Reform Index. Release 8

Pay attention! We have revised methodology for Index of monitoring reforms. Changes concern two directions. Deregulation and competition policy were excluded from Governance and Anti-Corruption sub-index

This sub-index now includes fighting corruption, decentralization, public administration and provision of public services. At the same time, Foreign Trade sub-index was expanded and became Industrial Organization and Trade Policy, which includes deregulation, competition policy and foreign trade. The previous Reform Index values will be recalculated in accordance with the new methodology in the next round.

The Index is calculated once in two weeks based on an expert survey. Reform Index value for the 8^th monitoring period (April 6^th – 19^th, 2015) totaled +0.9 points out of the possible range from -5.0 to +5.0 points. The pace of reform decelerated notably. While changes in governance, anti-corruption and deregulation had a positive impact on Index value, absence of significant events in Public Finance and Energy Independence areas slowed down the index pace.

Issue 8: Moderate progress in governance, anti-corruption and deregulation

The Reform Index value for the 8^th monitoring period (April 6^th – 19^th, 2015) totaled +0.9 points out of the possible range from -5.0 to +5.0 points. The pace of reform decelerated notably. While changes in governance, anti-corruption and deregulation had a positive impact on Index value, absence of significant events in Public Finance and Energy Independence areas slowed down the index pace.

In the 8^th round experts assigned the highest grade to the introduction of online service by the Ministry of Justice. For a fee that can be paid by a banking card online, anyone can get an extract of information from the Unified State Register of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs. Experts emphasized that introduction of this online service significantly lowers business costs and reduces opportunities for corruption. This reform received +5.0 points (a combined grade for this reform as it was also included and evaluated within “Governance and Anti-Corruption” sub-index), whereas Industrial Organization and Trade Policy sub-index scored +2.0 points overall.

Governance and Anti-Corruption section received +1.5 points in the last monitoring period as (in addition to creation of online service mentioned above) experts also gave +2.0 points to the law on reforming the internal affairs services. Moreover, the news about the transfer of functions from The State Agency for Land Resources of Ukraine (being liquidated) to The State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadaster scored +2.0 points, since experts welcomed a decrease in the number of government agencies. Experts also assigned +1.5 points to a reform that allows an accelerated real estate registration procedure (within a 3-5 day period) for a double fee – it is believed to improve the quality of public services.

In the “Monetary policy and financial markets” section, experts positively assessed the establishment of the Bank Audit Committee – this event received +2.0 points. Survey participants noted that the decision will strengthen the auditors’ accountability, improve the quality of bank audits, and consequently enhance the credibility of financial statements. Yet, given lack of other notable events, “Monetary policy and financial markets” section was awarded 1.0 point.

There were no noticeable events in Public Finance and Energy Independence section over the last monitoring period (April 6th-19th), implying 0.0 point for each of these areas.

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