Fitch Solutions Operational Risk Index Remodeled as Accessible Alternative to World Bank's Doing Business Report

Fitch Solutions – New York and London – 18 Feb 2022

Fitch Solutions, a leading provider of data, research and analytics, today launched a revamped and enhanced Operational Risk service – providing an immediately accessible alternative to the now-discontinued World Bank Doing Business report.

The remodelled Fitch Solutions Operational Risk Index provides an objective and data-driven assessment of the ease of doing business across 201 markets, enabling users to quantify and compare business environment risks to their investments, supply chains and day-to-day operational activities.

The Operational Risk Index is also used in Fitch Ratings Bank Rating Criteria to derive an implied Operating Environment Score for a given jurisdiction, replacing the World Bank Doing Business data that was previously used as part of the bank rating methodology. 

The Index, which was developed by the Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research team, is underpinned by 90 input metrics that are updated quarterly. It is designed with full transparency in mind.

Each of the 201 markets covered is given a headline Operational Risk score out of 100 to allow for direct market-by-market benchmarking and comparison. However, the Index’s explanatory power lies in its ability to capture and quantify operational challenges via a focus on the four underlying elements of risk that combine to give the headline score: Crime and Security, Logistics, Trade and Investment, and Labour Market Risk.

The Index is available via Fitch Solutions’ online platform, Fitch Connect. Users can use interactive charting capabilities and proprietary data download tools to access and fully appraise all of the data contained in each of the four underlying risk categories. The Index captures metrics that go beyond those that were previously included in the now discontinued World Bank Doing Business report.   

In addition to the Index and the data, 370 new reports will be released to provide qualitative analysis. The reports align four main areas of risk captured by the Index under the headings Crime, Defence and Security; Logistics and Freight Transport; Trade and Investment and Education and Labour. Analysis will include, but not be limited to, coverage of crime, cyber and conflict risk; economic openness; labour costs, availability and skills; access to utilities and transport networks.

Nick Morgan, Managing Director and Head of Country Risk and Industry Research at Fitch Solutions, said:

‘’This is a timely opportunity to introduce the Operational Risk Index to clients who may have previously used the World Bank’s Doing Business data and analysis. The Operational Risk Index gives a comprehensive picture of business environment risks across 201 markets, giving users access to a more agile, extensive and transparent range of comparable metrics.”

‘’Quarterly updates of the 90 underlying metrics for each market mean that the Index and reports can be used to support a range of business activities, including risk benchmarking, business climate and supply chain analysis, investment decision making. The inclusion of the Index in the Fitch Ratings Bank Rating Criteria is in line with our commitment to ensuring our methodologies are transparent and robust.’’

Further information is available at: https://www.fitchsolutions.com/products/operational-risk

About Fitch Solutions
Fitch Solutions fuels better informed credit risk and strategy decisions with reliable data, insightful research and powerful analytics. Clients can easily understand and interpret markets, while leveraging workflow efficiencies for enhanced productivity. Fitch Solutions provides accurate, granular and in-depth information, plus differentiated perspectives, especially in markets where information is hard to find and difficult to interpret.

Fitch Solutions is part of Fitch Group, a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Fitch Group is owned by Hearst.

Further information about Fitch Solutions is available at www.fitchsolutions.com