World Bank Tokyo Online Morning Seminar #196 “World Bank Enterprise Survey (WBES)”

The World Bank Enterprise Survey (WBES) is a firm-level survey of a representative sample of an economy’s private sector. To date, WBES have been carried out in 159 economies, totaling over 219,000 interviews. The WBES cover a broad range of topics related to the business environment including access to finance, corruption, infrastructure, competition, and performance measures. The surveys also collect data used in the Business Ready (B-READY) indicators.

The World Bank’s Enterprise Analysis Unit has been carrying out the WBES since 2005, when the Global Methodology was developed to standardize firm-level data collection efforts. The Enterprise Analysis team is made up of economists and firm-level survey experts that both (1) conduct firm-level surveys, and (2) draw upon the wealth of firm-level data to produce research on the micro-economic foundations of growth. The Enterprise Analysis Unit’s data, findings, and recommendations help policymakers identify, prioritize, and implement reforms and policies to support strong and resilient private-sector economic activity. Key research topics include firm performance, job creation, gender parity for entrepreneurs and workers, informality, and export performance. All the data are publicly available on the data portal as soon as surveys are completed.

At this online seminar, Jorge Rodriquez Meza, Manager, Enterprise Analysis Unit, Global Indicators Group, Development Economics (DEC), introduced the programs and activities by the World Bank’s Enterprise Analysis Unit.