Business Dynamics

With falling birth rates and rising life expectancy, the older demographic is growing rapidly as a proportion of the global population, creating significant commercial opportunities (and challenges), as well as giving rise to new societal, economic…

No-Deal Brexit has been avoided. On Christmas Eve 2020, the UK and the EU struck a last-minute trade agreement to avoid disruptions threatening to prolong the pandemic-driven economic downturn affecting both the EU and the UK. Despite the two blocs…

In the Economic Freedom Ranking of 2022, Algeria ranked among the bottom third of global countries due to its inadequate enforcement of property rights and the imposition of high tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, hindering the competitiveness of…

Angola’s Economic Freedom Ranking is dragged down by lack of price stability and inefficient processes of starting, operating and closing business. Heavy constraints on investment capital flow and overdependence on hydrocarbons limit investment…

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…

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…

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 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…

This report assesses the business environment in Bahrain, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

Lack of government integrity, prevalent corruption, skills shortages, and difficult access to financing are among the key obstacles to doing business in Bangladesh. Low internet penetration is another major factor hindering faster economic…

Belgium ranks high in financial freedom indicators globally fostering positive business growth and expansion. Belgium’s economic stability, high level of R&D, strong infrastructure and abundance of skilled workforce continues to attract foreign…

This report assesses the business environment in Bolivia, 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 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…

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…

Bulgaria continues to rank among the top third countries globally in the Index of Economic Freedom, supported by a low tax burden and good fiscal health. Bulgaria remains an attractive investment destination, recording a considerably increasing…

This report assesses the business environment in Cambodia, 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 Cameroon, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 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…

Egypt's performance in Business Freedom was subpar in 2022, with fiscal instability, low government transparency, and bureaucratic hurdles in starting and running businesses. The country also faces a significant gender employment gap, stringent…

This report assesses the business environment in El Salvador, 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 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…

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…

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…

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…

This report assesses the business environment in Georgia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

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…

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…

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…

This report assesses the business environment in Guatemala, 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…

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…

High investment and financial freedoms, a low tax burden, a good geographical location, and increasing potential for innovations have contributed to a favourable business environment in Hungary. However, the country’s government spending and fiscal…

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…

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…

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 Iraq, 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…

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…

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…

Heavy tax burden, persisting bureaucracy hurdles and struggles with government finances place Italy among the worst performers in Western Europe in the Economic Freedom ranking. The business environment is also clouded by cumbersome regulatory…

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…

This report assesses the business environment in Jordan, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…