ESDS International is a specialist data division of the Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS), the principle UK data service for the social sciences. It is funded by the ESRC and JISC. The service provides free, online access to the major databanks produced by the IMF, OECD, World Bank, UN, IEA and Eurostat.

How does it work? ESDS International has negotiated national license agreements with several international governmental organisations. Through these agreements, the UK academic community has free access to the full versions of the databanks covered by the licenses. The databanks are updated regularly with the latest releases. In many cases, this means monthly.

How long for? The current licenses expire in 2008. We are currently in talks with the ESRC and the data providers to extend the agreements until 2012.

Who can use the data? Under the terms of the licensing agreements we have with the data providers, you must be a member of staff or student at a UK academic institution to access the databanks through ESDS International. You can only use the data you access through the service for teaching or research purposes. When you first register to use the data you will need to agree to this and the other terms and conditions before you can access the databanks.

How is the data delivered? The data arrives at ESDS International in all sorts of different formats. It is converted into the same format, Beyond 20/20, for web delivery. Beyond 20/20 is the name of a propriety software package developed in Canada for the web delivery of aggregate databanks. The OECD and IEA use it for their own in-house web delivery systems. The other databanks in the portfolio are converted into Beyond 20/20 by ESDS International.

We will now look in more details at the content of the databases in the ESDS International portfolio.