The Value of Corporate Registers in Modern Economies

This document is a technical report that examines the significance and valuation of corporate registers within modern economies. It outlines the foundational role that corporate registers play as public infrastructure, detailing their function in recording the legal existence of companies and maintaining public records of corporate activities. The report discusses the economic and societal value of these registers, emphasizing their importance in fostering trust and transparency in market transactions. It highlights the historical perception of registers as mere administrative tools and contrasts this with the evolving understanding of their broader economic contributions. The report also references a study conducted by the UK’s Companies House, which estimated the annual value of register data to be between £1 billion and £3 billion, illustrating the potential economic benefits of investing in improved registry systems. The document aims to provide a framework for assessing the value of corporate registers and the implications of underinvestment in these critical infrastructures.