World Bank B-READY Flagship Reports: An Integrated 200 Indicators Transforming Global Trade

 

The World Bank B-READY Flagship: The Architecture of Business Readiness

The World Bank’s Business Ready (B-READY) flagship represents a seismic shift in how global economies are measured, moving away from simple "ease of doing business" to a holistic assessment of a nation's regulatory quality, public service delivery, and operational efficiency. To capture this complexity, the framework utilizes a massive dataset of over 1,200 indicators distributed across 10 life-cycle topics. This data is not just about laws on a page; it is a "de facto" reality check that combines expert legal analysis with thousands of direct firm surveys to ensure that the business environment is sustainable, inclusive, and digitally resilient. Below, we continue our exhaustive breakdown of the primary metrics that define the 2026 global business landscape.

Objectives and Mission of the World Bank B-READY Flagship

The Business Ready (B-READY) flagship is a strategic tool designed to replace the former "Doing Business" report with a more comprehensive and balanced assessment. Its primary mission is to facilitate private investment, generate employment, and improve productivity to help economies accelerate development in inclusive and sustainable ways.

By moving beyond just the "ease" of business, B-READY focuses on the World Bank Group’s twin goals: eliminating poverty and boosting shared prosperity on a livable planet.

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1. Core Strategic Objectives

The B-READY project utilizes a threefold strategy to transform its data into real-world impact:

• Reform Advocacy: By providing international benchmarking, B-READY encourages a "race to the top." It opens doors for knowledge sharing between governments, the private sector, and development institutions to promote healthy economic reforms.

• Policy Guidance: The report provides granular, evidence-based data that identifies the "Public Services Gap." It shows policymakers exactly how and by how much their economy lags behind international good practices, guiding targeted interventions.

• Analysis and Research: With over 1,200 indicators, B-READY offers a rich public dataset for researchers to study the drivers of private sector development, including the impact of digital adoption, environmental sustainability, and gender equality.

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2. A Balanced Assessment Approach

B-READY is designed to provide a holistic "instrument panel" for 180 economies by 2026. This requires balancing several competing perspectives to ensure that business growth does not come at a social cost.

The B-READY Balance Table

Perspective	Traditional Focus (Old Model)	B-READY Balanced Focus (2026)
Stakeholder	Focus primarily on the individual firm.	Focus on the private sector as a whole, including workers and consumers.
Metric Type	Heavy emphasis on de jure (laws on books).	Equal weight on de facto (real-world implementation).
Regulation	Aimed at deregulation to lower costs.	Focus on the quality of regulation and essential worker protections.
Support	Measured the burden of rules.	Measures the provision of public services (digital tools, utilities, etc.).
Social Value	Often ignored social/environmental costs.	Integrates Green, Digital, and Gender themes into every topic.

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3. The "Livable Planet" Mandate

As of the 2026 rollout, B-READY specifically measures how a business environment contributes to a sustainable future. This objective ensures that firms are not just "ready" to make a profit, but are also incentivized to:

1. Adopt Digital Technology: Reducing bureaucracy through paperless systems and AI-driven public services.

2. Ensure Environmental Sustainability: Adhering to green building codes and sustainable waste management.

3. Promote Gender Equality: Removing legal and practical barriers that prevent women from starting or scaling businesses.

200 World Bank B-READY Indicator & Top Performer Country

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
1	Business Entry	🇬🇷 Greece	Top marks for streamlined digital registration.
2	Digital Services for Entry	🇸🇬 Singapore	Integration of all setup steps into one portal.
3	Land Administration	🇬🇪 Georgia	Fastest property registration and land titles.
4	Construction Permitting	🇪🇪 Estonia	Transparent, fully electronic building approvals.
5	Electricity Connection	🇸🇰 Slovak Republic	High grid reliability and predictable costs.
6	Water Supply Access	🇭🇺 Hungary	Superior infrastructure and utility transparency.
7	Employment Conditions	🇬🇪 Georgia	Flexible laws that balance hiring and firing.
8	Worker Protections	🇵🇹 Portugal	Strong social security and parental leave parity.
9	Credit Information	🇳🇿 New Zealand	Maximum depth of credit bureau data for lenders.
10	Secured Transactions	🇪🇪 Estonia	Advanced laws protecting assets and creditors.
11	Digital Trade Systems	🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR	Paperless customs and world-class logistics.
12	Border Compliance	🇸🇬 Singapore	Global benchmark for speed in cargo clearance.
13	Tax Compliance	🇪🇪 Estonia	99% of all tax filings are done online in minutes.
14	Audit Efficiency	🇭🇺 Hungary	Rapid processing of VAT refunds and tax reviews.
15	Competition Advocacy	🇵🇹 Portugal	Robust anti-monopoly and cartel enforcement.
16	Public Procurement	🇷🇼 Rwanda	High transparency in digital government bidding.
17	Commercial Litigation	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Specialized courts that resolve cases effectively.
18	Insolvency Framework	🇵🇹 Portugal	Best recovery rates for restructuring debt.
19	Environmental Permits	🇪🇪 Estonia	Seamless integration of green criteria into law.
20	Gender Equality in Law	🇨🇦 Canada	Full legal parity for men and women in business.

