THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Cultural Information Language – English (82.1%) Life Expectancy – 78.37 years Religion

Protestant Roman Catholic

Mormon ChristianJewish BuddhistMuslim

Cultural Information Business Customs

Time is very important – “time is money” Greetings – casual, a handshake and smile

are all that are necessary Gift Giving

no elaborate gifts (bribery) Usually give small gift to host or hostess Gifts are usually opened when received

Appropriate business dress varies depending on geographic location, day of the week and industry

Communication – Americans are very direct and value logic and linear thinking

Family Life Average Number of Children – 2.06 per family What is home like?

The family unit is generally considered the nuclear family, and is typically small (with exceptions among certain ethnic groups)

Extended family relatives live in their own homes, often at great distances from their children

Individualism is prized, and this is reflected in the family unit

People are proud of their individual accomplishments, initiative and success, and may, or may not, share those sources of pride with their elders

Cultural Information Education

Educational Expenditures – 5.5% of GDP

Literacy Rate – 99% of population

Obesity Level – 33.9% The sixth most obese

country in the world

Economic Information Type of Economy – Market

Economy The United States is really a

mixed economy because there is limited government involvement in the economy

Balance of Payments (debt) - 62.9% of GDP

Trade

IMPORTS EXPORTS

CanadaChinaMexicoJapanGermany

CanadaChinaMexicoJapan

Population Total population – 313, 232, 044 Growth Rate – 0.963%

Wealth and Income Income

GDP – 14.66 Trillion Rate of Growth – 2.8%

Distribution of Wealth The United States is a market economy that

encourages free enterprise and the idea that hard work yields more financial rewards. Wealth is not distributed equally, it is based on the profitability of businesses.

Unemployment Rate – 9.6%

Natural Resources

Coal Copper Lead Molybdenum Phosphates rare earth elements Uranium Bauxite Gold

Iron Mercury Nickel Potash Silver Tungsten Zinc Petroleum Natural gas Timber

Making Money Currency – American Dollars

Labor Force – 153.9 million

Politics Capitol – Washington

DC

Date of Independence – July 4, 1776

National Symbol

Political Development

1776 •Gain independence from Great Britain

1787 •Constitutional Convention (writing of the Constitution)

1789 •First President (George Washington) took office•Adoption of the Bill of Rights

1803 •Louisiana Purchase – moving West

1912 •Last state (not including Hawaii and Alaska) was added to the United States

1861-65 •The Civil War

1914-18 •World War One

1930 •The Great Depression

1939-45 •World War II