De Soto's team, along with the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, found that to acquire and legally register a lot on state-owned desert land in Egypt requires dealing with 31 public and private agencies and red tape that can stretch from 5 to 14 years.

FORBES: Waking Dead Capital

Now, after nearly eight years of red tape, not an inch of pavement has been laid on the 11.2-mile stretch.

FORBES: Follow through