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
21	Internet Connectivity	🇰🇷 South Korea	Global leader in high-speed 5G and fiber-to-firm access.
22	Collateral Registry	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Advanced digital registry for movable assets (machinery, stock).
23	Anti-trust Enforcement	🇩🇪 Germany	Gold standard for preventing cartels and price-fixing.
24	Import Documentation	🇩🇰 Denmark	Fully paperless customs clearance for all import types.
25	Export Speed	🇳🇱 Netherlands	World-class logistics at Rotterdam and Schiphol hubs.
26	VAT Refund Speed	🇭🇺 Hungary	Fastest electronic processing of value-added tax returns.
27	Credit Bureau Coverage	🇺🇸 USA	Near-universal credit history data for individual/SME firms.
28	Digital Court Filing	🇰🇷 South Korea	100% digital submission and tracking of commercial cases.
29	Green Energy Incentives	🇳🇴 Norway	Leading tax breaks and utility support for sustainable firms.
30	Minority Investor Rights	🇨🇦 Canada	Strongest legal protections for small-share stakeholders.
31	Procurement Transparency	🇨🇱 Chile	"ChileCompra" is the global model for open govt bidding.
32	Labor Market Flexibility	🇻🇳 Vietnam	Notable for recent reforms in workforce adaptation laws.
33	Social Security Coverage	🇫🇷 France	Most comprehensive health and unemployment safety nets.
34	Digital Payment Access	🇰🇪 Kenya	World-leading mobile money (M-Pesa) integration for firms.
35	Waste Management Utility	🇸🇬 Singapore	High-efficiency industrial waste and recycling services.
36	Commercial Arbitration	🇸🇪 Sweden	Stockholm is the global hub for resolving trade disputes.
37	Debt Restructuring	🇯🇵 Japan	Best-in-class legal framework for saving distressed firms.
38	E-Signature Adoption	🇦🇪 UAE	Near-total legal validity and use of digital "UAE Pass."
39	Business Shutdown Cost	🇲🇦 Morocco	Significant recent reforms in reducing exit costs for firms.
40	Cross-Border Digital Trade	🇮🇪 Ireland	Leading the EU in services export and data-flow regulation.

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
41	E-Payment for Utilities	🇸🇬 Singapore	100% integration of business bills into digital bank apps.
42	Alternative Dispute Resolution	🇸🇪 Sweden	Stockholm is the global hub for commercial mediation.
43	Secured Creditor Protection	🇪🇪 Estonia	Strongest legal rights for banks during firm liquidation.
44	Import Compliance Time	🇩🇰 Denmark	Most efficient digital "Single Window" for customs.
45	Business Reorganization	🇺🇸 USA	Chapter 11 is the global model for saving viable firms.
46	Tax Audit Transparency	🇭🇺 Hungary	Clear, digitized criteria for why a firm is being audited.
47	Workforce Skill Alignment	🇩🇪 Germany	Leading "Dual Education" system for technical labor.
48	Digital Land Registry	🇬🇪 Georgia	Blockchain-based property titles ensure zero fraud.
49	Environmental Impact Disclosure	🇳🇴 Norway	Simplest digital filing for corporate green compliance.
50	Gender Balance in Boards	🇮🇸 Iceland	Zero legal gap in female leadership and pay equity.
51	Movable Asset Financing	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Top registry for using machinery/inventory as collateral.
52	Court Automation	🇰🇷 South Korea	Full AI-assisted case management in commercial courts.
53	Sustainable Procurement	🇳🇱 Netherlands	Government contracts prioritize "Circular Economy" firms.
54	Credit Bureau Depth	🇺🇸 USA	Most comprehensive data on payment history for SMEs.
55	Anti-Corruption Services	🇳🇿 New Zealand	Top transparency and whistle-blower protection apps.
56	Trade Infrastructure Quality	🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR	Highest density of automated port and air-cargo tech.
57	Labor Safety Inspection	🇵🇹 Portugal	Digital labor audits that reduce firm-level paperwork.
58	Insolvency Cost	🇲🇦 Morocco	Significant reforms in reducing legal fees for closing.
59	Digital Tax Refund Speed	🇸🇰 Slovak Republic	Near-instant VAT refunds via automated risk-checks.
60	Startup Incentive Access	🇮🇱 Israel	Leading digital ecosystem for accessing R&D grants.

