In 2021, the global framework regulation costs indicator, which aggregates nine costs domains, registered a value of 3.09, on a 1 to 5 scale, higher than those observed in 2017 (3.05) and 2014 (3.04). By economic activity, Industry showed the highest indicator (3.26) as well as the largest increase since 2014 (+0.14). The indicator was also higher in small and medium size companies (3.15; +0.6 than in 2017), as well as those whose headquarters are located on the mainland (3.09).

The judicial system was once again identified by companies as the domain with the highest framework regulation costs indicator 3.61, despite being the only domain to register a decrease between 2017 and 2021 (-0.06). 

Although they do not constitute high obstacles to the exercise of business activity, the human resources and network industries domains, presented the largest increases in the global framework regulation costs indicator between 2017 and 2021 (+0.17), mainly reflecting the difficulty in accessing qualified technicians and hiring workers, as well as the increases in costs with services related to the supply/access to liquid fuels and goods transportation by sea/river and land.