Global Indicators Group

Global data and analysis for private sector development, economic growth, and better jobs

The private sector is the engine of economic growth, generating most jobs, investment, and innovation in developing economies. A thriving private sector depends on a strong business environment, supported by streamlined regulations, effective public services, and good governance.

The Global Indicators Group (DECIG) is the World Bank’s leading source of data and analysis on private sector development. The department:

Produces the institution’s flagship report on the business environment around the world → Business Ready

Manages the world’s most extensive program of enterprise surveys → World Bank Enterprise Surveys

Leads regulatory-efficiency assessments by regions and sectors in a country → Regulatory Efficiency (Formerly Subnational Business Ready)

Produces the flagship report on the legal rights for women’s economic participation → Women, Business and the Law

Produces key datasets on governance and financial development → Worldwide Governance Indicators and Financial Development Indicators (to be launched in 2026)

DECIG’s insights are widely used by governments to shape reforms, by the private sector to support policy advocacy, by researchers to assess impact, and by development institutions to guide operations and advisory services.

DECIG is located within the Development Economics Vice Presidency of the World Bank.

Leadership

Norman Loayza
Director, Global Indicators Group

What does the private sector need to thrive?

The private sector, including firms, workers and markets, is the engine for economic growth and job creation. An economy cannot expand without it.
A vibrant private sector depends on a healthy regulatory environment, including efficient public services, streamlined regulations, and equitable laws that balance opportunities for all.
Many countries need reforms to improve their regulatory framework to support the private sector.
The Global Indicators Group provides reliable evidence and global datasets to support reforms.
Together, the DECIG programs power evidence-informed policymaking for a stronger private sector everywhere in the world...
...and accelerate the World Bank’s effort to end poverty on a livable planet.

Highlights

Watch replay

Business Ready 2024 Global Launch - New Data for a Dynamic Private Sector

Improving upon the Doing Business report, B-READY offers more comprehensive data and analysis that can guide policy reforms and foster private sector development that benefit firms, workers, markets, and society as a whole. Join economists, policymakers, business leaders and journalists to explore barriers to long-term growth, good policy practices, and strategies for fostering a business-ready environment.

Watch replay

World Bank Enterprise Surveys Symposium: Global Business Environment and Firm Productivity

Distinguished economists and practitioners will share valuable insights drawn from the newly released World Bank Enterprise Surveys (WBES) data, covering 103 economies. These insights shed light on the global business environment and firm productivity. The latest round of data—featuring over 60,000 interviews with business owners and top managers—is the focus of this symposium and also contributes to the World Bank’s flagship Business Ready (B-READY) report, which assesses the global business climate.

Our Programs

Business Ready (B-READY)

Business Ready is the World Bank’s new flagship report benchmarking the business environment and investment climate in most economies worldwide.

Enterprise Surveys (ES)

Enterprise Surveys provide the world's most comprehensive comparable firm-level data in emerging markets and developing economies.

Regulatory Efficiency (RE)

Regulatory Efficiency (RE) assesses the local business environment across locations within a country, and conducts studies that identify administrative and legal barriers in key industries.

Women, Business and the Law (WBL)

The Women, Business and the Law (WBL) project collects data on the laws and policies that affect women’s economic opportunity.

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Private sector to end poverty on a livable planet

The private sector needs a favorable business environment to grow and prosper. Hear from experts from the Global Indicators Group:

DECIG Seminar Series

Livestreamed every month, the series invites leading researchers in development economics and public policy to present their recent work on international development, especially on private sector development.