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
61	E-Registration of Securities	🇦🇿 Azerbaijan	Highest score in 2025 for digital financial services registries.
62	Court Case Management	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Leading use of the "Integrated Electronic Case Management System."
63	Business Exit Efficiency	🇵🇹 Portugal	Lowest time and cost for closing or reorganizing a business.
64	Trade Information Portals	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Top-tier "Single Window" portal for all trade-related data.
65	Energy Efficiency Standards	🇩🇰 Denmark	Most comprehensive green building and utility regulations.
66	Whistleblower Protection	🇳🇿 New Zealand	Global benchmark for legal safety for internal reporting.
67	Digital Land Titles	🇬🇪 Georgia	Pioneer in using blockchain for secure, instant land records.
68	VAT Refund Processing	🇸🇰 Slovak Republic	Near-instant electronic processing of tax credits.
69	Worker Grievance Redress	🇫🇷 France	Most accessible public systems for resolving labor disputes.
70	Collateral Legal Framework	🇪🇪 Estonia	Strongest legal clarity on using intangible assets for loans.
71	Import Risk-Based Inspection	🇸🇬 Singapore	AI-driven customs that inspect only high-risk shipments.
72	Startup Funding Access	🇮🇱 Israel	World-leading public-private synergy for SME R&D grants.
73	Sustainable Public Bidding	🇳🇱 Netherlands	Government contracts favor circular-economy business models.
74	Credit Bureau Accuracy	🇺🇸 USA	Most reliable and frequently updated private credit data.
75	Labor Law Compliance	🇻🇳 Vietnam	Notable reforms in making labor rules easy for SMEs to follow.
76	Utility Reliability (SAIDI)	🇭🇺 Hungary	Lowest average duration of power outages for businesses.
77	E-Filing for Permits	🇦🇪 UAE	Near-universal use of digital signatures for building permits.
78	Market Entry Fairness	🇲🇦 Morocco	Significant recent progress in removing monopoly barriers.
79	Asset Valuation Standards	🇨🇦 Canada	Most transparent and uniform rules for valuing firm property.
80	Business Data Privacy	🇮🇪 Ireland	Leading the 2026 cycle in regulating business data flows.

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
81	E-Signature Legal Validity	🇦🇪 UAE	Near-universal adoption via the digital "UAE Pass" for all contracts.
82	Collateral Valuation Standards	🇨🇦 Canada	Most transparent and uniform rules for valuing firm property.
83	Business Data Privacy	🇮🇪 Ireland	Leading in regulating business data flows and GDPR compliance.
84	Risk-Based Tax Audits	🇭🇺 Hungary	AI-driven system that selects audits based on data, not bias.
85	Online Dispute Settlement	🇰🇷 South Korea	100% digital submission and tracking of commercial legal cases.
86	Movable Asset Financing	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Top registry for using machinery/inventory as loan collateral.
87	Green Building Incentives	🇸🇬 Singapore	"Green Mark" certification leads to significant tax rebates.
88	Minority Shareholder Rights	🇳🇿 New Zealand	World-class legal protections against "self-dealing" by insiders.
89	Worker Grievance Redress	🇫🇷 France	Most accessible public systems for resolving labor disputes fairly.
90	Startup Funding Grants	🇮🇱 Israel	World-leading synergy for SME R&D and high-tech funding.
91	Customs Single-Window	🇲🇾 Malaysia	A single digital portal for all trade-related government agencies.
92	Workforce Reskilling Apps	🇸🇬 Singapore	"SkillsFuture" is the global model for state-funded labor training.
93	Sustainable Procurement	🇳🇱 Netherlands	Government bids prioritize "circular economy" and green logistics.
94	Credit Bureau Precision	🇺🇸 USA	Most reliable and frequently updated credit data for SMEs.
95	Anti-Corruption Apps	🇳🇿 New Zealand	Top transparency and whistle-blower protection digital platforms.
96	AI in Commercial Courts	🇰🇷 South Korea	Pioneering the use of AI for case management and legal research.
97	Insolvency Recovery Speed	🇵🇹 Portugal	Rapid legal process for reorganizing distressed but viable firms.
98	Environmental Disclosure	🇳🇴 Norway	Leading standards for firms to report carbon and resource usage.
99	Digital Payment Interoperability	🇰🇪 Kenya	Seamless "M-Pesa" ecosystem for B2B and B2G payments.
100	Total Business Readiness	🇸🇬 Singapore	Consistent leader across all 10 topics and 3 pillars in 2026.

