ALBANIA
Rank: 66 Regional Rank: 30 of 41
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lbania’s economy is 61.4 percent free, according to our 2007 assessment, which makes it the world’s 66th freest economy. Albania is ranked 30th freest among the 41 countries in the European region. The level of economic freedom decreased by 0.6 percentage point during the past year, partially reflecting new methodological detail, leaving Albania below the regional average. Comparatively, Albania’s freedom level is on par with other developing Balkan states like Croatia and Macedonia but still higher than that of Greece, a member of the European Union. Fiscal freedom, freedom from government, and monetary freedom all rate highly, but the overall score is reduced by Albania’s poor performance in property rights and freedom from corruption. The unimpressive score in property rights is largely a result of political interference in the judiciary, leading to erratic enforcement of the country’s laws. Albania’s economic freedom ranks above the world average, and its score has risen over the past seven years, a noteworthy achievement in a region characterized by federal separatism and instability. If Albania maintains its impressively low tax levels while doing more to combat corruption, its score should continue to rise. BACKGROUND: In 1992, Albania ended nearly 50 years of Communist rule. The 1990s were a period of transition, but economic growth and reform have advanced since then. In July 2006, Albania signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union as the first step toward EU membership. The agricultural sector is the largest source of employment, but services and the increased production of chrome and chromium products have led to steady economic growth. In 2005, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reported that informal activity may exceed 50 percent of the economy.
The economy is 61.4% free
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Europe Average = 67.5 World Average = 60.6
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1995
2007
QUICK FACTS
Population: 3.1 million GDP (PPP): $15.5 billion 5.9% growth in 2004 5.7% 5-yr. comp. ann. growth $4,978 per capita Unemployment: 14.4% Inflation (CPI): 2.3% FDI (net inflow): $426 million (gross) Official Development Assistance: Multilateral: $137 million Bilateral: $250 million (16% from the U.S.) External Debt: $1.6 billion Exports: $1.2 billion Primarily textiles and footwear, tobacco, vegetables, food, beverages, machinery Imports: $2.6 billion Primarily chemicals, machinery and equipment, minerals, fuels, electricity
How Do We Measure Economic Freedom? See Chapter 3 (page 37) for an explanation of the methodology or visit the Index Web site at heritage.org/index.
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ALBANIA’S TEN ECONOMIC FREEDOMS
Business Freedom Trade Freedom Fiscal Freedom Fdm fm Government Monetary Freedom Investment Freedom Financial Freedom Property Rights Fdm fm Corruption Labor Freedom 56.1 63.2 91.5 77.7 80.7 60 70 30 24 60.6
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INVESTMENT FREEDOM — 60%
Foreign and domestic firms are treated equally under the law, and nearly all sectors of the economy are open to foreign investment. Foreigners may lease agricultural land for up to 99 years but may not purchase it. Political instability, corruption, and a thriving informal market discourage foreign investment and undermine the implementation of reform. The International Monetary Fund reports that both residents and non-residents may hold foreign exchange accounts. The Bank of Albania, through licensed agencies, monitors and reviews the purchase of capital and money market instruments, outward direct investment, most credit operations, and residents’ purchase of real estate abroad.
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100 = most free,
= world average
BUSINESS FREEDOM — 56.1%
Starting a business takes an average of 39 days, compared to the world average of 48 days. To maximize entrepreneurship and job creation, it should be easier to start a company. Obtaining a business license can be difficult because of regulations, and closing a business is very difficult. Regulations are sometimes inconsistent, causing unreliability of interpretation. Businesses have difficulty getting copies of laws and regulations. The overall freedom to start, operate, and close a business is limited by the national regulatory environment.
FINANCIAL FREEDOM — 70%
Albania’s financial sector is small and largely cash-based. Banking dominates the sector and is overseen by the central Bank of Albania. The government introduced deposit insurance in 2004. In December 2005, the government sold its stake in the last partially state-owned bank. There are 17 banks, of which 15 are foreign-owned. The non-bank financial sector is rudimentary, and government enforcement of financial regulations can be weak. The government has separated the Tirana Stock Exchange from the central bank, giving the country an independent stock exchange. In October 2003, the government sold a stake in the stateowned insurance company. The insurance sector remains underdeveloped.
TRADE FREEDOM — 63.2%
Albania’s weighted average tariff rate in 2002 was 8.4 percent. There are no official non-tariff barriers, but administrative bureaucracy can delay trade and increase costs. Consequently, an additional 20 percent is deducted from Albania’s trade freedom score.
PROPERTY RIGHTS — 30%
Albania’s judicial system enforces the law weakly. Judges are supposed to be independent, but several are corrupt, having been appointed strictly for political reasons. Organized crime is a strong deterrent to the administration of justice. Judges are subject to intimidation, pressure, and bribery, and the pace of judicial reform remains very slow.
FISCAL FREEDOM — 91.5%
Albania enjoys low income tax rates, which enhance incentives for entrepreneurs and workers. The top income tax rate is 20 percent. In January 2006, the government reduced the flat corporate tax rate by 3 percentage points to 20 percent. Other taxes include a value-added tax (VAT), a property tax, and a vehicle tax. In the most recent year, overall tax revenue as a percentage of GDP was 21.7 percent.
FREEDOM FROM CORRUPTION — 24%
Corruption is perceived as widespread. Albania ranks 126th out of 158 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2005.
FREEDOM FROM GOVERNMENT — 77.7%
Total government expenditures, including consumption and transfer payments, are moderate. In the most recent year, government spending equaled 28.8 percent of GDP, and the government received 8.8 percent of its revenues from state-owned enterprises and government ownership of property.
LABOR FREEDOM — 60.6%
The labor market operates under inflexible employment regulations that hinder overall productivity growth. The non-salary cost of employing a worker is very high, and dismissing a redundant employee is relatively costly. The unemployment insurance system, funded primarily by employer contributions, provides for approximately 17 percent of an average worker’s yearly salary.
MONETARY FREEDOM — 80.7%
Inflation is relatively low, averaging 2.2 percent between 2003 and 2005. Relatively low and stable prices explain most of the monetary freedom score. An additional 10 percent is deducted from Albania’s monetary freedom score to adjust for price control measures that distort domestic prices for water, railway transport, and electricity.
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2007 Index of Economic Freedom