PEST factors play an important role in the value creation opportunities of a strategy.

However they are usually beyond the control of the

corporation and must normally be considered as either threats or opportunities. Remember macro-economical factors can differ per continent,
country or even region, so normally a PEST analysis should be performed per country.

In the table below you find examples of each of these factors.

Political (incl. Legal) Economic Social Technological

Environmental regulations and
Economic growth Income distribution Government research spending
protection
Interest rates & monetary Demographics, Population Industry focus on technological
Tax policies
policies growth rates, Age distribution effort
International trade regulations and New inventions and
Government spending Labor / social mobility
restrictions development
Contract enforcement law
Unemployment policy Lifestyle changes Rate of technology transfer
Consumer protection
Work/career and leisure
Life cycle and speed of
Employment laws Taxation attitudes
technological obsolescence
Entrepreneurial spirit
Government organization / attitude Exchange rates Education Energy use and costs
(Changes in) Information
Competition regulation Inflation rates Fashion, hypes
Technology
Health consciousness &
Political Stability Stage of the business cycle (Changes in) Internet
welfare, feelings on safety
(Changes in) Mobile
Safety regulations Consumer confidence Living conditions
Technology