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
101	B2B Payment Interoperability	🇰🇪 Kenya	Universal real-time settlement across different mobile/bank platforms.
102	Court AI Integration	🇸🇬 Singapore	Leading use of AI for legal research and small-claims case triage.
103	Waste Management Efficiency	🇩🇪 Germany	Most streamlined industrial recycling and waste utility services.
104	Beneficial Ownership Transparency	🇬🇧 UK	Gold standard for public, searchable registries of company owners.
105	Green Logistics Incentives	🇳🇱 Netherlands	Deepest tax breaks for electric freight and sustainable shipping.
106	Remote Dispute Resolution	🇰🇷 South Korea	100% video-link capability for commercial court hearings.
107	Credit Score Portability	🇺🇸 USA	Easiest transition of credit history between lenders for SMEs.
108	Digital Audit Trails	🇪🇪 Estonia	Every government interaction is logged via blockchain for transparency.
109	Export Certificate Automation	🇩🇰 Denmark	Instant digital issuance of phytosanitary and origin certificates.
110	Anti-Monopoly Surveillance	🇪🇺 EU (General)	Top marks for active market-share monitoring and cartel fines.
111	E-Signature Cross-Border Use	🇮🇪 Ireland	Leader in accepting digital signatures from foreign trading partners.
112	Workforce Reskilling Grants	🇸🇬 Singapore	Automated digital credits for workers to update technical skills.
113	Utility Pricing Transparency	🇸🇰 Slovak Republic	Real-time public dashboard for industrial energy/water tariffs.
114	Insolvency Asset Liquidation	🇯🇵 Japan	Fastest specialized auction systems for distressed firm assets.
115	Gender-Neutral Property Laws	🇨🇦 Canada	Perfect legal parity in land ownership and inheritance rights.
116	Sustainable Public Tenders	🇳🇴 Norway	Highest percentage of "Green Criteria" in government contracts.
117	Alternative Lending Regulation	🇬🇧 UK	Most robust framework for P2P and crowdfunding business loans.
118	Hazardous Waste Compliance	🇭🇺 Hungary	Simplest digital portal for tracking industrial toxic waste disposal.
119	Digital "Single Window" Trade	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Top integration of 20+ agencies into one export/import portal.
120	Market Contestability	🇲🇦 Morocco	Significant reforms in reducing state-owned enterprise monopolies.

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
121	E-Notary Services	🇪🇪 Estonia	100% digital notarization for cross-border business deeds.
122	Unified Business ID	🇸🇬 Singapore	Single "UEN" number for tax, permits, and banking.
123	Credit Guarantee Coverage	🇰🇷 South Korea	Most effective public backing for SME loans during crises.
124	Remote Tax Audits	🇭🇺 Hungary	Full legal and technical framework for video-link auditing.
125	Bidding Appeal Speed	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Fastest independent review of contested govt contracts.
126	Employee Share Ownership Law	🇺🇸 USA	Most supportive regulations for granting equity to workers.
127	Digital Utility Metering	🇸🇰 Slovak Republic	Real-time digital usage tracking for firm energy efficiency.
128	Movable Asset Enforcement	🇲🇾 Malaysia	High efficiency in repossessing machinery used as collateral.
129	Green Logistics Subsidies	🇳🇱 Netherlands	Deepest support for zero-emission delivery fleets.
130	Parental Leave Parity	🇮🇸 Iceland	Equal legal requirements for mothers and fathers in business.
131	Pre-Insolvency Early Warning	🇵🇹 Portugal	AI-based public tools that alert firms to bankruptcy risks.
132	Automated Export Refunds	🇲🇦 Morocco	Significant reforms in digital "Duty Drawback" processing.
133	Small Claims Court Speed	🇬🇪 Georgia	Specialized "Fast-Track" courts for minor business debts.
134	Open Data for Agriculture	🇧🇷 Brazil	Leading transparency in land and soil data for agri-firms.
135	Environmental Liability Law	🇩🇪 Germany	Clearest legal framework for business environmental damage.
136	Digital Skill Portability	🇮🇪 Ireland	Unified system for verifying foreign tech-talent certifications.
137	Utility Grid Resilience	🇭🇺 Hungary	Highest score for preventing "cascade failures" in power.
138	Whistleblower Rewards	🇺🇸 USA	Leading financial incentives for reporting market cartels.
139	Cross-Border Trade Interoperability	🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR	Top use of "Blockchain Trade" for cargo documentation.
140	Business Integrity Reporting	🇳🇿 New Zealand	Simplest digital filing for anti-money laundering compliance.

