World Bank Group Timeline
World Bank Group announces discontinuation of Doing Business report
The Doing Business report, an annual publication launched by the World Bank Group in 2002, was intended to provide objective measures of business regulation and regulation enforcement across 190 economies and selected cities worldwide. Data irregularities were first reported internally in June 2020 at which point World Bank Group management paused the report and began an investigation consisting of a series of audits and reviews, culminating in the report’s discontinuation in September 2021. Soon after, World Bank Group President David Malpass discussed the possibility of replacing the report, stating, “I really want to put the focus more on the idea of, how do we have products that are really useful, that are trustworthy, that are confidence-inspiring for countries. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to build that.” The Doing Business series will be replaced by a new flagship report “Business Ready (B-Ready)” beginning in the spring of 2024.
Resource Gallery
Management Review of Data Irregularities in the Doing Business Reports from 2016 to 2020: Verification Report
Document date: Dec. 8, 2020
The report summarizes the verification results of the investigation of the irregularities of the Doing Business report.
Statement -- Doing Business data irregularities statement
Aug. 27, 2020
The World Bank Group issues a pause in the Doing Business publication after irregularities were reported in the Doing Business 2018 and 2020 reports (online resource).
Statement -- World Bank Group to discontinue Doing Business report
Sept. 16, 2021
After a series of reviews and audits, the World Bank Group announces that it will discontinue the Doing Business report while "working on a new approach to assessing the business and investment climate" (online resource).
