote and encourage data usage in teaching and research.” Four major areas: government, international, longitudinal, and qualidata.

Working papers / Discussion papers / Research papers

• Economists Online
  Economists Online is an economics subject repository providing open or free access to economics research available from over 20 institutions in 12 countries. It is provided by Nereus, an international consortium of academic research libraries with strengths in economics.
  
  
• EconWPA (Economics working papers)
  “This service is devoted to the free distribution of working papers in economics. There are 22 subject areas, along with a test posting area, a meetings area, an area for programs and an area for data. Other areas are added when demand dictates.” The subject areas are organised by the JEL classification system.
  
  
• RePEc (Research Papers in Economics)
  RePEc is a collaborative effort to enhance the dissemination of research in economics. The heart of the project is a decentralized database of working papers, journal articles and software components. All RePEc material is freely available. Please note that RePEc does not contain full-text journal articles; RePEc services provide links to many full-text articles, but you may need a personal or institutional subscription to follow those links. If a working paper or journal article is not indicated as "downloadable", please contact the author or publisher for assistance.

Organisations & institutions

• American Economic Association - AEA Web
  
  
• Bank of England
  
  
• British Library of Political and Economic Science
  
  
• Centre for Economic Policy and Research
  
  
• Economic and Social Research Council
  
  
• EDIRC: Economics Departments, Institutes and Research Centers Worldwide
  
  
• European Central Bank
  
  
• European Economic Association
  
  
• German National Library of Economics (ZBW)
  
  
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
  
  
• Econometric Society
  
  
• H.M. Treasury
  
  
• Institute for Fiscal Studies
  
  
• Institute for Social and Economic Research
  
  
• Institute of Economic Affairs
  
  
• International Institute of Public Finance
  
  
• International Monetary Fund
  
  
• National Institute of Economic and Social Research
  
  
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD)
  
  
• Policy Studies Institute
  
  
• Royal Economic Society
  
  
• Royal Statistical Society
  
  
• Society of Business Economists
  
  
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
  
  
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization
  
  
• World Bank
  
  
• World Trade Organization

Please note: our site descriptions are based on information available on the site described at the time it was evaluated.

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