Doing Business

Doing Business was an annual report series published by the World Bank Group that provided objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies. Established in 2002 by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the report aimed to quantify the ease of doing business in various countries by collecting and analyzing data on regulatory frameworks. The World Bank, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, produced the report to inform policy reforms and promote economic growth. The report evaluated 10 areas of business regulation, including starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. Each area was scored based on the complexity and cost of regulatory procedures. The Doing Business report became a highly influential tool for policymakers, investors, and researchers, with its findings frequently cited in academic studies and policy discussions. Over its lifetime, the report was downloaded millions of times annually, and its rankings were widely covered in international media. However, the report faced criticism regarding its methodology and data collection, leading to a 2020 internal review that identified irregularities in data for some country reports. As a result, the World Bank announced the discontinuation of the Doing Business report in 2021. Despite its conclusion, the report series provided valuable insights into regulatory environments and contributed to reforms in many countries. The World Bank has since developed new initiatives, such as the Business Enabling Environment (BEE) program, to continue supporting evidence-based policy advice. The Doing Business report was available in multiple languages and was accompanied by a comprehensive website with interactive tools and data visualizations to facilitate analysis.