Atlas Network-supported research links ease of doing business reforms with poverty alleviation

New research supported by Atlas Network demonstrates impact of ease of doing business reforms on poverty.

Atlas Network supported new research by Simeon Djankov, the founder of the World Bank's Doing Business report -- an annual measure of how easy or difficult governments around the world make it for their citizens to exercise their economic rights -- that demonstrates the impact of reforms on poverty reduction. The study finds that every five-point increase in a country's score translates to a one percentage point reduction in poverty.* The findings support a new economic development strategy Atlas Network is leading that responds to the growing consensus among experts that is skeptical of the efficacy of the predominant foreign aid strategy. In an effort to start doing development differently, Atlas Network works with more than 480 independent research and advocacy organizations throughout the world identifying and funding the most promising reform projects that are likely to improve low-income peoples' chances of lifting themselves out of poverty and on to the road to prosperity.

This PDF is the note to a forthcoming research paper on the topic as well as published findings in the upcoming 2018 World Bank “Doing Business” report.

*Defined as living on $1.90 per day or less.

Business Regulations and Poverty, by Simeon Djankov, Dorina Georgieva, and Rita Ramalho.