Tackling Legal and Policy Barriers at the Local Level

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In-Depth Country Studies

The World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law produces in-depth studies capturing differences on how laws, regulations, and policies affect women’s economic opportunities and private sector development within a single economy. By collecting data from various regions, these studies provide subnational data that inform legal and policy reform across all levels of government.

Going beyond the main business city to uncover regional disparities

Laws and policies that shape women’s access to jobs and markets can vary significantly within a single economy, particularly in federal and mixed legal systems. Women, Business and the Law subnational data address this complexity by providing a comprehensive view of the legal and supportive policy frameworks restricting women’s economic opportunities at the local level. These data fill a critical knowledge gap around the obstacles that women face beyond the main business centers and informing more inclusive policy solutions.  

Women, Business and the Law in-depth studies offer tailored diagnostic tools for policymakers at all levels—federal, state/provincial, and municipal. They highlight good practices and pinpoint reform opportunities to remove legal and policy barriers that limit women’s economic participation. By applying the WBL 2.0 methodology, subnational data are not only comparable across regions within a single economy but can also be benchmarked against the 190 economies included in the WBL global index.

Last Updated: Nov 20, 2025