Post by The World Bank Group

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. Yet in 44% of economies, firms don’t even have access to mediation, according to the World Bank’s Business Ready 2025. That leaves many businesses with one option: court litigation, often slow, costly, and damaging to future partnerships. Here’s the reality: 🔹 Commercial mediation is available in just 56% of economies 🔹 Access drops sharply in lower-income countries, to less than 20% 🔹 In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 26% of economies offer it 🔹 Meanwhile, common law systems see higher uptake (73%) than civil law systems (49%) 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿? Because mediation works differently. A neutral third party helps businesses resolve conflicts faster, preserve relationships, and find practical solutions—not just legal wins. Without it, firms may: ✔️ Avoid risks and innovation ✔️ Tie up capital in lengthy disputes ✔️ In some cases, shut down altogether 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼? Expanding access to mediation isn’t just about passing laws. It requires: ✔️ Building institutions and trained mediators ✔️ Reducing structural bottlenecks in dispute resolution systems ✔️ Promoting a culture of negotiation over confrontation Because better dispute resolution isn’t just a legal issue, it’s an economic one. Read how making mediation accessible could unlock business growth, investment, and entrepreneurship where it’s needed most. https://lnkd.in/eBWbq52m