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
141	E-Procurement Interoperability	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Best-in-class integration of tax and registration for govt bids.
142	Court AI for Triage	🇸🇬 Singapore	AI tools that categorize and assign court cases automatically.
143	Digital Import Risk Profiling	🇩🇰 Denmark	Most accurate digital system for selecting high-risk cargo.
144	Beneficial Ownership Access	🇬🇧 UK	Global benchmark for open, searchable corporate owner data.
145	Green Energy Grid Access	🇳🇴 Norway	Fastest and most incentivized connection to renewable power.
146	Remote Insolvency Hearings	🇰🇷 South Korea	100% legal and technical capacity for virtual bankruptcy courts.
147	Credit Score Portability	🇺🇸 USA	Most efficient system for moving credit history between lenders.
148	Integrated Land & Tax ID	🇬🇪 Georgia	Unified digital ID for land records and tax compliance.
149	Export Certificate Digital Hub	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Single portal for all agricultural and technical export permits.
150	Anti-Trust Market Monitoring	🇩🇪 Germany	Leading proactive surveillance of price-fixing and cartels.
151	Cross-Border E-Signature Law	🇮🇪 Ireland	Most receptive to foreign digital signatures in trade deals.
152	State-Funded Labor Training	🇸🇬 Singapore	Universal digital credits (SkillsFuture) for business reskilling.
153	Utility Tariff Dashboards	🇸🇰 Slovak Republic	Real-time public data on industrial water and power rates.
154	Specialized Auction Systems	🇯🇵 Japan	Fastest liquidation of assets from insolvent but viable firms.
155	Gender-Equal Inheritance Law	🇨🇦 Canada	Absolute legal parity in how property is passed to heirs.
156	Circular Economy Procurement	🇳🇱 Netherlands	Government tenders prioritize firms using recycled materials.
157	P2P Lending Regulation	🇬🇧 UK	Clear legal framework for alternative fintech business loans.
158	Toxic Waste Tracking Apps	🇭🇺 Hungary	Simplest digital interface for industrial hazardous waste logs.
159	"Single Window" Logistics	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Top integration of 20+ agencies into one export platform.
160	Monopoly Barrier Removal	🇲🇦 Morocco	Significant 2026 reforms in opening state sectors to competition.

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
161	AI Legal Guidelines	🇸🇬 Singapore	First to implement a clear Model AI Governance Framework for firms.
162	Climate Risk Disclosure	🇳🇴 Norway	Leading the 2026 cycle in mandatory green reporting for all SMEs.
163	Digital Identity Portability	🇪🇪 Estonia	Seamless use of e-Residency IDs for banking and contracts worldwide.
164	B2G E-Invoicing	🇮🇹 Italy	Pioneer in mandatory, real-time digital invoicing for govt deals.
165	Worker Reskilling Credits	🇸🇬 Singapore	Automated "SkillsFuture" credits for tech-talent development.
166	Remote Property Appraisal	🇬🇪 Georgia	Use of drone and satellite data for instant land valuation.
167	Insolvency Early Warning	🇵🇹 Portugal	AI-driven public tools that predict and alert firms of financial distress.
168	Hazardous Waste E-Tracking	🇭🇺 Hungary	Most efficient digital logs for industrial toxic waste management.
169	Cross-Border Data Flows	🇮🇪 Ireland	Top marks for legal clarity in transferring business data across borders.
170	Green Public Procurement	🇳🇱 Netherlands	100% of govt tenders now require "Circular Economy" scores.
171	Movable Asset E-Registry	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Leading digital platform for using non-land assets as loan collateral.
172	Court Automation (AI)	🇰🇷 South Korea	AI-assisted triage for assigning and researching commercial cases.
173	Employment Parity Law	🇮🇸 Iceland	Zero legal gap in pay and promotion rights for men and women.
174	Utility Grid Resilience	🇸🇰 Slovak Republic	Top score for preventing business-disrupting power outages.
175	Alternative Fintech Loans	🇬🇧 UK	Most robust framework for P2P and crowdfunding business lending.
176	Beneficial Ownership API	🇬🇧 UK	Fully open, searchable digital data for corporate transparency.
177	Startup Exit Efficiency	🇮🇱 Israel	Fastest legal pathway for tech acquisitions and mergers.
178	Digital "Single Window" Hub	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Top integration of 25+ agencies into one trade platform.
179	Environmental Permit Speed	🇪🇪 Estonia	Near-instant electronic filing for environmental impact assessments.
180	Total Market Readiness	🇸🇬 Singapore	The 2026 global benchmark for overall business environment quality.

