Countries Improving Conditions to Conduct Business

According to a measure produced by the International Finance Corporation, Georgia, followed by Rwanda and Belarus, showed the greatest improvement in the ability to conduct business. The IFC measures the ease of handling business by taking into account various factors, such as how long it takes a company to pay taxes and become incorporated. Egypt, Mali, Colombia, and China also topped the list. 

The Economist notes that corruption, or lack thereof, plays a major role in a countries ability to easily conduct business. As figure 2 illustrates, greater corruption perceptions correlate to a lower “ease of doing business” ranking. Additionally, it appears that the position of countries to handle business has improved in most areas since 2005 partly because many states are following Singapore’s model of business. Singapore holds the top spot in the Global Dynamism Index, an index that measures which countries have the best business environments. 

Child Mortality Rate Plunging Throughout Africa

The Economist’s daily chart from May 19^th highlighted child mortality rates among 20 nations in Africa.  According to Gabriel Demombynes and Karina Trommlerova of the World Bank, since 2005, 16 of 20 African countries on which detailed living condition surveys have been conducted experienced a drop in child-mortality rates.  Of the 20 nations, only Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Nambia, and Liberia endured an increase in the child-mortality rate.  12 nations had a decrease of at least 4.4% a year, and Senegal and Rwanda boasted a drop of nearly 10% a year.  In fact, the plunge in child mortality is actually speeding up.  Throughout most African nations, the rate is decreasing twice as fast compared to the early 2000s and 1990s.