2010年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Micronesia_Country_Profile_2009_15页_1mb

Micronesia Country Profile 2009 Summary

Core Content

The Micronesia Country Profile 2009 is part of the World Bank Group Enterprise Surveys, which aim to evaluate the business environment and firm productivity across different countries. These surveys are conducted on a representative sample of firms in the non-agricultural formal private economy, focusing on key areas such as infrastructure, trade, regulations, taxes, business licensing, corruption, crime, informality, finance, innovation, and workforce characteristics.

Main Topics and Key Findings

1. Business Environment Obstacles

• The business environment in Micronesia is perceived as having significant constraints, particularly in corruption, regulations, and infrastructure.
• Top 10 constraints include issues such as corruption, inefficiencies in business licensing, and delays in infrastructure services.
• Large firms report more severe challenges compared to small and medium firms in terms of business licensing and regulatory compliance.

2. Average Firm

• The average firm in Micronesia has an age of 16.3 years, with small firms being younger and large firms more experienced.
• Female participation in firm ownership is high (86.8%), while female top management is not reported.
• Ownership structure shows a dominance of sole proprietorships (60.6%), with a smaller share of foreign (18.9%) and private domestic (81.1%) ownership.

3. Infrastructure

• Electricity supply is a major issue, with 5.8 power outages per month and 2.6% of sales lost due to outages.
• Water supply is generally stable, with no reported shortages.
• Delays in infrastructure services are significant, with 67.1 days to obtain an electrical connection, 22.9 days for water, and 11.4 days for telephone.

4. Trade

• 16.4% of firms in Micronesia are exporters, with 77.8% using foreign material inputs or supplies.
• Customs clearance for direct exports takes an average of 18.3 days, and imports take 31.1 days.
• Export losses due to theft and breakage are minimal, at 0.8% of export value.

5. Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing

• Regulatory compliance is a challenge, with 12.4% of senior management time spent dealing with government regulation.
• Tax inspections are frequent, with an average of 1.3 visits per firm.
• Business licensing is costly and time-consuming, with 80.5 days needed for a construction-related permit.
• Shareholding structures show a preference for closed shareholding companies (30%) and sole proprietorships (60.6%).

6. Corruption

• Corruption is a significant concern, though no firms in Micronesia reported being expected to give gifts in meetings with tax inspectors or to secure government contracts.
• Graft Index is 1.4, which is below the regional average of 19.1 and lower middle income average of 13.7.
• Bribery expectations are very low for all types of permits and licenses.

7. Crime and Informality

• 43.4% of firms believe the court system is fair, impartial, and uncorrupted.
• Security costs are 0.8% of sales, with losses due to theft, robbery, vandalism, and arson at 2.1% of sales.
• Formal registration at the time of business start is high (96.9%), indicating a low level of informality.

8. Finance

• Internal finance dominates, with 91.8% of firms using it for investment.
• Bank finance accounts for 5.7%, with medium firms showing higher access to credit.
• Collateral requirements are high, with 265.2% of the loan amount needed.
• 98.5% of firms have checking or savings accounts, indicating good access to formal financial services.

9. Innovation and Workforce

• Only 6% of firms have internationally recognized quality certifications.
• 25.1% of firms have annual financial statements reviewed by external auditors.
• Email usage is high (85.1%), showing good use of ICT for communication.
• Workforce composition shows a preference for permanent full-time workers (17.8), with 37.3% of full-time workers being female.

Key Information

• Region: East Asia & Pacific
• Income Group: Lower middle income
• Population: 110,961
• GNI per capita: US$2,470.00

The Enterprise Surveys are useful for policymakers and researchers to assess the business environment and track reforms over time. The sample is stratified by industry, firm size, and geographic region, and the data is collected through face-to-face interviews with firm managers and owners.

Conclusion

The business environment in Micronesia is characterized by moderate levels of corruption and informality, significant infrastructure delays, and high reliance on internal financing. Despite these challenges, firms have good access to formal financial services and utilize ICT effectively. Gender participation in ownership is high, but female top management is not reported. The average firm is relatively young, with a dominant sole proprietorship structure, and limited use of innovation and quality certifications. The data highlights areas for improvement, such as reducing regulatory burdens, enhancing infrastructure services, and encouraging innovation.