2011年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Argentina_Country_Profile_2010_15页_890kb

Argentina Country Profile 2010 Summary

Core Content Overview

The Argentina Country Profile 2010 provides a detailed analysis of the business environment based on the Enterprise Surveys conducted by the World Bank and IFC. The surveys focus on the challenges faced by firms in various aspects such as infrastructure, trade, regulations, taxes, corruption, crime, and informality, as well as financial services and workforce characteristics. The data is benchmarked against the Latin America & Caribbean region and the Upper Middle Income group.

Main Topics and Key Indicators

1. Business Environment Obstacles

• The surveys highlight the challenges that hinder business operations and productivity.
• Firms face a range of obstacles, including corruption, regulations, taxes, and delays in obtaining licenses and permits.
• The Graft Index measures the proportion of firms that were asked or expected to pay informal payments when applying for six different public services.
• Corruption is a significant issue, with 10.3% of firms expected to give gifts to secure a government contract, and 5.5% expected to give gifts for a construction permit.

2. Average Firm

• The average firm in Argentina is 27.2 years old.
• Female participation in top management is 9.2%, while 38.0% of firms have female participation in ownership.
• 96.0% of firms are privately owned, with 3.9% being foreign-owned and 0.0% being government-owned.

3. Infrastructure

• Power outages are frequent, with an average of 2.7 per month, and firms lose 3.5% of sales due to these outages.
• Water shortages occur 1.5 times per month, with an average duration of 2.8 hours.
• Delays in obtaining infrastructure services are a major concern, with 54.2 days for electricity, 46.9 days for water, and 29.1 days for telephone connections.

4. Trade

• 27.4% of firms are exporters, with 71.8% using foreign material inputs.
• The average time to clear imports through customs is 13.7 days, while direct exports take 7.3 days.
• 0.2% of firms lose goods during direct exports due to theft, and 0.3% due to breakage or spoilage.

5. Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing

• 77.0 days are required to obtain an import license, and 176.1 days for an operating license.
• Senior management spends 20.8% of their time dealing with government regulatory requirements.
• Average number of meetings with tax officials is 2.7 per year, and 13.9% of firms use bank financing for investment.

6. Corruption

• 2.8% of firms in Argentina reported experiencing corruption, lower than the regional average of 6.6%.
• 8.7% of firms expect to give gifts during meetings with tax inspectors.
• 10.3% of firms expect to give gifts to secure a government contract, and 7.1% to obtain an import license.

7. Crime and Informality

• 16.2% of firms believe the court system is fair.
• Security costs account for 0.9% of sales, and 0.6% of sales are lost due to theft, robbery, vandalism, and arson.
• 92.4% of firms are formally registered when they start operations, indicating a relatively low level of informality.

8. Finance

• 63.2% of firms rely on internal finance for investment.
• 13.9% of firms use bank finance, and 14.9% use trade credit.
• 36.1% of firms use external financing for working capital.
• 181.3% of the loan amount is typically required as collateral.
• 49.3% of firms have bank loans or lines of credit, and 96.2% have checking or savings accounts.

9. Innovation and Workforce

• 18.2% of firms hold internationally recognized quality certifications.
• 69.8% of firms have annual financial statements reviewed by external auditors.
• 68.1% of firms use their own websites, and 92.8% use email to communicate with clients/suppliers.
• The average number of temporary workers is 6.2, and permanent full-time workers is 51.0.
• 20.3% of firms have full-time female workers.

Key Findings

• Corruption is a major concern, though Argentina's rate is lower than the regional average.
• Infrastructure deficiencies such as frequent power outages and water shortages increase operational costs and reduce productivity.
• Trade processes are time-consuming, with significant delays in customs clearance affecting firm performance.
• Regulatory and licensing procedures are lengthy, with import and operating licenses requiring over 170 days to obtain.
• Financial access is relatively high, with a majority of firms having bank accounts and using external financing for working capital.
• Innovation is limited, with only 18.2% of firms holding international quality certifications.
• Workforce composition shows a preference for permanent full-time employment, with female participation in both management and ownership being moderate.

Conclusion

The Argentina Country Profile 2010 underscores the challenges firms face in navigating a complex business environment. While the country has relatively good access to financial services and a low level of informality, it struggles with corruption, infrastructure inefficiencies, and regulatory delays. Improving the efficiency of public services, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and enhancing innovation are critical for boosting firm productivity and economic growth.