Next up in our ongoing series of premium provider interviews, industry veteran and Oxford Economics' Americas President Lou Celi tells us why people really like them and why interest in their global analysis is at an all time high.
Tell us about Oxford Economics.
Oxford Economics started in 1981 as a commercial venture with Oxford University. We have since grown into a leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis. Although we are now independent, our link with Oxford University is still present today through our management board, empirical research approach and access to Oxford scholars.
Oxford Economics employs over 70 people in Oxford, London, Belfast, New York, Philadelphia, UAE and Singapore, including more than 60 professional economists and industry specialists. We specialize in global quantitative analysis and evidence-based business and public-policy advice. The firm offers a sophisticated portfolio of business forecasting services, consisting of regularly updated reports, databases and models on countries, cities and industries.
What are some typical uses for Oxford Economics content?
Companies use us for strategic planning, scenario analysis, location strategy, economic impact analysis, market sizing, product forecasting, risk management and stress testing.
Government institutions use us for economic forecasting, public-policy analysis, modeling, regional analysis and sovereign risk assessment.
What makes your content unique?
Our global analysis goes deeper and further to ensure its relevance for global decision making. We go deeper by delivering long-term forecasts for 190 countries, 85 industrial sectors and 2,500 cities and sub-regions. We go further by providing econometric models and analytical tools that can be geared to a particular company, industry, location or investment.
Oxford Economics offers the only integrated global economic model in the market, with links to a suite of industry and city models. Our models can be uniquely used for forecasting, scenario analysis, market sizing and other decision support.
How would you describe your coverage?
Oxford Economics offers a comprehensive portfolio of briefing services, reports, databases and analytical tools. These services fall under three key categories.
- Global Economics. We provide a complete economic forecasting service, consisting of timely, reliable data, analysis and forecasts on economic and financial conditions in 190 countries.
- Global Industry. Oxford Economics has consistent data, analysis and forecasts on 10 industries and 5 sub-sectors. The main industries are aerospace, basic metals, chemicals, construction, consumer goods, electronics & computers, engineering, intermediate goods, motor vehicles and travel & tourism.
- Cities and Regions. We are the only provider of historical data and forecasts on over 2,500 cities and sub-regions in the EU, Norway and Switzerland; and over 30 major cities and sub-regions in Asia-Pacific.
What do customers like best about Oxford Economics?
People really like working with us. Because we are smaller than our competitors, we tend to be more flexible and responsive to customer needs--and budgets.
Tell me about your editorial staff. What types of backgrounds do they have?
Oxford Economics has over 60 experienced economists with advanced degrees--the largest team of international macroeconomists in the private sector. Our economists are highly skilled in using advanced econometric and quantitative tools for planning and decision-making. Most are seasoned professionals, with extensive experience in industry and public-sector analysis.
Our economists have links to Oxford University's economic department and other leading universities and research institutes. Oxford Economics' board of management includes noted Oxford University economists, Andrea Boltho and Christopher Allsopp.
Thanks to the strength of our economic team, Oxford Economics is recognised as one of the best economic forecasters in the world.
The current economic environment can be rough for publishers but also provides opportunities. How is the economy impacting your market today?
The economy is now on everyone's mind. Whether you are a corporate executive, government policymaker or blue collar worker, you now know that economics matters.
So this is Oxford Economics' moment. The interest in our global analysis is at an all-time high. The lesson over the last few years is that the economy can hurt your business and erode your profits if you do not have the proper insight into future trends, potential risks and alternative scenarios. And as the economic balance of power swings toward emerging markets, executives need our deep analysis of 190 markets now more than ever.
What sorts of interesting or unexpected uses of your content have you seen?
Last year's hard lesson was that the unexpected can happen. Many financial institutions and corporations were caught off guard by the severity of the financial crisis and the economic recession. As a result, some suffered, others went out of business.
Corporate leaders now believe it is not enough to plan carefully for the future. It is essential to conduct scenario planning to ensure you are prepared for the unexpected. Just about every corporate and financial executive I talk to today wants to learn more how they can use our analysis and tools for what-if analysis.
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To see recent content from Technology Research Group. visit their specific database pages on the AlacraStore.com: Oxford Economics
AlacraStore.com: Oxford Economics Cities and Regional Service
AlacraStore.com: Oxford Economics Global Industry Forecasts
AlacraStore.com: Oxford Economics UK Economic Services
If you are interested in contributing your content to the Alacra Store(www.alacrastore.com), please contact Steve Davison at steven[dot]davison[at]alacra[dot]com.
