Skip to Main Content

BUS X272 Guide for Global Business Classes

The PESTLE Framework

A PESTLE analysis is a common way of breaking down the contextual factors that affect businesses in a particular country and is used by companies as a basis for strategic decision making and marketing, among other things. While business decisions are often financially motivated, the six factors considered in a PESTLE (political, economic, sociocultural, technological, legal and environmental) consider the broader context in which the organization is operating, rather than focusing exclusively on the monetary.

Even if you are not interested in a PESTLE analysis, per se, the six areas still provide a useful framework for searching for information about a country; no matter what information you are trying to find about a country, it is likely to fall into one of these six categories. Different databases specialize in different kinds of data and analysis, so ask yourself which category the information you're looking for falls into and then search for databases below that fall under the corresponding letter.

 

POLITICAL   ECONOMIC   SOCIAL/CULTURAL
         

Examples include:

  • Government policy
  • Governmental stability
  • Trade regulations/restrictions
  • Foreign policy
  • Corruption
 

Examples include:

  • Economic growth
  • Interest rates
  • Inflation
  • Employment rates
  • Monetary policy
  • Consumer confidence
 

Examples include:

  • Age distribution
  • Population growth
  • Equity and diversity
  • Cultural views and customs
TECHNOLOGICAL   LEGAL   ENVIRONMENTAL
         

Examples include:

  • Technology infrastructure
  • Innovation
  • Uptake/adoption
  • R&D activity
  • Technology incentives
 

Examples include:

  • Industry regulations
  • Health & safety regulations
  • Labor laws
  • Intellectual property law
  • Antitrust law
 

Examples include:

  • Weather
  • Climate change
  • Environmental policy
  • Pollution
  • Sustainability initiatives

 

Databases Grouped by PESTLE Category Covered

 P    E    S    T    L    E   

 P    E    S    T    L    E 

 P    E    S    T    L    E 

 P    E    S    T    L    E    

 P    E    S    T    L    E  

 P    E    S    T    L    E