Is the internet a toy for techies, or is it a useful information resource for managers, administrators, and professionals? The answer to this question has been changing at a remarkable rate over the last few years. In November 1996 there is a great deal of valuable information available on World Wide Web sites that may be accessed with standard computer configurations connected through online services or commercial internet providers. Twenty million people are using the Web each week compared to only five million a year ago. Soon the Economic Indicator Reports from the Central Wisconsin Economic Research Bureau will be posted to the UW‑Stevens Point Web site. 

The internet has evolved from a military and defense system in the 1960s to a communications tool for research and education in the 1970s and 1980s, to a largely commercial enterprise in the 1990s. As of September 1996, 30,000 subscribers were receiving the daily electronic version of The Wall Street Journal over the internet. 

Clearly, the internet is an important ingredient of the electronic communication revolution. It is being used to locate and access information in the form of numeric data and text material. The providers of this information include government agencies, educational institutions, non‑profit organizations, and commercial firms. Much of the data is made available by the major statistical agencies of the federal and state governments. The U.S. Bureau of the Census has an outstanding Web site with current demographic and economic information for the nation and for local communities. 

But the internet is not just an electronic library or data source. It is being used to facilitate communication among: business firms and their customers; teachers and their students; and government agencies and their clients. There is an interactive quality to this medium that seems to stimulate use and encourage participation. Organizations as diverse as banks, Broadway shows, brokers, and brewers are developing their own Web sites. As examples, visit M&I Banks at http://www.tmbank.coni, or try Budweiser at http://www.budweiser.com 

Despite the popularity of the internet, there are some important economic and technical questions concerning its future: 

• Will the internet be overwhelmed by the immense quantity of communications, or will capacity be expanded to meet demand?

• Who will pay for the substantial resources devoted to hardware and software needed to make the internet available to the public? How will those payments be organized?

• Will business firms find communicating and distributing via the internet. cost effective?

• If the internet becomes an important method for government organizations to provide services, will universal access to the internet be required?

Other issues that are being seriously debated include privacy, security, regulation, and censorship. 

This report is not intended to resolve these important questions. Rather, its intent is to provide an annotated directory of World Wide Web sites that may prove useful, interesting, and educational to the business managers and professionals in our community. Many of these internet addresses (URLs) have been suggested by my colleagues in the Division of Business and Economics. Their names and the names of other people who have contributed to this endeavor appear at the conclusion of the report with my sincere appreciation. 

Banking and Financial Markets

Department of Finance, Ohio‑State University

http://www.cob.ohio‑state.edu/dept/fin/osudata.htm

 An outstanding directory with active links to other Web sites specializing in financial data, security quotes, financial profiles of firms, and valuations of securities.

 

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago                                     http://www.frbchi.org
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta                                        http://www.frbatlanta.org

 Each Federal Reserve Bank has a home page with information about their region. Chicago provides data on the Midwest economy and a source of information on bank regulations. Atlanta provides access to the "Beige Book" which surveys current economic conditions as analyzed by the research department of the Federal Reserve. 

M&I Bank                                                                          http://www.mibank.com 

A directory and explanation of banking services offered by this firm Many commercial banks and other financial institutions have developed a Web presence. 

The Wall Street Journal:                                                        http://update.wsj.com 

An online edition of The Wall Street Journal with links to current news on financial markets, economic information, and corporate developments. The cost to subscribe is $49 per year ($29 if you subscribe to the print version), but there is a free two‑week trial subscription. Currently, there are 30,000 subscriptions to this service. 

Yahoo, Business and the Economy                                    http://quote.yahoo.com 

Yahoo is a comprehensive search engine for locating internet information. From the home page, select Business and the Economy, then select Markets and Investments. Current price quotes are available at this site with links to news items about the corporation. There is a convenient `look‑up" facility for stock symbols. 

Investors Edge                                                                       http://www.imet.com 

Another source of financial market information; select "Indices" for the current value of many market indices including the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and NASDAQ.

 

National Economic Data
U.S. Census Bureau                        http://www.census.gov/
U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics     http://www.bls.gov/
U.S. Bureau of Commerce              http://www.bea.doc.gov/
White House                                      http://www.whitehouse.gov/                                                                   
Well‑developed sites with data on population, age, housing, income, employment, education, and other useful information. Most data is for the nation, but some is available for states and local areas. Maps of local communities may be accessed through the Census site. Many graphs and tables are available, and they may be printed directly from the Web site. On the White House site, the Economic Statistics Briefing Room is particularly useful. 

Business Information 

Small Business Development Centers                               http://www.uwexedu/sbdc/ 

Wisconsin Small Business Development Centers display the programs, publications, and seminars available to provide assistance for businesses; links to other business oriented Web sites.

U. S. Small Business Administration                                  http://www.sba.gov/ 

Extensive information related to starting, financing, and expanding your business. Includes the "31 most asked business questions," of which #15 is: How much money do I need to get started? The answer contains 68 words. 

Servias Business Page                          http://www.angelfire.com/free/servbus.htmi 

One of the best compilations of links to business related sources on the intemet. Includes publications, organizations, data, and firms arranged by category. 

Chamber of Commerce Directory            http://www.chamber‑of‑commerce.com/ 

A searchable directory of city and state chambers. This site is being developed, but potentially it may be valuable to businesses and the general public.
 

Public Finance 

Citizens' Guide to the
Federal Budget                         http://www.doc.gov/BudgetFY97/guidetoc.htmi 

Internal Revenue Service          http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/' 

Wisconsin Agencies                                   http://badger.state.wLus/departments.htmi

         Links to:   Department of Revenue
                           Department of Commerce
                           Department of Workforce Development                             
                           Department of Health and Family Services 

Accounting and Insurance

American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants                                       http://www.aicpa.org