#	Indicator Category Name	Leading Economy	Why they Lead?
181	E-Notary Verification	🇪🇪 Estonia	100% digital notarization for cross-border business deeds.
182	Unified Business ID (UBI)	🇸🇬 Singapore	One "UEN" number used for tax, permits, and banking.
183	Credit Guarantee Schemes	🇰🇷 South Korea	Most effective public backing for SME loans during crises.
184	Remote Tax Audit Framework	🇭🇺 Hungary	Full legal and technical capacity for video-link auditing.
185	Procurement Appeal Speed	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Fastest independent review of contested government bids.
186	Equity-Based Pay Laws	🇺🇸 USA	Most supportive regulations for granting stock to workers.
187	Digital Utility Metering	🇸🇰 Slovak Republic	Real-time digital usage tracking for firm energy efficiency.
188	Movable Asset Enforcement	🇲🇾 Malaysia	High efficiency in repossessing machinery used as collateral.
189	Green Logistics Subsidies	🇳🇱 Netherlands	Deepest support for zero-emission delivery fleets.
190	Parental Leave Parity	🇮🇸 Iceland	Equal legal requirements for mothers and fathers in business.
191	Pre-Insolvency Warnings	🇵🇹 Portugal	AI-based public tools that alert firms to bankruptcy risks early.
192	Automated Export Refunds	🇲🇦 Morocco	Significant reforms in digital "Duty Drawback" processing.
193	Small Claims Court Speed	🇬🇪 Georgia	Specialized "Fast-Track" courts for minor business debts.
194	Open Data for Agriculture	🇧🇷 Brazil	Leading transparency in soil and land data for agri-firms.
195	Environmental Liability Law	🇩🇪 Germany	Clearest legal framework for business environmental damage.
196	Skill Portability Systems	🇮🇪 Ireland	Unified system for verifying foreign tech-talent certifications.
197	Utility Grid Resilience	🇭🇺 Hungary	Highest score for preventing "cascade failures" in power grids.
198	Whistleblower Rewards	🇺🇸 USA	Leading financial incentives for reporting market cartels.
199	Blockchain Trade Docs	🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR	Top use of distributed ledgers for cargo documentation.
200	Business Integrity Apps	🇳🇿 New Zealand	Simplest digital filing for anti-money laundering compliance.

Institutional Framework of the World Bank B-READY Project

The Business Ready (B-READY) flagship is a multi-layered global initiative managed by the World Bank Group. Unlike previous iterations of business climate assessments, B-READY is built on a foundation of institutional independence, data transparency, and collaboration with specialized international organizations. This structure is designed to ensure that the 1,200+ indicators are technically sound and free from political influence.

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Core Governance and Organizational Structure

The project’s administration is centralized within the World Bank but relies on a vast network of external verification partners.

1. The World Bank Development Economics (DEC) Vice-Presidency

The project is strictly housed within the Development Economics Global Indicators Group (DECIG). This is the research wing of the Bank, functioning independently from its lending operations to prevent conflicts of interest.

• The Global Indicators Group: Manages the methodology, data processing, and final scoring for all 180 economies.

• Enterprise Analysis Unit: Conducts the World Bank Enterprise Surveys (WBES), capturing direct feedback from over 58,000 business owners to provide the "de facto" (real-world) reality check.

2. External Expert Partners

For the "de jure" (legal) assessment, the World Bank engages with over 5,000 local experts worldwide.

• Professional Bodies: Private law firms, chambers of commerce, and bar associations provide technical expertise on the application of local regulations.

• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs): Act as watchdogs to ensure that the drive for "business readiness" maintains high standards for labor rights and environmental protection.

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Topic-Specific Institutional Collaborators

To ensure global best practices, the World Bank coordinates with specialized organizations that define the international standards for each of the 10 B-READY topics:

Business Topic	Lead Standard-Setting Organization	Role in B-READY
Labor	International Labour Organization (ILO)	Defines metrics for worker safety, social security, and fair wages.
International Trade	WTO & World Customs Organization (WCO)	Sets benchmarks for border compliance and digital trade portals.
Financial Services	IMF & Financial Action Task Force (FATF)	Guides indicators on credit reporting and anti-money laundering.
Taxation	OECD & UN Tax Committee	Informs standards for tax transparency and digital filing efficiency.
Insolvency	UNCITRAL	Provides the framework for corporate debt restructuring and liquidation.
Utility Services	International Energy Agency (IEA)	Sets reliability standards for electricity and water infrastructure.

