Economics
China Leapfrogs France for Ease of Business as Emerging World Gains
- World Bank sees 115 of 190 economies improving as India climbs
- New Zealand, Singapore hold top spots as Hong Kong takes No. 3
The Shanghai Tower, center, stands among other buildings in Shanghai, China.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
China leapfrogged France in the World Bank’s annual rankings for ease of doing business, a shift that underscores the broader trend of developing economies catching up with their more advanced peers.
The world’s second-largest economy catapulted from 46 last year to 31, just ahead of France, which was unchanged at 32, according to the report released Wednesday in Washington. The Middle East showed new strength with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait among the top 10 gainers. That most-improved group also included India, Pakistan and Nigeria, three of the most populous nations.