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© 2007 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Telephone 202-473-1000 Internet www.worldbank.org E-mail feedback@worldbank.org All rights reserved. 1 2 3 4 5 09 08 07 06 A copublication of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

This volume is a product of the staff of the World Bank Group. Thefindings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank Group does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. Rights and Permissions The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this workwithout permission may be a violation of applicable law. The World Bank Group encourages dissemination of its work and will normally grant permission to reproduce portions of the work promptly. For permission to photocopy or reprint any part of this work, please send a request with complete information to the Copyright Clearance Center Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA; telephone:978-750-8400; fax: 978-750-4470; Internet: www.copyright.com. All other queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the Office of the Publisher, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: 202-522-2422; e-mail: pubrights@worldbank.org. Additional copies of Doing Business 2008, Doing Business 2007: How to Reform, Doing Business in 2006:Creating Jobs, Doing Business in 2005: Removing Obstacles to Growth and Doing Business in 2004: Understanding Regulation may be purchased at www.doingbusiness.org.

ISBN: 978-0-8213-7231-9 E-ISBN: 978-0-8213-7232-6 DOI: 10.1596/978-0-8213-7231-9 ISSN: 1729-2638 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data has been applied for.

Contents

Doing Business 2008 is the fifth in a series ofannual reports investigating the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 178 economies—from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe—and over time. Regulations affecting 10 stages of a business’s life are measured: starting a business, dealing withlicenses, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business. Data in Doing Business 2008 are current as of June 1, 2007. The indicators are used to analyze economic outcomes and identify what reforms have worked, where, and why. The Doing Business methodology has limitations. Other areasimportant to business—such as a country’s proximity to large markets, the quality of its infrastructure services (other than those related to trading across borders), the security of property from theft and looting, the transparency of government procurement, macroeconomic conditions or the underlying strength of institutions—are not studied directly by Doing Business. To make the data comparableacross countries, the indicators refer to a specific type of business—generally a limited liability company operating in the largest business city. The methodology for 3 of the Doing Business topics changed for Doing Business 2008: dealing with licenses, employing workers and enforcing contracts. See Data notes for details. Three new topics—not paying bribes, opportunities for women andinfrastructure—are under development. The analysis is described in What to expect.

Overview Starting a business Dealing with licenses Employing workers Registering property Getting credit Protecting investors Paying taxes Trading across borders Enforcing contracts Closing a business What to expect References Data notes Ease of doing business Doing Business indicators Country tables Acknowledgments

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