THE RESEARCH LIBRARY

The facts behind
the opportunity.

Learn what each measure means, what the sources contain, and which results are available. Every guide has its own page.

5 INDEX COMPONENTS · 6 PILLARS · 15 SOURCE GUIDES
AI-generated editorial scene of researchers reviewing geographic evidence.
AI-created editorial image · Know the source. Understand the measure.
YOUR QUESTION. A USEFUL NEXT STEP.

Choose the evidence that fits your question.

Imagine you have seen a promising number and want to know what it means for your place. Start with the decision, then find the guide. A source can explain an economy, a community, a route, or a visitor market without answering every business question.

The five component guides explain the parts of the Sister City model. The six pillar guides explore wider conditions that support commercial diplomacy. The 15 source guides explain what the reviewed data contain, how you could use them, and which comparisons are ready. Each includes a practical example, questions to ask, and links to the next step.

For an available comparison, open Country Readiness. For a business project, begin with the four business questions. For the foundation behind these tools, read National Data System.

Try this: Choose one guide, note the source period and geography, and save the question it helps you answer.

YOUR QUESTION. YOUR WORKING NOTES.

My Diplomacy Notebook

Keep your goal, research, sources, and next step together. Open this notebook from any page and continue where you left off.

Add sources, contacts, and a date

Loading your notebook…

My Research Workspace →

Copy, download, and print include your goal, all saved notes, and saved research with its source details. For a PDF, choose “Save as PDF” in the print window.

Saved on this browser and device. Notes stay separate from contact forms. Clearing this site’s browser data removes saved notes. How notes are saved.

Sponsored by Consumer Magazine

Index components describe parts of the Sister City research model. Pillars describe the wider Commercial Diplomacy framework. Source guides explain the reviewed uploads and their publication limits.

See the published Country Readiness V1 rankings

FEATURED PERSPECTIVE · OCTOBER 29, 2026

Why Commercial Diplomacy Takes Time—and Why We Track the Relationships.

Read Shannon Sprenger’s remarks on commercial diplomacy, local industry strengths, and results that may emerge years later. Explore what to preserve after an introduction and how that history supports better research.

Read the full article and quotations →
NETWORK RESEARCH · 2026 COMMUNITY IMPACT STUDY

Global Ties U.S.: from citizen connections to commercial opportunity.

Explore how professional exchange supports local expertise, continuing relationships, and the administration’s commercial-diplomacy emphasis. Read the participant findings, the Social Ties Index, and the study’s methods.

Explore the model and study findings →

26 guides match your search.

Index components

Framework pillars

Source guides

Source guides

AI Global Readiness Infrastructure

Country preparedness and broadband infrastructure context.

Read the guide
Source guides

BEA Travel Tourism Presentation Authority

A serving layer for official history and labeled modeled continuations.

Read the guide
Source guides

BEA Travel Tourism Satellite Account

National tourism history, recovery, shock, and growth comparisons.

Read the guide
Source guides

BTS T100 Presentation Authority

Monthly and annual air-traffic summaries across four lanes.

Read the guide
Source guides

Country Reports Bulk Data

An intended source for trade partners, exports, jobs, macroeconomics, and investment.

Read the guide
Source guides

BEA Metro GDP Backbone

Historical metro economy and industry comparisons.

Read the guide
Source guides

Dallas Fed Global Backbone

Global economic context, Texas inflation, and international housing trends.

Read the guide
Source guides

GEM Economic Indicators Backbone

Country dashboard inputs for output, trade, prices, and other conditions.

Read the guide
Source guides

Airport Geography Lookup

Identify airports and put the right locations on a map.

Read the guide
Source guides

Global Industry Crosswalk

A bridge between international and U.S. industry classifications.

Read the guide
Source guides

International Tourist Departures

Dated comparisons of outbound travel markets.

Read the guide
Source guides

Global Travel Connection Catalog

A guide to planned connections between four source databases.

Read the guide
Source guides

World Development Indicators

National economic, investment, infrastructure, and development context.

Read the guide
Source guides

International Visitor SIAT

Survey evidence about visitor purposes, destinations, spending, and stays.

Read the guide
Source guides

NDS Place Geography

Explore local places and compare activity within clear boundaries.

Read the guide
My Research Workspace →