The cost of doing business is most likely to be the lowest in:. a. closed totalitarian states.
b. primitive or undeveloped economies.
c. open democratic societies.
d. countries where local laws and regulations set strict standards with regard to product safety, safety in the workplace, and environmental pollution.
e. countries that lack well-established laws for regulating business practice.

C. Open democratic societies.

Explanation:

Generally, the cost of doing business is most likely to be the lowest in an open democratic societies.

An open democratic society is one that is characterized by a degree of freedom for the populace and as such, it gives the people the privilege of fairly competing for all resources.

In an open democratic society, there's ease of doing business because the government would ensure there's an enabling environment by virtue of laws, regulations, policies, SME loans, taxation etc. The open society being opposed to autocracy, ensures that the government is typically responsive and tolerant to every individual living in the country. This simply means that, fundamental human rights and all the necessary infrastructures or amenities such as power, water, transportation systems are readily available and accessible to all.

Consequently, the cost of doing business becomes low and more individuals would be willing to startup their business; investors are confident of investing in the economy because they believe in the system put in place in an open democratic society.