"This paper uses micro data from the Indonesian Census of Manufacturing to analyze the causal relationship between foreign ownership and plant productivity. To control for the possible endogeneity of the FDI decision, the difference in differences approach is combined with a matching technique....

Comparing business regulation in 181 economies. Doing Business 2009 is the sixth in a series of annual reports comparing business regulations in 181 economies. Doing Business 2009 measures regulations affecting 10 areas of everyday business: Starting a business - steps, time, cost, and minimum...

Regulations affecting 10 areas of everyday business are measured: starting a business, dealing with licenses, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and closing a business. Doing Business 2008...

The survey on Lao private sector and investment climate covered 303 firms in six sectors and seven provinces (Vientiane City, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Luangnamtha, Xayaboury, Savannakhet, and Champassack). The survey included 246 firms in manufacturing covering wood processing, construction...

The purpose of this Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) is to provide the Syrian government, as well as business leaders, with a rigorous empirical analysis of the investment climate in Syria and the factors influencing firm-level productivity and competitiveness. This analysis will be used to...

The objective of the Bhutan Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) is to evaluate the investment climate in Bhutan in all its operational dimensions and promote policies to strengthen the private sector. This ICA consists of two volumes. Volume 1 summarizes the main results. Volume 2 presents a...

The effect of foreign ownership in Africa is based on an analysis of survey data of firms in Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Kenya compiled by the Regional program on Enterprise Development (RPED). This study attempts to show the relationship between foreign ownership and firm-level value added in...

The eighth joint UNCITRAL/INSOL/World Bank multinational judicial colloquium was held in Vancouver, Canada on 20-21 June 2009. Over 80 judges and government officials attended from some 40 states, representing a broad range of practical experience and perspectives, particularly with respect to...