The Impact of the Financial Crisis on New Firm Registration

Abstract:     
The authors use panel data on the number of newfirm registrations in 95 countries to study the impact of the business environment and 2008 financial crisis on new firm registration. The data show that more dynamic formal business creation occurs in countries that provide entrepreneurs with a stable legal and regulatory regime, fast and inexpensive business registration process, more flexible employment regulations, and low corporate taxes. The data also show that nearly all countries experienced a sharp drop in business entry during the crisis. This drop is more pronounced in countries with higher levels of financial development and countries more affected by the crisis.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 35

Keywords: Governance Indicators, E-Business, Emerging Markets, Environmental Economics & Policies, Economic Theory & Research

working papers series