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Business Resources at CSU Libraries

Global Social & Sustainable Enterprise

Contents:

See also the Libraries International Business Resources, Economics and Agricultural Economics research guides. For additional information on funding, see the Grants for Researchers & Organizations Research Guide

Encyclopedias & Reference Materials

The following provide good overviews:
  • Encyclopedia of International Development
    HD82 .E547 2005 Ref
    Covers diverse topics of development with 1-5 page entries. Entries on economic development, participatory development, and sociology of development provide an overview and introduction to the subject.
  • Encyclopedia of International Relations and Global Politics
    JZ1160 .E53 2005 Ref
    Short entries covering a range of topics.
  • The Greenwood Encyclopedia of International Relations
    JX1160 .N65 2004 Ref
    4 volume set of short entries covering a variety of topics.
  • World at Risk: A Global Issues Sourcebook
    JZ1242 .W67 2002 Ref
    Topics include AIDS, deforestation, genocide, hunger, pollution, and urbanization amongst others. Entries include background, fairly extensive summaries of the topic, and lists of resources for further research.
  • World Development Report 2007: Development and the Next Generation
    HC59.7 .W659 2007 Ref
    World Bank publication. Discusses development issues in relation to young people.

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Keywords – Some possible keywords to use in your search

Developmental economics Rural development Social entrepreneurship
Economic assistance Social action Social responsibility
Economic integration Social change Sustainable development

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Databases – Look in these for articles, reports, and statistics

Many of these databases provide full-text access to articles. Some, however, only provided indexing and abstracts. In this case, you will usually see an FindIt icon next to the article's citation. Clicking on this icon will provide you with options for finding the article; whether it is located in another electronic resource or available in print at the library. It also gives you the option of requesting the article via inter-library loan.

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Country Information

See also the Libraries Federal Government Resources for Nations of the World guide.
  • Business Source Premier (database)
    Provides extensive economic and political country information.
  • Craighead’s International Business, Travel, and Relocation Guide
    HF5549 .5 .E45 D57 Ref desk
    Excellent resource for those traveling, moving, or doing business overseas.
  • Culture Grams
    GT150 .C85 2005 Ref desk
    Four volume set covering The Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Information by country incudes background (land/climate/history), people (population/religion/attitudes/personal appearance/customs & courtesies), lifestyles (dating and marriage/ holidays/ society), and an extensive glossary of cultural terms.
  • The Europa World Year Book
    JN1 .E85 1987- Ref (current volumes behind ref desk)
    Part one contains information about international organizations with contact info, organization, activities, and publications. Part two contains detailed country info. Topics covered include history, government, economic affairs, and statistics.
  • European Union
    http://www.eurunion.org/
    The official Web site of the European Union.
  • Mergent Online (database)
    Country statistics and overviews for over 100 countries.
  • Regional Surveys of the World
    DS1. F3 2007 Ref Desk
    Detailed regional and country surveys that cover physical and social geography, history, economics, statistics, as well as extensive directories that include government contacts, diplomatic offices, judicial information, religion, newspapers by district, and publishers to name only a few. Six volumes cover The Far East & Australasia (2007), The Middle East & North Africa (2007), South Asia (2007), Western Europe (2007), Central & South Eastern Europe (2007), and Easter Europe, Russia & Central Asia (2007).
  • U.S. Department of State “Background Notes & Country Pages”
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
    Information on independent states, some dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty.

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Organizations - Large multi-national and national organizations

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Organizations - Support, research, and funding

The following support social entrepreneurs, support organizations devoted to social entrepreneurship, or are clearinghouses of information related to social entrepreneurship. See also the Libraries guide on Grants for Researchers and Organizations
  • Acumen Fund
    http://www.acumenfund.org/
    Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that supports entrepreneurial approaches to solving the problems of health, housing, and water.
  • Ashoka
    http://www.ashoka.org/
    Ashoka invests in and supports social entrepreneurs financially and professionally.
  • Ashokas Changemakers: Open Sourcing, Social Solutions
    http://www.changemakers.net/
    Provides "open sourcing" information and opportunities bringing together "diverse groups of stockholders." An interesting and noteworthy offering is their collaborative competitions which allow diverse individuals and groups the opportunity to collaborate and contribute to ideas.
  • BRAC: Alleviation of Poverty and Empowerment of the Poor
    http://www.brac.net/
    A Bangladesh organization that provides programs for economic and social development with objectives of poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor.
  • Changemakers.org
    http://www.changemakers.org/
    Organization devoted to community-based social change philanthropy. Provides grants to organizations.
  • Charity Navigator
    http://www.charitynavigator.org/
    Evaluates the financial health of America’s largest charities.
  • The Chronicle of Philanthropy
    http://us.oneworld.net/
    Newspaper covering nonprofits. Available online (some content free). Also available through Academic Search Premier (database) back to 2000. The most recent month is not available.
  • Draper Richards Foundation
    http://www.draperrichards.org/
    Organization that provides funding and business mentoring to social entrepreneurs.
  • Echoing Green
    http://www.echoinggreen.org/
    Provides seed funding and support to emerging social entrepreneur leaders and organizations.
  • Eldis Gateway to Development Information
    http://www.eldis.org/
    Resources and information covering a range of development topics (such as biodiversity, education, forestry, health, and corporate social responsibility, etc.). RSS subscription is available.
  • Engineers for a Sustainable World
    http://www.esustainableworld.org/
    Website with goal to mobilize engineers and build collaborative partnerships. Web Site lists projects, partnerships, and how to get involved.
  • Engineers without Borders – International
    http://www.ewb-international.org/
    Information about the organization, partnerships, resources, and events.
  • Global Giving
    http://www.globalgiving.com/
    Clearinghouse of grassroots world-wide charity campaigns founded by two former World Bank execs.
  • Grameen: Banking for the Poor
    http://www.grameen-info.org/
    Organization that provides credit without collateral to the poor in rural Bangladesh.
  • Idealist.org
    http://www.idealist.org/if/h?sid=
    A project of Action without Borders. Connects volunteers to nonprofits with a listing of over 59,000 nonprofit and community organizations and a nonprofit career center. Web Site allows organizations to promote their cause and solicit volunteers and workers.
  • The Institute for Social Entrepreneurs
    http://www.socialent.org/
    Seminars, workshops, and consulting services
  • Institute for Sustainable Development
    http://www.iisd.org/
    An organization that promotes sustainable development through partnerships and research. Site provides news, reports, and free downloadable publications covering various themes. RSS subscription is available.
  • The International Development Research Centre
    http://www.idrc.org
    Canadian corporation that helps developing countries build indigenous research capabilities in science and technology to develop solutions to social, economic, and environmental problems.
  • The New Heroes
    http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/
    Information about Social Entrepreneurship through PBS. Resources for parents and teachers as well. Based on film “the New Heroes” that originally aired in 2005.
  • OneWorld.net
    http://us.oneworld.net/
    Media gateway to connect people to resources. News, community information, and information on how to get involved.
  • The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
    http://www.schwabfound.org/
    Supports social entrepreneurs through events, research, and work with academic institutions.

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