F

ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Energy subsidies have wide-ranging economic consequences. While aimed at 

protecting consumers, subsidies aggravate fiscal imbalances, crowd-out priority public

spending, and depress private investment, including in the energy sector. Subsidies also 

distort resource allocation by encouraging excessive energy consumption, artificially 

promoting capital-intensive industries, reducing incentives for investment in renewable 

energy, and accelerating the depletion of natural resources. Most subsidy benefits are 

captured by higher-income households, reinforcing inequality. Even future generations 

are affected through the damaging effects of increased energy consumption on global 

warming. This paper provides: (i) the most comprehensive estimates of energy subsidies 

currently available for 176 countries; and (ii) an analysis of ―how to do‖ energy subsidy 

reform, drawing on insights from 22 country case studies undertaken by IMF staff and 

analyses carried out by other institutions.

Energy subsidies are pervasive and impose substantial fiscal and economic costs in 

most regions. On a ―pre-tax‖ basis, subsidies for petroleum products, electricity,

natural gas, and coal reached $480 billion in 2011 (0.7 percent of global GDP or

2 percent of total government revenues). The cost of subsidies is especially acute in oil 

exporters, which account for about two-thirds of the total. On a ―post-tax‖ basis—which 

also factors in the negative externalities from energy consumption—subsidies are much 

higher at $1.9 trillion (21⁄2 percent of global GDP or 8 percent of total government 

revenues). The advanced economies account for about 40 percent of the global posttax total, while oil exporters account for about one-third. Removing these subsidies 

could lead to a 13 percent decline in CO2 emissions and generate positive spillover 

effects by reducing global energy demand.

Country experiences suggest there are six key elements for subsidy reform. These 

are: (i) a comprehensive energy sector reform plan entailing clear long-term objectives, 

analysis of the impact of reforms, and consultation with stakeholders; (ii) an extensive 

communications strategy, supported by improvements in transparency, such as the 

dissemination of information on the magnitude of subsidies and the recording of 

subsidies in the budget; (iii) appropriately phased price increases, which can be 

sequenced differently across energy products; (iv) improving the efficiency of stateowned enterprises to reduce producer subsidies; (v) targeted measures to protect the 

poor; and (vi) institutional reforms that depoliticize energy pricing, such as the 

introduction of automatic pricing mechanisms.

January 28, 2013
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS 

2 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Approved By 

Carlo Cottarelli, 

Antoinette M. Sayeh, 

and Masood Ahmed 

Prepared by a staff team led by Benedict Clements and comprising 

David Coady, Stefania Fabrizio, Baoping Shang, Alvar Kangur, 

Masahiro Nozaki, Ian Parry, Vimal Thakoor, Louis Sears, and 

Lilla Nemeth (all FAD); Trevor Alleyne, Mauricio Villafuerte, 

Christian Josz, Sukhwinder Singh, and Edgardo Ruggiero (all AFR); 

Andreas Bauer, Carlo Sdralevich, Ozgur Demirkol, Kamal Krishna, 

Luc Moers, Dragana Ostojic, and Younes Zouhar (all MCD). General 

guidance was provided by Sanjeev Gupta (FAD), Roger Nord (AFR), 

and Daniela Gressani (MCD). Production assistance was provided by 

Jeffrey Pichocki, Mileva Radisavljević, and Pierre Jean Albert (FAD). 

CONTENTS 

BACKGROUND ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4

ENERGY SUBSIDIES _______________________________________________________________________________ 6

A. Definition and Measurement ____________________________________________________________________ 6

B. Macroeconomic, Environmental, and Social Implications _____________________________________ 15

C. Equity Implications ____________________________________________________________________________ 19

REFORMING ENERGY SUBSIDIES: LESSONS FROM EXPERIENCE _____________________________ 21

A. Overview ______________________________________________________________________________________ 21

B. Barriers to Reform _____________________________________________________________________________ 23

C. Designing a Subsidy Reform Strategy _________________________________________________________ 25

BOXES 

1. Pre-tax and Post-tax Consumer Subsidies _______________________________________________________ 7

2. Financing Fuel Subsidies in India ________________________________________________________________ 8

3. Electricity Subsidies and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa _______________________________________ 15

4. Energy Subsidy Reform and Competitiveness _________________________________________________ 17

FIGURES 

1. International Prices of Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas, 2006–2012 ___________________________________ 4

