Inaugural 2016 Ease of Doing Business Index on Attractiveness to Investors, Business Friendliness and Competitive Policies (EDB Index ABC) for 21 Sub-National Economies of India

This book by the Asia Competitiveness Institute introduces a new ease of doing business index that aims to allow for a better approximation of ease of doing business conditions in India's sub-national economies. The approach takes into account three major aspects of doing business, namely (a) Attractiveness to Investors, (b) Business Friendliness, and (c) Competitive Policies. The bottom-up approach considers the various operational issues that firms face at the ground level, with the emphasis being on de facto issues.

The analysis provided in the book not only stands up to academic scrutiny as it is grounded in rigorous methodological foundations, but also remains accessible and appealing to policymakers with the co-authors recommending appropriate policy interventions to improve the ease of doing business of India's sub-national economies.

Contents: India as the World's Fastest Growing Emerging Economy: How Singapore Can Be Part of This Narrative?Ease of Doing Business (EDB) Index: Rationales, Literature Survey and Methodological ConceptsAndhra PradeshAssamBiharChhattisgarhDelhiGoaGujaratHaryanaHimachal PradeshJharkhandKarnatakaKeralaMadhya PradeshMaharashtraOdishaPunjabTamil NaduTelanganaUttar PradeshUttarakhandWest BengalConcluding Remarks and Directions for Future Research
Readership: Academics, investors, and policymakers interested in India's business environment and investment climate.
Keywords:Ease of Doing Business;India;Sub-National Economies;What-If Simulation;Make in India;Competitive FederalismReview:
"Professor Tan Khee Giap is developing important knowledge at the Asia Competitiveness Institute, to help Singapore gain in-depth knowledge of the economy around us. We will nurture local academics who can produce quality work and contribute to Singapore."
Ong Ye Kung
Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) &
Second Minister for Defence, Singapore

"The study presents a holistic and comprehensive analysis to understand the ease of doing business (EDB) in India at the sub-national level. While there are many indices existing at the national level, at the sub-national, it appears this is only the second one after World Bank's ease of doing business. Compared to World Bank's, EDB index ABC is much broader and includes a mix of ex-ante, ex-post as well as de jure factors."
Professor N R Bhanumurthy
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi, India
Key Features:The book undertakes rigorous empirical research relating to the notion of ease of doing business at the sub-national level in India.The study is first of its kind as it analyses the ease of doing business environment at the sub-national level and is a significant departure from the existing studies on ease of doing business.The book offers a unique blend of empirical work and policy discussion as it relates to a large emerging market economy like India, specifically factoring in the differences within the country.