Now updated for the year 2000, this is the fifth edition of Kurian's highly regarded and widely used reference tool, which was cited as an ALA Outstanding Reference when originally published. Rankings are an essential resource for doing research, and help in evaluating the position of a country compared to its counterparts. New rankings for this edition cover Personal Computers, Fax Machines, Internet Hosts, Cellular Phones, Economic Freedom Index, Global Competitiveness, Business Environment, Largest Businesses, Stock Market Capitalization, and Music Sales. This is a handy reference no library should be without.