OREANDA-NEWS. September 25, 2008. The first ten of the rating made up by the Cato Institute research institute includes countries with the freest economy: Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland, Great Britain, Chile, Canada, USA, Austria and Ireland.

The worst situation is in Zimbabwe (141st place), Angola, Burma, Congo and Niger. Estonia has the best economic freedom among post-Soviet states (11th place). Russia is on the 101st place, Ukraine – 121st, Romania – 74th.

The rating is based on the data of the year of 2006: five major criteria: size of the Government; the property rights protection system; money accessibility; international trade freedom level; business-, labor market- and credit market regulation degree.