English

Managing Risk in Customs - Lessons from the New Zealand Customs Service (April 2010)

The New Zealand Customs Service’s risk management system enables it to manage large volumes of cargo crossing borders with limited resources. This note, the fourth in a series of four on trade logistics reform issues and initiatives, highlights the system’s fundamental principles and processes and offers lessons in reforming trade logistics functions to meet global standards and security requirements.

Developing a Single Window to Facilitate Trade in Senegal (April 2010)

In 1995 Senegal introduced a single window system for electronic trade facilitation as part of a reform agenda to improve the country’s business environment. This note, the third in a series of four on trade logistics reform issues and initiatives, highlights key issues in Senegal’s decision to develop a customized system and offers lessons in managing stakeholder requirements and expectations.

Ghana Leads West Africa in Transit Reform (April 2010)

Since early 2006 Ghana has modified several features of its transit system as part of efforts to improve road-based trade in West Africa. This note, the second in a series of four on trade logistics reform issues and initiatives, highlights these key reforms in Ghana and offers lessons for catalyzing broader transit reform across West Africa and other regions.

Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking - Eyes on COMESA (April 2010)

The Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking Report – Eyes on COMESA contains examples of best practice facilitation from investment promotion intermediaries in the COMESA region and includes specific recommendations for improvement for countries in this region.

Outsourcing of Business Registration Activities - Lessons from Experience (April 2010)

Outsourcing has become a recognized feature of industrial and commercial activity around the world. Many countries have outsourced some aspect of business registration, particularly the development and operation of computer systems, but there are some that have gone further. This study has been commissioned by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to explore the extent to which outsourcing has become a recognized feature of business registration, the reasons for this, and the associated benefits, drawbacks, and practical problems. Did business registries outsource any or all of their functions? If so, did the same considerations apply as for the private sector? Were there lessons to be learned from their experience? Responses to these and other questions were received from 53 registries and analyzed in this study.

Reforming Customs Clearance in Pakistan (April 2010)

Simple, fast, transparent customs clearance procedures encourage trade and the resulting tariffs and related taxes raise government revenue and stimulate economic development. This note, the first in a series of four on trade logistics reform issues and initiatives, discusses Pakistan’s development of a modern single window system for customs clearance and offers lessons from the experience.

Review of Denmark's Program for Better Business Regulation (April 2010)

The report features a brief review of the Danish government’s 2001–2010 administrative burden reduction program. Over the last few years, Denmark has developed and successfully tested a number of innovative regulatory reform tools, such as the Standard Cost Model and the "Burden Hunter" method. Many of these tools are equally relevant to transition and developing economies, if well adapted.

Tax Compliance Cost Surveys: Using Data to Design Targeted Reforms (February 2010)

A tax compliance cost survey can provide useful information for the design of reforms to reduce compliance costs and risks for small businesses. This note highlights key findings of tax compliance cost surveys conducted in South Africa, the Republic of Yemen, Ukraine, and Peru that measured the burdens on business. These surveys helped fine-tune the design of reforms to lower costs for businesses and improve their competitiveness.

Providing Incentives for Investment (January 2010)

Are tax incentives effective at attracting investment or a waste of resources? It depends on the policies used and the sector targeted for investments. This Investment Climate IN PRACTICE note consolidates the policy implications of recent research and offers best practices for incentive policy and administration.

Secured transactions Systems and Collateral Registries (January 2010)

The main objective of this publication is to provide technical advice and guidance to World Bank Group staff, donor institutions, government officials and other practitioners on the implementation of secured transactions law and institutional reforms in emerging market countries. The content of the Toolkit will guide the reader through the various stages of the project cycle (identification, diagnostic, solution design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation) involved in the introduction of secured transactions reforms. The recommendations presented in the Toolkit are based on IFC’s experience in the secured transactions area, the contributions of a number of experts in this field, existing literature, reform experience in a number of emerging market countries and the existing best practices in jurisdictions with advanced secured transactions systems.

How Many Stops in a One Stop Shop? (January 2010)

Many governments have introduced one-stop shops as part of their reform of the business registration process. But what is a one-stop shop? Is it like any other shop? Can it really involve just one stop? IFC has commissioned this study to provide some background and possibly a few hints for those contemplating setting up a one-stop shop or improving one that already exists.

Incentives and Investments: Evidence and Policy Implications (December 2009)

This paper analyzes how investment incentives can be used to foster private investment, particularly in developing countries. What makes such incentives effective? How much should they cost? And how are they linked to policy making and political economy? The assessment draws on existing literature as well as several case studies and surveys conducted for this paper.