This note draws from an emerging literature on firm informality as well as data collected on micro enterprises and informal firms as part of the World Bank's enterprise survey initiative for Kenya. The purpose of the note is to assess the main constraints facing informal firms, identify patterns...

This report synthesizes the work carried out as part of a World Bank ASA (Advisory Services and Analytics) activity to identify better systems and practical strategies that countries can use for improved monitoring of small-scale cross border trade (SSCBT). Large amounts of goods are known to be...

The objective of this study is to contribute to the development of new structured financial products in Peru, in particular as means to address the problems of access to finance faced by underserved segments such as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This document reviews how structured...

Ethiopia's rural non-farm sector is significant and participation is increasing. The sector is particularly important for women and poorer households. Non-farm enterprises provide income-earning opportunities to those lacking alternative options and supplementary income for farming households....

Bolivia's informal sector is the largest in Latin America, by many definitions and measures. Bolivia's high informality rate has been blamed on many factors including the burden of regulation, the weakness of public institutions, and the lack of perceived benefits to being formal. The high level...

Peru is favored by a stable and growing economy and the availability of indigenous sources of energy for electricity generation, hydro and natural gas. Installed capacity in Peru in 2006 was 6658 MW, of which 48 percent was hydro-based. However, regarding new investment in generation, there is...

This report examines the key challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Kyrgyz Republic, in an attempt to identify the issues and areas in most urgent need of reform. The IFC Study of Investment Climate as seen by Small and Medium Enterprises in the Kyrgyz Republic is the...

The sector of small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter SMEs) represent an increasingly important segment of Montenegrin economy and have been key drivers of its economic growth and employment for the past several years. With foreign direct investment, this sector could be an important...

The purpose of this report is to gain an understanding of the general financial reporting and audit requirements for commercial enterprises in a jurisdiction as established by law or other regulation (for example, companies' act). Commercial enterprises are defined as companies established with...