Reform Index. Release 11

Reform Index aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of reform efforts by Ukraine’s authorities. The Index is based on expert assessments of changes in the regulatory environment in five areas.

Reform Index value for the 11^th monitoring period (May 25^th – June 7^th, 2015) stood at +0.9 points out of a possible range between -5.0 to +5.0 points. Index slowed down for second round in a row pointing to anemic reforms progress in virtually all monitored directions.

This time the highest grade was given to the law that allows banks to offer term deposits without an option of early withdrawal (+2.8 points). Reform Index experts noted that this development will improve liquidity management of banks and strengthen stability of the banking system. At the same time, experts were less enthusiastic regarding NBU’s decision to prolong virtually all existing currency exchange controls for another three months, with minor exceptions. Respective regulation received +1.0 points and the overall Monetary Policy and Financial Markets sub-index totaled +1.0 points.

The second-highest score in the 11^th survey period was assigned to the law enabling NJSC “Naftogaz” to sell debts of gas consumers and turn off gas supply in case payments terms are violated (+2.5 points). Nickolay Myagky, an independent expert, commented: ‘Naftogaz has got more leverage over heating companies, which have large payment arrears. It is important that this leverage does not generate more corruption, i.e. the law is applied in a non-discriminatory  and transparent way’. Without other events of note Energy Independence sub-index scored +1.5 points.

There were several positive developments in Governance and Anti-corruption sector (+1.0 point). First of all, government canceled limits of salaries of top state employees (+2.0 points). Experts welcomed abolishment of the populist measure, but also noted that full-scale and radical reform of the public administration is required. Second, experts gave +2.0 points to government’s decision to launch electronic interaction between the executive authorities starting from September 2015. Third, the Cabinet of Minister’s order to publish all draft resolutions on the websites received +1.8 points as a small step towards higher transparency in governance and public administration.

Progress in Industrial Organization and Trade Policy was estimated at +1.0 point. Major events in this direction were cancellation of the compulsory certification for 12 categories of products (+2.0 points) considered an important development in deregulation and liquidation of the state monopoly for the production of bioethanol (+2.0 points).

At the same time, experts were not impressed by reforms in Public Finance giving this sub-index zero points.

Reform Index aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of reform efforts by Ukraine’s authorities. The Index is based on expert assessments of changes in the regulatory environment in five areas:

1. Governance and Anti-Corruption
2. Public Finance and Labor Market
3. Monetary Policy and Financial Markets
4. Industrial Organization and Foreign Trade 
5. Energy Independence

For details please visit reforms.voxukraine.org