2. Pre-tax Energy Subsidies, 2007–2011 __________________________________________________________ 10

3. Pre-tax Energy Subsidies by Region, 2011 _____________________________________________________ 11

4. Pre-tax Petroleum Subsidies Among Petroleum Importing and Exporting Countries, 2011 ___ 12

5. Adjustment of Energy Subsidies for Taxes and Externalities, 2011 ____________________________ 14

6. Post-tax Subsidies and Social Spending, 2010 _________________________________________________ 16

7. Distribution of Petroleum Product Subsidies by Income Groups ______________________________ 20
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 3

TABLE

1. Summary of Country Energy Subsidy Reform Episodes _______________________________________ 22

APPENDICES

I. Estimating Pre-tax and Post-tax Global Energy Subsidies ______________________________________ 42

II. Assessing the Environmental and Health Impacts of Energy Subsidy Reform _________________ 67

APPENDIX TABLES

1. Corrective Motor Fuel Taxes, Selected Countries ______________________________________________ 44

2. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity, Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011

(Percent of GDP by region) ____________________________________________________________________ 47

3. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity, Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011

(Percent of government revenues)_____________________________________________________________ 52

4. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity, Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011

(Percent of GDP by region) ____________________________________________________________________ 57

5. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity, Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011

(Percent of government revenues)_____________________________________________________________ 62

REFERENCES ____________________________________________________________________________________ 35
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

4 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

BACKGROUND

1. The recent surge in international energy prices, combined with incomplete passthrough to domestic prices, has prompted calls to phase out energy subsidies.

1

International 

energy prices have increased sharply over the past three years, with the exception of natural gas 

(Figure 1). Yet many low- and middle-income economies have been reluctant to adjust their 

domestic energy prices to reflect these increases. The resulting fiscal costs have been substantial and 

pose even greater fiscal risks for these countries if international prices continue to increase. In 

advanced economies, pass-through has been higher, but prices remain below the levels needed to 

fully capture the negative externalities of energy consumption on the environment, public health,

and traffic congestion.

Figure 1. International Prices of Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas, 2006–2012

(Indexed January 2000=100)

International energy prices, other than for natural gas, have rebounded since the 2008–09 global crisis.

Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO), U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the 

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Note: Coal price is average of quarterly U.S. import prices (EIA) and quarterly OECD import price 

(IEA/OECD). Natural gas price is average of the monthly U.S. import and export prices (EIA); these 

prices are weighted averages for LNG and pipeline natural gas. Crude oil price is average of Brent,

Dubai, and WTI monthly prices (WEO/Primary Commodities Price System). Gasoline price is monthly 

New York Harbor conventional gasoline spot price (EIA). Diesel price is monthly Los Angeles ultralow sulfur CARB diesel spot price (EIA). Gasoline and diesel prices are then averaged.

 

1

The G-20 Pittsburgh Communiqué in September 2009 called for a phase out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies in all 

countries. This commitment was reaffirmed at the 2012 Los Cabos meeting of the G-20.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2006200720082009201020112012

Gasoline and diesel

Coal

Crude oil

Natural gas
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 5

2. Energy subsidies have wide-ranging economic consequences. Subsidy expenditures 

aggravate fiscal imbalances, and crowd out priority public spending and private investment,

including in the energy sector. Underpriced energy distorts resource allocation by encouraging 

excessive energy consumption, artificially promoting capital-intensive industries (thus discouraging 

employment creation), reducing incentives for investment in renewable energy, and accelerating the 

depletion of natural resources. Subsidies lead to higher energy consumption, exerting pressure on

the balance of payments of net energy importers, while also promoting smuggling to neighbors with 

higher domestic prices. As most subsidy benefits are captured by higher-income households, energy 

subsidies have important distributive consequences that are often not fully understood. Even future 

generations are affected through the reduced availability of key inputs for growth and the damaging 

effects of increased energy consumption on greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

3. Yet energy subsidies have been difficult to reform. Subsidy reform has been a frequent 

topic of discussion between IMF staff and member countries—in some cases over decades. The 

adjustment of prices for subsidized energy has often led to widespread public protests by those who 

benefit from subsidies and to either a complete or partial reversal of price increases.

2

The absence of 

public support for subsidy reform partly reflects a lack of confidence in the ability of governments to 

reallocate the resulting budgetary savings to benefit the broader population, as well as concerns 

that vulnerable groups will not be protected. This is particularly challenging in oil-exporting 

countries, where subsidies are seen as a mechanism to distribute the benefits of natural resource 

endowments to their populations; in addition, these countries typically lack capacity to administer

targeted social programs. Governments are also often concerned about the inflationary effects of 

higher domestic energy prices and their adverse impact on the international competitiveness of 

domestic producers. Furthermore, subsidy reform can be complex when it involves efforts to reduce 

inefficiencies and production costs, as is often the case for the electricity sector.

