Economic
GDP trends
Interest rates
Money supply
Inflation rates
Some Important Variables in the Societal Environment
Technological
Total government spending
for R&D
Total industry spending
for R&D
Focus of technological efforts
Patent protection
New products
New developments in
technology transfer from lab
to marketplace
Productivity improvements
through automation
Internet availability
Telecommunication
infrastructure
Computer hacking activity
Political–Legal
Antitrust regulations
Environmental protection
laws
Global warming legislation
Immigration laws
Tax laws
Special incentives
Foreign trade regulations
Attitudes toward foreign
companies
Laws on hiring and
promotion
Stability of government
Outsourcing regulation
Foreign “sweat shops”
Sociocultural
Lifestyle changes
Career expectations
Consumer activism
Rate of family formation
Growth rate of population
Age distribution
of population
Regional shifts
in population
Life expectancies
Birthrates
Pension plans
Health care
Level of education
Living wage
Unionization
Unemployment levels
Wage/price controls
Devaluation/revaluation
Energy alternatives
Energy availability
and cost
Disposable and
discretionary income
Currency markets
Global financial system