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US free market lobby group Heritage Foundation published its 20th annual index of economic freedom.
Azerbaijan has ranked 81st among the 178 countries. Index of Economic Freedom measures economic freedom of 186 countries based on trade freedom, business freedom, investment freedom, and property rights. Azerbaijan’s points make 61.3, up 1.6 point compared to a year earlier. Consequently, Azerbaijan has been included in the group of Moderately Free countries.
Azerbaijan’s points on fiscal freedom made 88.1, monetary freedom – 78.8, labor freedom – 77.9, trade freedom – 77.2, business freedom – 73.5, government spending – 64.8, investment freedom – 60.0, financial freedom – 50.0, freedom from corruption – 22.7, property rights – 20.0.
Hong Kong leads the ranking (90.1 points). It is followed by Singapore (89.4), Australia (82.0), Switzerland (81.6), New Zeeland (81.2) and Canada (80.2).
The highest index among the post-Soviet countries was in Estonia (rank – 11). Georgia ranked 22nd, Turkey – 64th and Iran – 193rd.
The lowest index is in Korea (1.0, rank – 178), Cuba (28.7, 177) and Zimbabwe (35.5, 176).
