BRUSSELS, Belgium – B&K Agency contributed to the 2026 edition of the Index of Bureaucracy, published annually by the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University. Now in its sixth edition, A comparative study examines the administrative burden faced by small and medium-sized enterprises across 27 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. The Index measures bureaucracy in terms of time and assesses how many hours business owners must dedicate to fulfilling administrative and regulatory requirements across three key stages of a company’s life cycle: opening, operating and closing. By measuring these requirements, the research provides an evidence-based assessment of how regulatory burdens can affect business productivity, investment and innovation.

B&K Agency worked on the research covering Italy and Ukraine, examining the administrative requirements businesses face in both countries. The 2026 edition also includes the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and Ukraine, alongside countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. Through its comparative approach, the Index seeks to identify structural regulatory barriers, highlight differences between national business environments and provide insights to inform more effective, evidence-based policymaking.

The research was authored by Sary Levy Carciente, an economist holding a Master’s degree in International Economics and a PhD in Development Studies. She previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Social Studies at the Central University of Venezuela and headed its Research Centre. She currently works as a Research Scientist at the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at Florida International University.

B&K Agency is pleased to have collaborated on this international research initiative and looks forward to further opportunities for collaboration.