WB Group to discontinue ‘Doing Business’ report 

The World Bank Group has announced that it has decided to discontinue publication of its Doing Business report.

The Board of Executive Directors and group management took the decision amid allegations of data irregularities, it said in a statement on Thursday.

“After data irregularities on Doing Business 2018 and 2020 were reported internally in June 2020, World Bank management paused the next Doing Business report and initiated a series of reviews and audits of the report and its methodology,” the statement added.

For the last 17 years, Doing Business report has been viewed as a valued tool for measuring the cost of doing business.

“In addition, because the internal reports raised ethical matters, including the conduct of former Board officials as well as current and/or former Bank staff, management reported the allegations to the Bank’s appropriate internal accountability mechanisms,” it added.

“The World Bank Group remains firmly committed to advancing the role of the private sector in development and providing support to governments to design the regulatory environment that supports this.”

“Going forward, we will be working on a new approach to assessing the business and investment climate,” the statement said.

“World Bank Group research informs the actions of policymakers, helps countries make better-informed decisions, and allows stakeholders to measure economic and social improvements more accurately. Such research has also been a valuable tool for the private sector, civil society, academia, journalists, and others, broadening understanding of global issues,”

The WB group also said that trust in the research of the World Bank Group was vital.

Furthermore, the statement also said it remains firmly committed to advancing the role of the private sector in development and providing support to governments to design the regulatory environment that supports this.

“Going forward, we will be working on a new approach to assessing the business and investment climate. We are deeply grateful to the efforts of the many staff members who have worked diligently to advance the business climate agenda, and we look forward to harnessing their energies and abilities in new ways.”