In the past year, against the backdrop of the global financial crisis, policy makers around the world continued to improve business regulation and empower entrepreneurs, according to Doing Business 2011: Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs.

The IFC–World Bank report, which ranks 183 economies on key aspects of business regulation for domestic firms, discloses that 117 economies carried out 216 regulatory reforms aimed at making it easier to start and operate a business, strengthening transparency and property rights, and improving the efficiency of commercial dispute resolution and bankruptcy procedures.