KIEV: Ukraine is ranked last among 44 countries in the Europe region, and its overall score is below the regional and world averages. “Ukraine’s economic freedom score is 51.9, making its economy the 150th freest in the 2018 Index [of Economic Freedom]. Its overall score has increased by 3.8 points, reflecting improvements in eight of the 12 economic freedom indicators and particularly significant improvements in monetary freedom and investment freedom.Ukraine’s oligarch-dominated economy had already slowed before Russia’s 2014 occupation of Crimea and ongoing aggression in the eastern part of the country badly damaged economic growth.
Significant progress was made on reforms to make the country more prosperous, democratic, and transparent, but more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, privatizing state-owned enterprises, and improving the legislative framework and the rule of law. Public enthusiasm for Western reforms has waned, however, as economic stagnation continues,” the research said. According to the research, the momentum for business reform has stalled, and political instability continues to compound regulatory uncertainty in commercial transactions. Ukraine has a well-educated and skilled labor force, but the labor code is outmoded and not enforced consistently. The government has reduced energy subsidies and is ending some special tax breaks for agriculture. “Property rights are protected under Ukrainian law, and mortgages and liens are recorded. There are serious issues regarding corruption in the judiciary, one of the country’s weakest and least trusted public institutions.
