Singapore ranked as #1 economy in ease of doing business

Out of the 183 worldwide economies analysed in the Doing Business 2010 Report by World Bank, IFC and Palgrave MacMillan, Singapore is again the champion in ease of doing business (it was #1 in 2009 Report too).

A high ranking on the ease of doing business index means the regulatory environment is conducive to the operation of business. This index averages the economy's percentile rankings on 10 topics, made up of a variety of indicators, with equal weight:

• Starting a business
• Dealing with construction permits
• Employing workers
• Registering property
• Getting credit
• Protecting investors
• Paying taxes
• Trading across borders
• Enforcing contracts
• Closing a business

The top 30 economies are:

• 1. Singapore
• 2. New Zealand
• 3. Hong Kong
• 4. United States
• 5. United Kingdom
• 6. Denmark
• 7. Ireland
• 8. Canada
• 9. Australia
• 10. Norway
• 11. Georgia
• 12. Thailand
• 13. Saudi Arabia
• 14. Iceland
• 15. Japan
• 16. Finland
• 17. Mauritius
• 18. Sweden
• 19. Korea, Rep.
• 20. Bahrain
• 21. Switzerland
• 22. Belgium
• 23. Malaysia
• 24. Estonia
• 25. Germany
• 26. Lithuania
• 27. Latvia
• 28. Austria
• 29. Israel
• 30. Netherlands

Malaysia (ranked 23rd) has top ranking in getting credit and protecting investors, but laggard in starting a business, dealing with construction permits and registering property.

Click here for the complete list of ranking across the 183 economies.