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  1. Understanding Poverty

Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance

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Accessing Laws and Regulations

Free and easy access to the laws and regulations governing society is a precondition for the rule of law. If citizens, businesses and social organizations do not know the rules by which they are expected to play, they are laid open to predatory regulators and broad-based corruption. More simply, the overarching uncertainty around the legal environment harms investment, social cohesion and trust.

For the Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance, the team asked government officials and the private sector whether the laws and regulations that are currently in effect are codified and available in a single place, and if so, where. The team also asks whether that registry or website is updated regularly and consolidated to contain all amendments and revisions.

 

Economy Are the laws that are currently in effect available in a single place? Published on a unified website managed by the government Published on a unified website managed by the private sector Printed in an official gazette / journal or other publication Are the secondary regulations that are currently in effect codified and available in a single place? Published on a unified website managed by the government Published on a unified website managed by the private sector Printed in an official gazette / journal or other publication Are these websites or registries updated regularly? Can these websites or registries be accessed by the public free of charge?
Afghanistan Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Albania Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Algeria Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Angola Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Antigua and Barbuda Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Argentina Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Armenia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Australia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Austria Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Azerbaijan Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Bahamas, The Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Bahrain Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Bangladesh Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Barbados Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Belarus Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Belgium Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Belize Yes No No Yes No No No No No No
Benin Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Bhutan Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Bolivia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Botswana Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Brazil Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Brunei Darussalam Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Bulgaria Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Burkina Faso Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes
Burundi No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Cabo Verde Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Cambodia No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Cameroon Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Canada Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Central African Republic No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Chad No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Chile Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
China No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Colombia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Comoros Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes No n/a
Congo, Dem. Rep. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Congo, Rep. Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes n/a
Costa Rica Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Côte d'Ivoire Yes No No Yes No No No No No n/a
Croatia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Cyprus Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes
Czech Republic Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Denmark Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Djibouti Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Dominica Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes
Dominican Republic Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Ecuador Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Egypt, Arab Rep. Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
El Salvador Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Eritrea No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Estonia Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Eswatini Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Ethiopia Yes No Yes Yes No No No No No n/a
European Union Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Fiji Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Finland Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
France Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Gabon Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes No No
Gambia, The No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Georgia Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Germany Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ghana Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes
Greece Yes Yes No Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Grenada Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes
Guatemala No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Guinea Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Guinea-Bissau Yes No No Yes No No No No No n/a
Guyana Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes
Haiti No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Honduras Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Hong Kong SAR, China Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Hungary Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Iceland Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
India Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Indonesia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Iran, Islamic Rep. Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Iraq Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Ireland Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Israel Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Italy Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jamaica Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Japan Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jordan Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Kazakhstan Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Kenya Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Kiribati No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Korea, Rep. Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Kosovo Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Kuwait Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Kyrgyz Republic Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Lao PDR Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Latvia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Lebanon Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No
Lesotho No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Liberia No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Libya No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Lithuania Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Luxembourg Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Macedonia, FYR Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Madagascar Yes Yes No Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Malawi Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes n/a
Malaysia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mali Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes No n/a
Malta Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Marshall Islands No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Mauritania Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes No n/a
Mauritius Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Mexico Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Micronesia, Fed. Sts. Yes No No No No No No No No n/a
Moldova Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Mongolia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Montenegro Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Morocco Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Mozambique Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Myanmar Yes No No Yes No No No No Yes n/a
Namibia Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes No n/a
Nepal Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Netherlands Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
New Zealand Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Nicaragua Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes
Niger Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes n/a
Nigeria Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes n/a
Norway Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Oman Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes n/a
Pakistan Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Palau Yes No No No No No No No No n/a
Panama Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Papua New Guinea Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No No Yes
Paraguay Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Peru Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Philippines Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Poland Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Portugal Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Puerto Rico (U.S.) Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes
Qatar No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Romania Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Russian Federation Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Rwanda Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Samoa Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No No Yes
San Marino Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
São Tomé and Príncipe Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes No n/a
Saudi Arabia No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Senegal No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Serbia Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Seychelles Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes n/a
Sierra Leone Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes
Singapore Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Slovak Republic Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Slovenia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Solomon Islands Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes
South Africa Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
South Sudan Yes No No No Yes No No No No n/a
Spain Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Sri Lanka Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
St. Kitts and Nevis No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
St. Lucia Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes n/a
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Sudan No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Suriname Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Sweden Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Switzerland Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Syrian Arab Republic No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Taiwan, China Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Tajikistan Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Tanzania Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Thailand Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Timor-Leste Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes
Togo Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Tonga Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Trinidad and Tobago Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Tunisia Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Turkey Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Uganda Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Ukraine Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
United Arab Emirates Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
United Kingdom Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
United States Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Uruguay Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Uzbekistan Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Vanuatu Yes No No No Yes No No No Yes n/a
Vietnam Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
West Bank and Gaza Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Yemen, Rep. No No No No No No No No n/a n/a
Zambia Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Zimbabwe Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes