The paper is highly cited because it uses a simple methodology to investigate a topic of high interest to policy makers and businesses, yet previously untouched by academic research.

The discovery is that poor countries regulate more than rich countries - exactly the opposite of what you would expect based on economic theory but also enforcement capacity.

  How did you become involved in this research?

There is little reason why business entry should be heavily regulated. yet, many countries in the world impose burdensome regulations in the name of improving consumer welfare. We find the only effects of such regulation is higher cost on business, and larger informal economy. The only beneficiaries are incumbent businesses and the bureaucrats themselves.