Russia ranked 140th out of 186 countries, placing it between Tajikistan and Burundi, on the 2014 Index of Economic Freedom released Wednesday by the Heritage Foundation think tank.
The country scored 51.9 economic freedom points, which is 0.8 points higher than in the previous year, but still below the global average.
Heritage Foundation noted improvements in four out of 10 economic freedoms, including control of government spending, but reported declines in trade freedom, freedom from corruption and fiscal freedom.
Over the two decade history of the index, Russia’s results have generally been poor, with the score over that period only ever improving by less than one point in any given year.
“Overall, notable improvements in trade freedom and monetary freedom have been largely offset by substantial declines in investment freedom, financial freedom, business freedom, and property rights, and Russia’s economy remains ‘mostly unfree,’” the Heritage Foundation said.
The think tank also described “fragile” foundations for sustainable development, “endemic” corruption and the state’s overbearing role in the economy.