4. This paper focuses on ―how to do‖ energy subsidy reform in light of country 

experiences. The second section reviews the challenges arising from energy subsidies, emphasizing 

their fiscal costs, adverse macroeconomic and environmental impacts, and the regressive distribution 

of subsidy benefits. A novel feature of the paper is that it presents the most comprehensive 

estimates of energy subsidies available covering petroleum products, electricity, natural gas, and 

coal. A central objective of the paper is to learn from past subsidy reform experiences, both 

successful and otherwise, to identify key design features that can facilitate reform. In this regard, the 

third section draws on lessons from international reform experiences from 22 country case studies

(covering 28 reform episodes) undertaken by IMF staff, which are provided in a supplement to this 

paper. These are combined with insights from past IMF analyses (including Gupta and others, 2000; 

Coady and others, 2006; IMF, 2008a; Coady and others, 2010; and Arze del Granado, Coady, and 

Gillingham, 2012) as well as from analyses carried out by other institutions (including Global 

Subsidies Initiative, 2010; UNEP, 2002 and 2008; World Bank, 2010; Vagliasindi, 2012).

 

2

Examples of reform reversals where price increase had to be quickly reversed—either partially or fully due to public 

demonstrations—include Bolivia (2010), Cameroon (2008), Nigeria (2012), Venezuela (1989), and Yemen (2005).
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

6 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

ENERGY SUBSIDIES

A. Definition and Measurement

5. Energy subsidies comprise both consumer and producer subsidies. Consumer subsidies 

arise when the prices paid by consumers, including both firms (intermediate consumption) and 

households (final consumption), are below a benchmark price, while producer subsidies arise when 

prices received by suppliers are above this benchmark.3 Where an energy product is internationally 

traded, the benchmark price for calculating subsidies is based on the international price.4 Where the 

product is mostly non-traded (such as electricity), the appropriate benchmark price is the costrecovery price for the domestic producer, including a normal return to capital and distribution costs.

This approach to measuring subsidies is often referred to as the ―price-gap approach‖ (Koplow, 

2009), and is used widely in analyses by other international agencies. In most economies, there are 

elements of both producer and consumer subsidies, although in practice it may be difficult to 

separate the two.5The advantage of the price gap approach is that it also helps capture consumer 

subsidies that are implicit, such as those provided by oil-exporting countries that supply petroleum 

products to their populations at prices below those prevailing in international markets. The price 

gap approach does not capture producer subsidies that arise when energy suppliers are inefficient 

and make losses at benchmark prices.6

6. Consumer subsidies include two components: a pre-tax subsidy (if the price paid by 

firms and households is below supply and distribution costs) and a tax subsidy (if taxes are 

below their efficient level). Box 1 describes the calculation of these two components. Most 

economies impose consumption taxes to raise revenue to help finance public expenditures. Efficient 

taxation requires that all consumption, including that of energy products, be subject to this taxation. 

The efficient taxation of energy further requires corrective taxes to capture negative environmental 

and other externalities due to energy use (such as global warming and local pollution).7The 

discussion below focuses on both ―pre-tax subsidies‖ and ―post-tax subsidies,‖ where the latter 

includes an allowance for efficient taxation.

 

3

The calculation of producer subsidies should incorporate any subsidies received on inputs.

4

The benchmark price is the international price adjusted for distribution and transportation costs. The estimates in 

this paper assume similar distribution and transportation margins across countries. 

5

Producer and consumer subsidies have different economic consequences. Unlike consumer subsidies, producer 

subsidies do not lead to excessive consumption of energy.

6

In many developing countries, cost-recovery prices are abnormally high because of inefficiencies in state-owned 

enterprises in the energy sector. 

7

These taxes are often referred to as ―Pigouvian‖ or ―corrective‖ taxes. In this paper, only broad estimates of these tax 

subsidies will be reported. A subsequent study by the Fiscal Affairs Department will provide more refined, countryspecific estimates.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 7

Box 1. Pre-tax and Post-tax Consumer Subsidies

A consumer subsidy is defined as the difference between a benchmark price and the price paid by energy 

consumers (including both households for final consumption and enterprises for intermediate consumption). 

There are two concepts of consumer subsidies: pre-tax subsidies and post-tax subsidies.

For the calculation of pre-tax subsidies for internationally traded goods (such as the refined petroleum 

products considered in this paper), the benchmark price is the international price appropriately adjusted for 

transport and distribution costs 1(Pw) so that: 

Pre-tax subsidy = Pw – Pc,

where Pc is the price paid by consumers. When the good or service is not traded internationally, as is the 

case for electricity in most countries, then the benchmark price is taken as the cost-recovery price (e.g., the 

costs of generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity). The pre-tax subsidy is then calculated as 

above, but Pw is the cost-recovery price. Pre-tax subsidies only exist in countries where the price paid by 

consumers is below the international or cost-recovery price (Pc<Pw).

