International: Brazil Trails Swaziland in World Bank Competitiveness Study

Brazil slipped six places in the World Bank's annual competitiveness study, as the world's seventh-largest economy fell behind countries including Swaziland and Nicaragua for the ease of setting up a business.

Brazil slipped to 126th place among 183 economies ranked in the World Bank's Doing Business survey published yesterday. The decline comes even as Brazil's central bank expects record foreign direct investment this year of $60 billion and the country invests in roads, ports and stadiums ahead of its hosting the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

In Brazil it takes 119 days to start a business, compared with 14 days in Colombia, which was among the 12 countries that most improved its business climate last year, according to the study. The Andean nation jumped five spots to 42nd in the world. Chile rose two places to 39th, taking back from Peru, which fell two spots to 41st, the title of Latin America's most business- friendly economy.

For more, see Brazil Trails Swaziland in World Bank Competitiveness Study by Randall Woods, October 20, 2011 at businessweek.