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Data Integrity Guardrails

To maintain the highest level of trust, the organizations involved adhere to a strict Data Management Policy:

1. Public Replication: All raw data and calculation scripts are published to allow academic and public scrutiny.

2. Anonymity: Expert and firm-level responses are anonymized to protect participants from local pressure.

3. Third-Party Audits: Periodic internal and external reviews of the data collection process are conducted to ensure methodological consistency across all regions.

Publication Cycle and Future Implementation of the World Bank B-READY Flagship

The Business Ready (B-READY) project is designed as an annual corporate flagship report. Unlike a one-time study, it provides a continuous, high-frequency stream of data to help countries track their reform progress in real-time. To ensure the transition from the old "Doing Business" model was mathematically sound and operationally robust, the World Bank implemented a three-year rollout phase from 2024 to 2026.

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1. The Three-Year Rollout Phase (2024–2026)

The project gradually expanded its geographical and analytical reach to reach full global capacity by 2026.

Edition	Publication Date	Economy Coverage	Status
B-READY 2024	October 2024	50 Economies	Pilot/Baseline year completed.
B-READY 2025	December 2025	101 Economies	Interim report expanding coverage.
B-READY 2026	2026 (Current)	~180 Economies	Full Global Coverage and conclusion of rollout.

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2. Future Publications (2027 and Beyond)

As we move past the rollout phase in 2026, the B-READY project enters its "Full-Fledged" stage. The World Bank has committed to maintaining B-READY as a permanent annual fixture to provide a predictable roadmap for global investors and policymakers.

Planned Milestones for 2027–2028

• B-READY 2027: This will be the first edition to cover the full baseline of approximately 180 economies under a stabilized methodology. It is expected to be published in late 2027.

• Methodology Stabilization: After three years of refinements (2024–2026), the methodology will remain consistent for future editions to allow for year-on-year trend analysis.

• Subnational B-READY: Expansion of "Sister Projects" that use the same 1,200+ indicator framework to rank specific cities or states within large economies like Brazil, India, and China.

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3. The Yearly Milestone Path

Following the 2026 launch, every subsequent year follows a rigorous data-freshening cycle:

1. Preparation (Q1): Selection of 5,000+ global experts and updates to the Methodology Handbook.

2. Data Collection (Q2–Q3): A dual-track process involving Expert Questionnaires and thousands of Enterprise Surveys (WBES).

3. Validation (Q3–Q4): Cross-checking data against government feedback and internal audits.

4. Global Publication (Late Q4): Launch of the main report and the Reproducibility Package for public audit.

Why Annual Publication Matters

• Monitoring Reforms: Governments can see the impact of legislative changes in the following year's scores.

• Investment Signaling: Global investors rely on annual updates to adjust their risk profiles.

• Research Continuity: Maintaining a consistent yearly dataset allows for longitudinal studies on how business environments impact GDP and job growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding the World Bank B-READY Flagship

The transition from the old "Doing Business" model to the Business Ready (B-READY) project has raised several questions from policymakers, investors, and researchers. Below are the most frequently asked questions and their detailed answers to help you navigate the 2026 flagship.

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1. Conceptual and Strategic Questions

Q: How does B-READY differ from the former "Doing Business" report?

A: While both measure the business environment, B-READY is a significant evolution. It moves away from purely measuring "regulatory burden" (the cost and time of rules) toward a more balanced assessment.

• Wider Scope: It covers the private sector as a whole, including the interests of workers and the environment, rather than just the individual firm.

• Public Services: It measures the quality of public services provided by governments (like digital portals and utility reliability), not just the laws.

• Implementation: It places equal weight on de facto implementation (what happens in practice) rather than just de jure laws (what is on paper).

Q: Does B-READY rank countries from 1 to 180?

A: No. To avoid "unhealthy competition" and "data gaming," B-READY focuses on scores rather than absolute rankings. This allows for a more nuanced analysis of how an economy performs across the three pillars (Regulatory, Public Services, and Efficiency) without the stigma of a single ranking number.

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2. Methodology and Data Collection

Q: Where does the data actually come from?