For the calculation of post-tax subsidies, the benchmark price includes an adjustment for efficient taxation 

(t*>0) to reflect both revenue needs and a correction for negative consumption externalities:

Post-tax subsidy = (Pw + t*) – Pc,

where Pw and Pc are defined as above. Therefore, when there is a pre-tax subsidy the post-tax subsidy is 

equal to the efficient tax plus the pre-tax subsidy. When there is no pre-tax subsidy, the post-tax subsidy is 

equal to the difference between efficient and actual taxation.

__________________________________

1 When the refined petroleum product is imported, the benchmark price is taken as the international fob price plus the cost of 

transporting the product to the country’s border plus the cost of internal distribution. When the product is exported, the 

benchmark price is the international fob price minus the cost of transporting the product abroad (since this cost is saved when 

the product is consumed domestically rather than exported) plus the cost of internal distribution.

7. Although energy subsidies do not always appear on the budget, they must ultimately 

be paid by someone. Whether and how subsidies are reflected in the budget will depend on who 

incurs them and how they are financed. For example, the cost of pre-tax consumer subsidies may be 

incurred by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that sell electricity or petroleum products at a price 

below supply costs. If the government fully finances these losses with a transfer, the consumer 

subsidy will be reflected in the budget as expenditure and financed through higher taxes, increased 

debt, or higher inflation if the debt is monetized. In many instances, however, the subsidy may be 

financed by the SOE and reflected in its operating losses or lower profits, lower tax payments to the 

government, the accumulation of payment arrears to its suppliers, or a combination of all three. 

Alternatively, the cost of consumer subsidies could be offset by subsidized access to energy inputs, 

the cost of which would again fall on the government. In practice, the ways in which subsidies are 

financed and recorded in the budget vary across countries and can change over time. For example, 

whereas Indonesia, Jordan and Malaysia fully record fuel subsidies in the budget, Sudan and Yemen

only partially record subsidies, and all subsidies are off-budget in Angola. In India, the extent to 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

8 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

which fuel subsidies are recorded on budget has varied (Box 2). In sum, in one way or another, 

someone always pays the cost of subsidies.

Box 2. Financing Fuel Subsidies in India

Domestic fuel prices in India have not kept pace with rising international fuel costs, resulting in 

consumer price subsidies. Reflecting sharp increases in fuel import prices over 2007 and 2008, subsidies 

peaked at over 2 percent of GDP in FY 2008/09. As international prices collapsed over the second half of 

2008, subsidies also fell sharply to just under 0.9 of a percent of GDP in FY2009/10. However, with the 

rebound in international prices over the last three years, subsidies again started to escalate, reaching nearly 

2 percent of GDP in FY 2011/12.

Fuel subsidies have been financed through a number of channels, including off-budget sources.

Subsidies are incurred in the first instance by the predominantly state-owned oil marketing companies 

(OMCs) who sell fuel products to consumers at subsidized prices. These losses incurred by OMCs have been 

financed in a variety of ways. In FY 2007/08, just less than one-half of the financing was recorded on budget, 

with the remaining half financed off budget. On-budget transfers mainly took the form of so-called 

government ―oil bonds‖ issued to OMCs, while direct budget transfers to OMCs were negligible. Off-budget 

financing was split between transfers from state-owned enterprises involved in the upstream production of 

crude oil and OMCs’ self-financing. In effect, OMCs used part of the profits from the sale of other 

unregulated fuel products to offset these subsidy losses. By FY 2011/12, all on-budget financing took the 

form of direct budget transfers to OMCs, which accounted for around three-fifths of subsidies, with the 

remainder financed by upstream transfers.

Pre-tax subsidies

8. Subsidies for petroleum products are calculated for 176 countries using the price gap 

approach drawing on data compiled by IMF staff, the OECD, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für 

Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) for 2000–2011. Consumer subsidies are estimated for 

gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. Producer subsidies to refineries to cover inefficient operations are 

not estimated due to the lack of data. Therefore, our estimated petroleum product subsidies capture 

only consumer subsidies and should be seen as a lower bound. See Appendix I for details.

9. Natural gas and coal subsidies are estimated for 56 countries and are largely based on 

the price gap approach. These data are mostly drawn from the IEA for 2007–2011. Producer 

subsidies are also included for coal for 16 OECD countries.

10. A number of different methods are used to estimate electricity subsidies for 

77 countries. For some countries in Africa, the Middle East, and emerging Europe, estimates of 

combined producer and consumer subsidies are compiled from various World Bank and IMF reports.

