Methodology

This page offers links to the methodologies for each Doing Business topic and to the Doing Business 2012 survey instruments. Visitors can also download several research papers (and the original datasets) that contributed to this project.

MethodologyDB12 survey instrumentsResearch papers supporting the methodologyDownload dataset
Starting a Business (PDF, 82KB) The Regulation of Entry (PDF, 131KB), by Djankov and others, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Feb 2002.
Dealing with Construction Permits (PDF, 85KB)
Getting Electricity (PDF, 417KB)
Registering Property (PDF, 65KB)
Getting Credit (PDF, 103KB)
(PDF, 188KB)
(PDF, 200KB) 		Private Credit in 129 Countries (PDF, 238KB), by Djankov, McLiesh and Shleifer, Journal of Financial Economics, May 2007.
 Excel
Protecting Investors (PDF, 131KB) The Law and Economics of Self-Dealing (PDF, 816KB), by Djankov and others, Journal of Financial Economics, June 2008. Excel
Paying Taxes (Excel, 929KB) The Effect of Corporate Taxes on Investment and Entrepreneurship, by Djankov and others, American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, July 2010.
 Excel
Trading Across Borders (PDF, 92KB) Trading on Time (PDF, 100KB), by Djankov and others, Review of Economics and Statistics, Nov 2008.
 Zip (dta format, 56MB)
Enforcing Contracts (PDF, 118KB) Courts (PDF, 691KB), by Simeon Djankov and others, Quarterly Journal of Economics, May 2003.
Excel
Resolving Insolvency (PDF, 118KB) Debt Enforcement Around the World (PDF, 216KB), by Djankov and others, Journal of Political Economy, Dec 2008.
 Excel
Additional Topic*DB12 survey instrumentResearch papers supporting the methodologyDownload dataset
Employing Workers (PDF, 99KB) The Regulation of Labor (PDF, 270KB), by Botero and others, Quarterly Journal of Economics, June 2004.
 Excel

* Special topic (not included in Doing Business rankings).

Ranking Methodology

Explanation of how the Ease of Doing Business Index (PDF) and the sub-indices are calculated.

More Information

» Methodology changes: Read about how the methodology was improved this year and in previous years

» DB data: Common misconceptions about Doing Business

» DB indicators: Why aggregate and how to do it - paper from Doing Business 2006 (PDF)

» Economy characteristics: View income and population data

» Review of 2007 report: Doing Business: An Independent Evaluation

Data Revisions

Doing Business data and rankings are updated annually and published in the report and on this website. The data reflect the situation as of June 1 of the respective year of publication. Data points may be revised as new information is available, which is also applied to the time series to ensure consistency of data. The links below highlight revisions made to the data in previous years. We welcome input from governments or other users of the data. This input will be considered and if it results in changes to the data, it will be reflected in the files shown below, the respective country data pages, and in the data simulator. Please note that rankings are updated annually.

» Changes to DB 2011 data (Excel)
» Changes to DB 2010 data (Excel)
» Changes to DB 2009 data (PDF)
» Changes to DB 2008 data (PDF)