This two-part, general overview is designed to provide students of information science with a fresh look at the information market, especially database development. In the first part, it is noted that the generation of databases is most common in the United States at the present time, while West Germany plays a minor role. The need for West Germany to make improvements in the field of business databases is pointed out, although it is also noted that the natural sciences have very sophisticated German databases. The second part explores the development of databases worldwide, providing information on country of origin, database subject area, and market volume. The first section of the text is supplemented with 17 tables, 12 figures, and a 33-item bibliography; and 7 tables, 11 figures, and a 36-item bibliography are included in the second section. (EW)