Nazarbayev University LibGuides: Economics: Data

Introduction

In this page you will find sources that contain data useful for economists. Some are available through our library's subscriptions and some freely downloadable from leading organizations and institutes. Click on the links below to learn more about the use of data for economics research and gateways to datasets

Economic Data - Wikipedia article
International Data List created by the American Economic Association
REF: Resources for Economists on the Internet List of resources by the American Economic Association

You might also find useful the following guides:

Data Introduction
by Reference Librarians Last Updated Mar 18, 2025 340 views this year

Data Citations
"Citing data is as important as citing literature used in a paper. This is a discussion of why it is important and how to properly cite data"
Data management plans
"Guidelines for effective data management, most useful for graduate students and faculty beginning research projects for the first time" This is a guide targeted primarily for member of ICPSR but can also be used as a general reference point

Datasets and Data Databases

Below you will find a list of data databases our library subscribes to. Please note that for some of them you need to contact your subject librarian, create and account and visit the library to be able to work with the dedicated terminals of these databases

Bloomberg

"Bloomberg provides real-time and historical pricing, indicative and fundamental data, charts and graphs, customized analytics, company and industry news, economic data, statistics and estimates."

Bloomberg Terminals
Click here to select the time slots you can use the terminal

WRDS
WHARTON RESEARCH DATA SERVICES is a comprehensive Internet-based data management system that allows researchers to easily retrieve information from a wide variety of financial, economic, and marketing data sources. This hosted data service has become the focus for quantitative data research and is recognized by the academic and financial research community around the world as the leading business intelligence tool.
Select the Register tab or link “Register for a WRDS Account.”

Open Access Datasets

The following data databases are openly accessible and you don't need to visit the library

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)
Statistical data on various countries
Re3dataorg
Global registry of research data repositories that covers research data repositories from different academic disciplines
UNdata
single entry point for all the statistical databases of the United Nations.

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"Useful features like Country Profiles, Advanced Search and Glossaries are also provided to aid research. The numerous databases, tables and glossaries containing over 60 million data points cover a wide range of themes including Agriculture, Crime, Education, Employment, Energy, Environment, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Development, Industry, Information and Communication Technology, National Accounts, Population, Refugees, Tourism, Trade, as well as the Millennium Development Goals indicators."
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Statistics and databases. Click on the links in this webpage to select from a variety of resources
Asia Regional Integration Center
"The Asia Regional Integration Center (ARIC) is an ongoing technical assistance project of the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department. Following the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis and the contagion evident around the region, ADB was asked to use its knowledge-based expertise to help monitor the recovery and report objectively on potential vulnerabilities and policy solutions. With the ASEAN+3 process just starting, ADB provided technical assistance beginning in 1999—to create the Asia Recovery Information Center, the precursor to ARIC."
Eurostat
the official page on statistics of the European Union. Categories include Economy and Finance, International Trade etc, which can be easily accessed from the homepage.

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"Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union situated in Luxembourg. Its task is to provide the European Union with statistics at European level that enable comparisons between countries and regions."
World DataBank
by The World Bank

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"DataBank is an analysis and visualisation tool that contains collections of time series data on a variety of topics. You can create your own queries; generate tables, charts, and maps; and easily save, embed, and share them."
ICPSR - Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
Data from research papers - The above link will guide you to research data from papers dealing with the topics of Economic Behavior and Attitudes. You need to create an account to download free datasets. Explore the website for more datasets on a variety of social science issues.
Data.Gov
For USA data: "Data.gov is the federal government’s open data site, and aims to make government more open and accountable. Opening government data increases citizen participation in government, creates opportunities for economic development, and informs decision making in both the private and public sectors."

Economics: Data

Introduction

Datasets and Data Databases

Open Access Datasets

Programs

Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC)