The index of 19 countries is the broadest measure of business climate in Latin America. Rather than looking at the size of a country’s GDP or GDP per capita, it looks at five key categories and 27 subcategories to measure the recent, current and future business environment in a country.  They are:

• Macro Environment (GDP growth 2008 and 2009, estimated growth this year and forecasted growth next year, inflation 2008 and 2009, estimated inflation this year and forecasted inflation next year).
• Corporate Environment (corporate tax rates, access to capital for entrepreneurs,  ease of doing business (including starting and closing a business) and economic freedom).
• Globalization & Competitiveness (globalization, competitiveness, tariffs, education/ health and security for companies and business executives).
• Technology Level (PC, Internet, broadband, wireless and fixed telephony penetration).
• Political Environment (political freedom, political stability, political outlook, business policies of government and corruption).