What is the Business- Ready Index?

• The B-Ready Index is a global data collection and analysis initiative by the World Bank Group, designed to assess and improve the business and investment climate worldwide. 
• It serves as a tool for evidence-based policymaking, helping governments understand how to foster private sector growth, economic development, and entrepreneurship.
• Launched to replace the discontinued Doing Business Report, the B-Ready Index offers greater transparency, more inclusive measurements, and a broader scope.

Purpose and Objectives

• The B-Ready Index has three central objectives:

Reform Advocacy

• Encourages policy reforms by comparing countries' performance.
• Provides benchmarks that highlight what is working well globally.
• Facilitates dialogue between governments, business leaders, and the World Bank Group to share best practices.

Policy Guidance

• Delivers customized policy recommendations to help countries improve their business environment.
• Uses data-driven analysis to show how countries can align with international best practices.
• Helps policymakers prioritize reforms that will have the biggest impact.

Analysis and Research

• Supplies high-quality data for academics, analysts, and institutions studying private sector development.
• Enables comparative studies across countries and over time.
• Helps track the effectiveness of policy changes and regulatory improvements.

Core Topics of the B-Ready Index

• The index evaluates multiple key areas that affect businesses, both directly and indirectly. 
• These are:
  • Business Entry – Requirements and procedures for starting a business.
  • Business Location – Regulations and permits for acquiring and using commercial property.
  • Utility Services – Access to electricity, water, and telecommunications for businesses.
  • Labour – Hiring processes, labour laws, and workforce-related regulations.
  • Financial Services – Access to credit, financial institutions, and business financing.
  • International Trade – Trade regulations, customs, import/export procedures.
  • Taxation – Tax policies, filing systems, and burden on businesses.
  • Dispute Resolution – Legal systems and mechanisms to resolve business-related conflicts.
  • Market Competition – Policies ensuring fair competition and preventing monopolies.
  • Gender – Legal and institutional frameworks for gender equality in business.
  • Business Insolvency – Procedures for restructuring or closing failing businesses.
  • Digital Adoption – Use of digital technologies in regulatory and business practices.
  • Environmental Sustainability – Policies affecting business impact on the environment.

The Three Pillars of the B-Ready Index

• The Index is structured around three foundational pillars, each assessing different aspects of the business environment:

Pillar I – Regulatory Framework

• Focuses on rules and regulations that businesses must comply with throughout their lifecycle:
  • Starting a business
  • Hiring workers
  • Paying taxes
  • Trading across border
  • Resolving insolvency
• This pillar assesses how enabling or burdensome the legal and regulatory systems are.

Pillar II – Public Services

• Evaluates government services and infrastructure provided to support business activities:
  • Quality and reliability of electricity and water
  • Efficiency of business registration systems
  • Transparency in permit issuance
  • Functionality of digital services for businesses
• This pillar looks at the capacity and performance of public institutions to support private sector development.

Pillar III – Operational Efficiency

• Measures the practical experience of firms interacting with government institutions:
  • Speed and cost of compliance
  • Access to government services
  • Availability of information
  • Implementation of digital platforms
• This pillar reflects the ease of navigating the system from the perspective of business operators.

Significance of the Annual Report

• The B-Ready Annual Report serves as a global benchmark. It:
  • Tracks progress and identifies reform leaders.
  • Recognizes improvements and innovations in business environments.
  • Provides countries with scorecards and rankings, though with a greater focus on transparency and qualitative data than its predecessor (Doing Business).

Why Is the B-Ready Index Important?

• Governments use it to identify areas needing reform.
• Investors and entrepreneurs use it to assess risk and opportunities.
• Researchers and analysts rely on it for credible, up-to-date insights on the business climate.
• Civil society can use the data to hold institutions accountable and advocate for fair policies.