The Economist has a nice piece on Doing Business today:
Heavy strictures on business often fail even on their own terms. In poor countries, stringent building codes do not always produce safer habitation; higher tax rates do not always pull in more revenue; and the most tightly regulated labour markets do not afford the best protection to workers. Often, such burdens simply drive firms and workers into the shadow economy, beyond the reach of inspectors, trade unions and the taxman.
But why does the report face opposition in some quarters?
“It is like sports,” says Simeon Djankov, an author of the report, “If you keep score, no one wants to lose.”
I suppose so, Simeon. Australia is the second-best place in the world for quick, efficient business start-up - and also has the second-best cricket team in the world, eh?
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