In many low- and middle-income countries most micro and small enterprises (MSEs) struggle to upgrade into medium-sized and large enterprises. An extensive literature offers manifold explanations for the phenomenon but no conclusive answer on what the most important factors for MSE upgrading are:...

Since the publication of the first Doing Business report in 2003, the World Bank managed to trigger a wave of policy reforms that paved the way for the streamlining of regulations affecting small and medium-sized companies worldwide. Through its rankings, Doing Business aims to expose and do...