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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Denmark’s strong infrastructure and neat legal system as well as great conditions for opening a business result in strong business environment. The main economic advantages of the country also include flexible labour regulations and advanced digital…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
This report assesses the business environment in Israel, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
This report assesses the business environment in Honduras, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
This report assesses the business environment in Slovakia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
This report assesses the business environment in Croatia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
This report assesses the business environment in Costa Rica, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
Thanks to the high level of transparency, efficiency of operating a business, and robust rule-of-law indicators, Finland remains among the global leaders in terms of economic freedom. The country benefits from a highly-educated workforce, low…
This report assesses the business environment in Paraguay, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
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 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…
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…
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…
This report assesses the business environment in Kazakhstan, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
This report assesses the business environment in Kuwait, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
This report assesses the business environment in Iran, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and innovative…
This report assesses the business environment in Estonia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
This report assesses the business environment in Oman, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and innovative…
This report assesses the business environment in Lebanon, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
This report assesses the business environment in Dominican Republic, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption…
This report assesses the business environment in Azerbaijan, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
Austria’s economic freedom ranking remains high, indicating a competitive business environment. The country’s businesses benefit from economic and political stability, low barriers to trade, a skilled labour force, and high capacity for innovation.…
This report assesses the business environment in Lithuania, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
This report assesses the business environment in North Macedonia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…
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…
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…
This report assesses the business environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT…
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…
The briefing examines how the business services industry is performing globally and in the largest countries in terms of business services output. The report also provides data for production, market size, imports, exports, industry costs, industry…
Today businesses are facing increasing pressure to take a positive and active role in protecting people and the planet. As a result, companies are embracing sustainability to protect brand reputation, comply with legislation and build back better…
In 2022, global business continues to face various risks, with a persisting Coronavirus pandemic, supply chain disruptions and inflation being top of mind for leaders. This report provides insights on how these three challenges might evolve this year…