Standardised coverage and timely analysis helping you
to understa...
Standardised coverage and timely analysis helping you
to understand the scale and direction of trends in the business environment.
Côte d’Ivoire is facing significant challenges in its business environment due to prevalent corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and a crucial shortage of skilled professionals. Additionally, the country's ICT sector is underdeveloped, higher…
In 2022, Vietnam's business environment enjoyed a large working-age population and political stability. Vietnam is emerging as a tech and electronics export hub, with machinery and electronics accounting for a significant portion of its GDP. However,…
The United Arab Emirates performs well in terms of economic freedom in the Middle East and Africa as well as by global comparison, owing to strong economic growth, a rapid rate of business sector liberalisation, government support for SMEs, developed…
Turkey continues to rank relatively low in terms of economic freedom as starting and operating a business remain difficult in the country. The lack of macroeconomic stability, a depreciating currency, shortages of skilled workers and lower innovation…
Singapore continues to lead in terms of economic freedoms globally, offering major opportunities for businesses. Its favourable regulations, investment incentives, high innovation capacity, skilled workforce and high productivity offer a solid base…
Romania ranks among the top third of countries globally in the Index of Economic Freedom, supported by a favourable tax system and low barriers to trade. In addition, a supportive business environment, advancing labour market regulations and…
France ranks high on the Index of Economic Freedom ranking 2022, with sound trade conditions, well-developed transport infrastructure and strong innovative capabilities. However, the country still struggles with heavy tax burden and rather rigid…
Ethiopia ranks in the bottom third in the global Economic Freedom Ranking in 2022, due to an unfavourable business environment, with limited monetary and labour freedom. Skills shortages, poor transport and ICT infrastructure, as well as restrictive…
This report assesses the business environment in Ecuador, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
South Africa continues to rank in the bottom half of the Economic Freedom Index, due to the high tax burden, skills shortages and poor fiscal health. However, the country benefits from a stable and sound financial system, high market capitalisation,…
With its favourable business environment, advanced transport infrastructure and high ICT adoption, Saudi Arabia is an attractive destination for business operations. The government is committed to ambitious reforms under Vision 2030, investing…
Qatar’s regulatory and operational environment is attractive to companies, as it has a low tax burden, while the country’s business confidence grew in 2022, despite geopolitical headwinds. However, the efficiency of starting, operating and closing a…
Portugal ranks in the top third globally in the Index of Economic Freedom (IEF) ranking, yet lags behind key regional peers. The country’s business environment is clouded by a relatively heavy tax burden, elevated interest rates and rigid labour…
In 2022, the Philippines struggled with monetary freedom and judicial effectiveness, and has seen a decline in its tax burden ranking. However, the country’s flexible business regulations, convenient location and financial sector improvements have…
Mexico’s economic modernisation are attempts clouded by widespread corruption, low government integrity and lack of ICT investments. Poor education and labour skills alongside intensive brain drain remain among major issues limiting advancements in…
In the Economic Freedom Ranking, Kenya falls in the bottom third globally, with its weakest performance in Trade Freedom and Fiscal Health. The low accessibility of higher education limits the availability of skilled labour, hindering the business…
Japan stands among leading economies globally, offering friendly business environment, stable and transparent judicial system, advanced mobility and logistics infrastructure, highly skilled labour and strong innovative capabilities. Financial…
The Irish economy is characterised by a favourable and free business environment, and comparative advantages, which makes it an attractive destination for FDI. Despite short-term challenges, such as declining business confidence and escalating global…
Morocco continues to rank as an average performer in terms of Economic Freedom, with its lowest scores in the Labour Freedom and Tax Burden Pillars. Morocco also faces substantial trade barriers, with a worsening score in terms of tariff rates and…
New Zealand is among the top five business environments in terms of economic freedom, and the country’s high government integrity points to a low corruption perception, and its absence of tariff and non-tariff barriers adds to an attractive…
Myanmar struggles with lack of political and economic stability, weak financial sector and widespread corruption, limiting its business environment. The country also face increasing issues with its vast informal labour market, poor financial system,…
Rampant corruption and poor enforcement of property rights continue to hinder Nigeria’s business environment, while heavy constraints on investment capital flow deter potential investors. Nevertheless, Nigeria ranks among the global leaders in labour…
The Netherlands has a highly developed economy, with a competitive business environment and a stable financial sector. The quality of the country’s judicial system is among the highest in the world, and political corruption is not tolerated. The…
Pakistan’s business environment is limited by an unstable macroeconomic environment and prevalent corruption. Moreover, a difficult financing landscape and relatively weak labour market, with complex regulations and a significant gender gap, limit…
Thailand still holds appeal as a desirable location for less value-added industries, such as agriculture and manufacturing, due to its advantageous labour costs and supportive FDI policies. In addition, Thailand is increasing investments into its…
