Tips for Living and Working in the USA

General Country Information

United States of America

Population: 278,058,881 (July 2001 est.)
Land Area: 9,629,091 sq km (about 2 1/2 times the size of Western Europe)
GDP: $9.963 trillion (2000 est.)
GDP per capita: $36,200 (2000 est.)
Economic Overview: The United States has the largest and most technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $36,200. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and government buys needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. U.S. business firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rival's home markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in U.S. markets. U.S. firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment, although their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The years 1994-2000 witnessed solid increases in real output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizeable trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. Growth weakened in the fourth quarter of 2000; growth for the year 2001 almost certainly will be substantially lower than the strong 5% of 2000. The outlook for 2001 is further clouded by the continued economic problems of Japan, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, and many other countries.
Political Structure: The United States is a strong presidential system with a bicameral Congress consisting of the 100-member Senate and the House of Representatives. two members are elected from each of the 50 states by popular vote to serve six-year terms. The House has 435 seats, and representatives are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms. The president and vice-president are elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; each serve a four-year term.

Source: The CIA World Factbook, 2001.

General Country Information Websites:

  • CIA World Factbook - offers country profiles and reference maps.
  • Global Statistics - general data on selected countries of the world, including administrative divisions (provinces) and major cities of each country.
  • Nation by Nation - directory of the nations of the world including history, government, economic information, and links.
  • U.S. State Department: Country Profiles - provides statistics and history of geographic entities and international organizations.
  • Your Nation - compare countries of the world by selecting different characteristics.
  • Bubl World Area Studies - offers five relevant resources for any country of interest.

Travel and Hotel Websites:

Travel Sites, etc.

Airline and Other Transportation Sites

  • AESU - offers worldwide tours and discounted airfare.

  • Yahoo! List - lists airlines alphabetically.
  • Lufthansa USA - online resouce for world-class travel to Europe and beyond.
  • Hotwire - offers discount airline tickets, hotel reservations and car rentals, as well as last-minute travel discounts.
  • Orbitz - created by the world's leading airlines, offers most low fares and most web-only fares on the planet.
  • Priceline.com - buying service that lets consumers name their price for airfare, hotels, rental cars, and others.
  • Flight Arrivals.com - includes departure and arrival information for airlines.
  • Webflyer Dealwatch - Enter your city of departure and get a quick list of latest airfare, hotel and rental car bargains.
  • Subway Navigator - lets you select the departure and arrival stations for subway systems in major cities around the world. Also provides links to cultural, diplomatic and governmental organizations near stations.
  • Amtrak - Offical site of Amtrak.
  • Greyhound - Offical site of Greyhound bus. fares, schedules, and ticketing information.

Car Rentals

  • Enterprise Rent-A-Car - with locations in the U.S., Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
  • Hertz Corporation - includes a fleet guide with details on their vehicles and a worldwide directory of car rental offices.
  • Avis Rent A Car - features online reservations for car rentals, pricing, and a guide for renters.
  • National Car Rental - features online reservations and information about their corporate travel programs and travel partners.
  • Thrifty Car Rental - offers cars in airport and local car rental markets. Provides specials, partners, rates, and franchise opportunity information.
  • Dollar Rent A Car - rents vehicles to business and leisure customers and offers association programs, corporate accounts, and franchise opportunities.
  • Breezenet's Guide to Airport Rental Cars - shows available rental cars in U.S. and international airports. Includes travel tips and program information.
  • Alamo Rent A Car - offers users detailed directions to popular sights in cities all across America. Includes reservation systems online.

Hotels and Accommodations Websites

  • Hotel Guide - a searchable international directory of hotels that includes all types of hotels and other types of lodging, both domestic and worldwide.
  • Marriott International - offers hotel directory and travel agent services. Includes information on gift certificates, senior living communities, and executive apartments.
  • USA Hotel Guide - rates and room availability for 13,000 hotels across the country.
  • 4HotelsNow - 4HotelsNow offers low rates on more than 25,000 properties world wide.
  • Hotel Locators - discount hotel locators.
  • Yahoo! Lodging - your guide to places to stay throughout the U.S.
  • American Youth Hostels - operates a network of accommodations in urban and rural areas across the country.
  • Hostel Web - Western United States regional web site for Hostelling International - American Youth Hostels (HI-AYH).
  • Twinroom Discount Hotels Discount accommodation in New York and cities worldwise. City guides, hotel informaiton and secure online reservations.

Living in the U.S.

  • Foreignborn.com - has information about entering and living in the U.S., including information on visas, Social Security, taxes and travel

Tips for New York

Websites with Housing Suggestions

Websites for Car Hunting

  • find forms and locations for your local Department of Motor Vehicles at this unofficial site.
  • Edmunds.com - info on new and used cars, trucks, etc.
  • Kelly Blue Book - this site has retail and trade-in values for used cars and a calculator that shows the cars you can buy within a specified price range.
  • Used Cars On-Line - national sales outlet for used cars sold by private owners.
  • 123 Used Cars - classified listings of used cars for sale with pictures, reviews, values, and pricing.
  • Used Car Price - offers negotiating tips, advice, and information.
  • Thrifty Car Sales - offering used cars at franchise dealerships across the country.
  • Yahoo Auto - this site offers information on buying and selling new and used cars.
 
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