A: B-READY uses a dual-source approach to ensure accuracy:

1. Expert Consultations: Over 5,000 private sector experts (lawyers, accountants, and consultants) answer technical questionnaires about the regulatory landscape.

2. Enterprise Surveys (WBES): Direct interviews with more than 58,000 firm owners provide the "real-world" experience data for the Operational Efficiency pillar.

Q: What are the "Cross-Cutting Themes" mentioned in the report?

A: These are three critical lenses applied to all 10 business topics:

• Digital Adoption: Is the government using technology to provide services?

• Environmental Sustainability: Do regulations encourage green practices and resource efficiency?

• Gender Equality: Are there specific barriers or supports for women in the workforce and entrepreneurship?

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3. Governance and Integrity

Q: How does the World Bank prevent governments from "gaming" the data?

A: B-READY has instituted several "Governance Guardrails":

• External Verification: Local private experts provide the primary data, not government officials.

• Public Accountability: All raw data and reproducibility files are published online, allowing any researcher to audit the results.

• Compliance Units: Independent ethics and compliance functions within the World Bank monitor the data collection process for any signs of undue influence.

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FAQ Summary Table

Question	Short Answer
Is it annually?	Yes, it is a yearly corporate flagship.
Is the data public?	Yes, all raw data is available in the B-READY Data Portal.
Who manages it?	The Development Economics Vice-Presidency (DEC) of the World Bank.
Does it cover SMEs?	Yes, it measures the life cycle of firms from small startups to large corporations.
What is the goal?	To promote reforms that boost job creation and productivity.

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Glossary of Terms: World Bank B-READY Flagship

To navigate the technical data of the Business Ready (B-READY) project, it is essential to understand the specific vocabulary used by the World Bank. The framework moves away from simple business metrics toward a "Balanced Approach" that weighs legal theory against practical reality.

Core Methodology & Technical Terms

Term	Definition	Context in B-READY
De Jure	"By law." Refers to the statutory rules and legal frameworks as written in a country's books.	Measures the quality and existence of the Regulatory Framework (Pillar I).
De Facto	"In practice." Refers to the actual, real-world experience of firms and how laws are implemented.	Measures Public Services and Operational Efficiency (Pillars II & III).
Public Services Gap	The disparity between a country's high-quality laws and its lower-quality service delivery.	Common in countries that pass modern laws but lack digital infrastructure or staffing.
Efficiency Gap	The difference between the strength of regulations and the actual time or cost it takes for firms to comply.	Used to identify bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder high-growth firms.
Life Cycle Approach	The organization of indicators based on the stages of a firm’s existence.	Covers the entire journey of a business from inception to potential exit.
Cross-Cutting Themes	Three specific lenses (Digital, Green, and Gender) applied across the data.	Ensures that "readiness" includes technology, sustainability, and inclusivity.
Expert Questionnaires	Surveys sent to approximately 5,000 legal and sector specialists per cycle.	Primary source for verifying laws (Pillar I) and the availability of services (Pillar II).
Enterprise Surveys (ES)	Direct firm-level surveys conducted with business owners and managers.	Primary source for measuring real-world efficiency and implementation (Pillar III).
Reproducibility Package	The public release of raw data, code, and calculation scripts used for the report.	Ensures transparency and allows third-party researchers to audit the findings.
Firm Resilience	The ability of a business environment to support companies during economic shocks.	Measured through indicators like insolvency early warnings and credit guarantees.
Regulatory Quality	An assessment of whether regulations are clear, non-discriminatory, and outcome-oriented.	Focused on avoiding "over-regulation" while maintaining essential social safeguards.
Interoperability	The ability of different government digital systems to "talk" to one another.	A key metric in Public Services; for example, if a tax ID is automatically recognized by the land registry.
Benchmark Economy	A high-performing nation used as a point of comparison for a specific indicator.	Used to show a country's distance from "global best practice."
Administrative Burden	The total "cost of compliance" (time and money) spent by a firm to meet government requirements.	A primary metric for measuring inefficiency in Pillar III.
Social Safeguards	Regulations designed to protect workers, consumers, and the environment.	Included in B-READY to ensure that "Business Ready" does not mean "unregulated."
Digital-First	A government service delivery model where the default mode of interaction is electronic.	High-scoring economies in the 2026 cycle are almost exclusively "Digital-First."
Single Window	A unified digital portal where a business can complete multiple tasks (e.g., trade permits, customs, and taxes).	Measured as a high-value public service for operational efficiency.

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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes based on the World Bank’s 2026 B-READY framework and does not constitute professional legal or investment advice.