Uganda’s economic environment remains not free, due to corruption, which hampers business operations, and poor government management of infrastructure projects, hindering progress, despite foreign investment aimed at improving the country’s…
The UK continues to boast among the most favourable business environments globally, supported by a stable economy, advanced infrastructure and a skilled workforce. While the UK’s medium-sized enterprises are set to benefit from reduced regulatory and…
This report assesses the business environment in Uzbekistan, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
With its highly developed ICT sector, favourable investment environment, developed infrastructure and healthy finance sector, the US ranks among the top countries in terms of economic freedom globally. During 2022, the government’s initiatives to…
In 2022, the Czech Republic had a business-friendly environment, with efficient banking and a free trade policy, allowing for easy access to financing and few barriers to the import and export of goods and services. The country has a high FDI…
Tanzania’s operational and regulatory environment faces difficulties, due to the weak rule of law, resulting in an economy lacking freedom. Although the investment environment has improved, there are still constraints, and the country ranks low…
Taiwan secured a place among the top 10 countries globally in the 2021 Index of Economic Freedom Ranking, riding on its major strengths of a highly skilled workforce, a robust financial system, sound investment incentives, and a well-established…
In 2022, Sweden maintained high business freedom and an attractive investment climate, placing it among the best locations to conduct business. Strong infrastructure and a high digitalisation level, along with supportive tax policies for R&D…
The Spanish business environment is globally recognised as one of the most appealing, thanks to its membership in the European Single Market that grants Spanish businesses access to a vast and diversified customer base, as well as the absence of…
South Korea’s business environment remains attractive to foreign investors, due to its efficient government regulation and world-class infrastructure, as well as its high capacity for innovation and ICT adoption, which continues to improve on the…
Peru’s business environment is facing a high tax burden as well as a lack of skilled labour and political instability. However, the country ranks among the top third of countries in the Index of Economic Freedom due to its trade and investment…
Malaysia offers a favourable environment for business operations, ranking among the top third in the Economic Freedom ranking. The country’s businesses benefit from robust economic expansion, numerous free trade agreements, strategic location and…
Given Indonesia’s strong economic performance in 2022, business confidence continued to increase, with the country witnessing considerable growth in FDI flows and exports over the year. Indonesia recorded significant improvements in terms of labour…
India remains among the lower third countries globally in the Economic Freedom Index, weighed down by poor fiscal health and lack of monetary freedom. In addition, an inefficient judicial system, skills shortages and lagging digitalisation further…
Hong Kong continued to rank as the best place to do business globally, thanks to its simple and efficient tax system, support to small and medium-sized enterprises, efficient banking system, investment incentives, well-developed infrastructure, high…
Greece’s business environment lags behind it regional peers, burdened by rigid labour market regulations, slow and inefficient judicial system, prevalent corruption, heavy taxation and weak financial system. The country boasts rather highly educated…
Ghana ranks in the bottom half in the Index of Economic Freedom, due to a lack of microeconomic stability and worsening fiscal health. Additionally, skills shortages impede the development of high value-added sectors, while the underdeveloped ICT…
Despite heavy tax burden and complex regulatory procedures, Germany remains among top most attractive countries in terms of business environment globally. The country boasts sound judicial system, stable political environment and high government…
In 2022, Colombia showed progress in terms of business freedom and financial regulations, and has been attracting FDI, with flexible business regulations for foreign investors. The country’s judicial effectiveness ranking has improved slightly, while…
Due to China’s strict COVID-19 containment measures, business confidence in the country deteriorated over 2022, while China’s ranking in economic freedom dropped significantly. The state interference in the financial sector, widespread corruption and…
Chile continues to lead the region and maintain a significant global stance in the Index of Economic Freedom ranking due to its stable macroeconomic environment, strong financial sector, high higher education attainment rates, and well-established…
Canada boasts high stance in key business and economic rankings thanks to stable macroeconomic environment, rather competitive tax rates, strong financial sector and highly skilled and digitally adept labour force. Moreover, trade landscape in the…
Brazil ranked behind major regional peers offering slightly worse conditions to start and operate a business. Lack of macroeconomic stability, heavy tax burden and prevailing corruption holds back the country’s competitiveness. Moreover, Brazil…
Australia remains among the global leaders in economic freedom rankings. High banking efficiency, low barriers to trade, a trusted regulatory environment, modern infrastructure and a well-developed and innovative digital market are among the main…
Argentina struggles to ensure macroeconomic stability and tackle widespread corruption, weighing on the country’s attractiveness for investors. Businesses face challenges to access credit, especially with soaring interest rates, boosting cost of…