@report {927941, title = {Microeconomic binding constraints on private investment and growth in Venezuela}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Venezuela{\textquoteright}s business environment is systematically evaluated as one of the worst in the world. Producing and investing in the country imposes costs and risks arising from macroeconomic instability. Beyond the problems of inflation, fiscal deficit and trade balance; firms and entrepreneurs also face enormous difficulties and discouragement going from the uncertainty about property rights to lack of electricity. To identify binding microeconomic constraints for investment in Venezuela, we reviewed international rankings and experiences about key elements of the business environment and conducted interviews with members of guilds and managers at large companies in the country. We find that the most biding constraints to investment are within the functioning of institutions, including weak property rights, and arbitrary, unbalanced and unpredictable enforcement of the law. Also binding is the flawed functioning of markets, including access to inputs and price controls.}, author = {Richard Obuchi and B{\'a}rbara Lira and Daniel Ragu{\'a}}, editor = {Alfredo Guerra} }