About Regulatory Efficiency

Actionable data, knowledge sharing, and peer-to-peer engagement that inspire best-practice policy reform for inclusive economic growth in local business environments.

Regulatory Efficiency

As part of the World Bank’s effort to advance private sector development, the Regulatory Efficiency team assesses the business environment in selected cities within measured economies to capture variations among locations. Our work also supports private sector development by assessing the business environment across different locations within countries and regions.                                                                                                               

These assessments provide a foundation for reforms that strengthen regional and sectoral competitiveness, support private sector development and job creation, and foster inclusive economic growth. They deliver detailed, quantitative data and analyses on topics that contribute to a dynamic and resilient private sector, helping drive targeted policy reforms. Our team adapts them to specific economic and sectoral contexts, translating data into actionable reforms. By showing where and to what extent a location or sector falls behind good practices, these assessments promote knowledge sharing, peer learning, and evidence-based reform.

 

Regulatory Efficiency workstreams

The Regulatory Efficiency team’s work is organized into two complementary workstreams that together provide a comprehensive view of how regulations affect firms, sectors, and economies.

B-READY Subnational 

These assessments examine the business environment across different locations within countries and regions. By adapting the global B-READY methodology to local contexts, the team collects actionable data on business regulations and maps procedures step by step to identify bottlenecks. The findings highlight where reforms can simplify processes, lower costs, and improve service delivery, helping governments design policies that make it easier for firms to start, operate, and grow.
B-READY Subnational Brochure

B-READY Sectoral

B-READY Sectoral work program assesses the efficiency of regulations and their in-practice implementation in strategic sectors that are critical for private investment, competitiveness, and job creation. Through its core Agribusiness and Mining workstreams, the program produces cross-country benchmarks that help policymakers understand how regulations function in practice, identify barriers to private sector development, and prioritize reforms that enhance productivity, attract investment, and support sustainable economic growth. 

Other sectors covered by the program include Solar Energy and Tourism.

Learn more through our sectoral brochures:

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Guiding Local Reforms for Private Sector Growth

MORE ABOUT US

The team provides actionable data, promotes knowledge sharing, and facilitates peer-to-peer engagement to inspire best-practice policy reforms that foster job creation and drive inclusive economic growth in local business environments.

Meet the Team
FAQ
Methodology

Videos

Business Ready: What Do Economies Need To Do To Enable Businesses To Thrive?

What does it take for the world to become “Business Ready”? A strong private sector drives growth, jobs, and investment. Norman Loayza, Director of the World Bank’s Policy Indicators Group and lead of the Business Ready (B-Ready) report, joins Expert Answers to explain how the report uses over 1,200 indicators to assess the regulations and public services that shape business environments.

Guiding Local Reforms for Private Sector Growth

The Regulatory Efficiency team delivers data-driven insights to support local reforms, boost private sector development, and create jobs. By analyzing the business environment across cities and regions, it pinpoints regulatory barriers, showcases effective practices, and identifies areas for improvement. These findings help governments craft targeted policies that enable firms to start, operate, and grow—advancing competitiveness and inclusive economic progress.

Valentina Saltane at the 2025 Doing Business in Brazil Legal Symposium

Regulatory Efficiency Manager Valentina Saltane analyzes Brazil’s complex business environment. She explains how regulatory differences across Brazilian states impact entrepreneurs and businesses, and how improved subnational data can help tailor smarter, more efficient policies that empower businesses and foster substantive economic growth.

Data-Driven Insights on Local Business Environments

The World Bank’s Subnational Business Ready project aims to inspire policy reforms that address gaps and disparities in a country’s business environment while promoting balanced, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. The studies reveal regulatory differences and gaps in implementing national laws, generating knowledge on good practices. By showing how—and by how much—locations diverge in applying sound regulations, Subnational B-READY encourages knowledge sharing, peer learning, and targeted regulatory reforms.