TEHRAN, Jan. 21 (MNA) – Iran's economy is 44 percent free in 2007, according to the Heritage Foundation’s 2008 assessment, which makes it the world's 151st freest economy.

The foundation reviewed Iran’s economic freedom in 157 countries under its report entitled Index of Economic Freedom.
The country’s economic freedom in 2007 is a little higher than 2006, nevertheless, its score stood at 150th last year.
Business freedom, trade freedom, fiscal freedom, monetary freedom, investment freedom, freedom from the government, financial freedom, property right, freedom from corruption and labor freedom are the main fields of evaluation in the foundation’s report in which Iran gained the scores of respectively 55 percent, 57.4 percent, 81.1 percent, 84.5 percent, 61.3 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent, 27 percent, and 43.8 percent.
Iran is ranked 15th out of 16 countries in the Middle East region and Kuwait ranked first in the region, 33rd in the world.
Iran’s economy is centrally planned, relying heavily on five-year plans. However, the government is taking measured steps toward its espoused goals of economic liberalization and inflation-fighting.
The country’s chief source of foreign currency is the sale of oil and gas; as a result, the health of its economy depends upon prices for those commodities and on the size of its oil quotas under OPEC.
NK/MG END MNA