Stability in Iraq depends on a business-friendly government

NPR story cited World Bank report

In the report, "Iraq's Shaky Economy Poses Threat to Future," NPR cites The World Bank's Doing Business report that ranks economies based on the ease of doing business in particular countries:

The process of setting up a business in Iraq requires 11 procedures,

at 11 different ministries, says Frank Gunter, a professor of economics

at Lehigh University. On average, Gunter says, it takes 77 days and

costs about $2,800 in fees alone — and that assumes you have good legal

advice.

Gunter studied Iraq's business climate as the senior

civilian economic adviser to the U.S. military in Iraq from 2008 to

2009. He cites a recent study by the World Bank that measures the cost and ease of starting a business in 183 countries. Iraq scored close to the bottom, at 153.

Small business drives economic growth

As recognized by Professor Guntor and NPR, lowering the barriers to starting a business and reducing the corruption within local governments to make it easier to launch a start-up, will ultimately help fuel developing economies and provide new jobs, reduce unemployment, stabilize a region and reduce poverty.