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In the report of the "Index of Economic Freedom 2015" Azerbaijan is on the 85th position with 61 points, which is 0.3 points lower than last year. Deterioration in the position of Azerbaijan reflects the decline in the transparency of financial management, investment freedom and freedom of trade. The report is compiled by American research foundation "Heritage".

"Corruption is widespread, and revenues from oil and gas exports create opportunities for illegal revenues. The judicial system is corrupt, inefficient and largely subservient to the president and the ruling party. Government officials are rarely prosecuted for corruption. In general, the respect for the right to property has fallen sharply. The Government may seize any property that wants to, and the ordinary citizens almost have nowhere to turn for help," reads in the section of a report devoted to Azerbaijan.

The report also notes that the price regulation applies to most of the energy products; monopolies, restrictions on imports and agricultural subsidies also cause distortions in domestic prices.

An average basic rate in Azerbaijan is 4.5 percent. Despite the fact that the country works to improve its customs procedures, its relatively inefficient regulatory and legal systems can impede trade and investment. Banks hold about 95 percent of total financial sector assets. The level of financial penetration in Azerbaijan remains one of the lowest in the Asia-Pacific region. Government securities dominate the stock markets, the report reads.

It should be noted that Armenia is on the 52nd place in the rating with 67.1 points. The leaders of the index this year are Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland.

Note that experts of “The Heritage Foundation” define economic freedom as "the absence of government interference or obstruction of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services, except for the necessary protection and support to citizens freedom itself." The degree of economic freedom is calculated by the arithmetic mean of the ten indicators: business freedom, trade, financial sector, investment, labor, monetary and fiscal freedom, property rights, the size of the bureaucracy and the degree of protection against corruption. Thus, in the "absolutely free" economy there should eventually be 100 points, and there where is no freedom in principle, respectively, zero points. Analysis of economic freedom is held by the Fund since 1995.