Poverty is a Policy Choice

The good news, is that there's been an improvement but Africa remains one of the most difficult places in the world to start a business (HuffingtonPost):

Most Sub-Saharan countries made doing business easier over the past year, but the African region is still the costliest and most complex in the world for entrepreneurs, the World Bank said in a report Thursday.

In its annual ranking of 183 countries, the bank found 36 of 46 Sub-Saharan African nations improved their business environment in the year through June 2011, the highest number since the study began nine years ago.

"We were very excited about Africa's improvement," said Mikiko Imai Ollison, one of the authors of the report. "Obviously, Africa has a lot to catch up on. It's the region with the weakest legal institutions as well as the least efficient procedures."

Of course this also represents an opportunity. Where are the not-for-profits or even for-profits that help other entrepreneurs affordably and quickly get through the red tape? That could be revolutionary for building entrepreneurship in Africa.