For these countries, subsidy estimates are based on average domestic prices, and cost-recovery 

prices that cover production and investment costs as well as distributional losses and the nonpayment of electricity bills. For other countries, consumer price subsidies are taken from IEA which 

are derived on the basis of the price gap approach. 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 9

Post-tax subsidies

11. The benchmark price was also adjusted for corrective taxes and revenue 

considerations to estimate post-tax subsidies. Rough estimates of corrective taxes, drawing on 

other studies, were made to account for the effects of energy consumption on global warming; on 

public health through the adverse effects on local pollution; on traffic congestion and accidents; and 

on road damage. Estimates of the global warming damages from CO2 emissions vary widely (see 

Appendix I). Our estimates assume damages from global warming of $25 per ton of CO2 emissions, 

following the United States Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon (2010), an 

extensive and widely reviewed study. For final consumption, this price also assumes that energy 

products are subject to the economy’s standard consumption tax rate (an ad valorem tax) on top of 

the corrective tax. The estimates are based on VAT rates for 150 countries in 2011. For countries 

without a VAT, the average VAT rate of countries in the region with a similar level of income is 

assumed.

Caveats

12. These estimates are likely to underestimate energy subsidies and should be 

interpreted with caution. First, data on producer subsidies are not available for all countries and all 

products.8Second, consumer subsidies for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are not included due to 

lack of data. Third, fuel subsidy estimates are based on a snapshot of prices paid by firms and 

households at a point in time (end-of-year) or average of end-of-quarter prices when such data are 

available. Fourth, for electricity, natural gas, and coal, they lack full comparability across countries, 

since they are drawn from different sources and use different approaches. Fifth, they rely on the 

assumption of similar transportation and distribution margins across countries. Sixth, in light of 

these factors, our subsidy estimates may differ from those found in country budget documents

(including those reported in the case studies supplement). Seventh, the estimates of corrective taxes 

are made on the basis of studies for just a few countries and a common assumption regarding how 

these would vary with country income levels. However, these weaknesses are outweighed by the 

merits of constructing a broad picture of the magnitude of energy subsidies across as many 

countries and products as possible.

Magnitude of energy subsidies

13. Global pre-tax energy subsidies are significant. The subsidy estimates capture both those 

that are explicitly recorded in the budget and those that are implicit and off-budget. The evolution 

of energy subsidies closely mimics that of international energy prices (Figure 2). Although subsidies 

declined with the collapse of international energy prices, they have started to escalate since 2009. In 

2011, global pre-tax subsidies reached $480 billion (0.7 percent of global GDP or 2 percent of total 

government revenues). Petroleum and electricity subsidies accounted for about 44 percent and 

 

8

In practice, identifying producer subsidies can be especially difficult since these often take the form of differential 

tax treatment and tax exemptions for specific sectors. 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

10 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

31 percent of the total respectively, with most of the remainder coming from natural gas. Coal 

subsidies are relatively small at $61⁄2 billion.

Figure 2. Pre-tax Energy Subsidies, 2007–20111

(Billions of U.S. dollars)

Energy subsidies have surged since the 2008–09 crisis and closely mimic changes in international prices.

Sources: Staff estimates, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Energy Agency, 

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, IMF World Economic Outlook, and World Bank.

1Data are based on most recent year available. Total subsidies in percent of GDP and revenues are calculated as 

total identified subsidies divided by global GDP and revenues, respectively.

14. Pre-tax subsidies are concentrated in developing and emerging economies. Oil 

exporters—most of which are developing or emerging economies—tend to have the largest 

subsidies. This finding holds not only when measuring subsidies in absolute terms, but also as a 

share of GDP and on a per capita basis.

 The Middle East and North Africa region accounted for about 50 percent of global energy 

subsidies (Figure 3, Appendix Table 2). Energy subsidies totaled over 81⁄2 percent of regional 

GDP or 22 percent of total government revenues, with one-half reflecting petroleum product 

subsidies. The regional average masks significant variation across countries. Of the 20 countries 

in the region, 12 have energy subsidies of 5 percent of GDP or more. Subsidies are high in this 

region for both oil- exporters and importers (Figure 4).

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0

100

200

300

400

500

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Total subsidies 

(percent of revenues; RHS)

Natural gas

Coal

Electricity

Petroleum

products

Total 

subsidies 

(percent 

of GDP; 

RHS)
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 11

Figure 3. Pre-tax Energy Subsidies by Region, 2011

Energy subsidies are concentrated mostly in Middle East/North Africa, Central/Eastern Europe, and Emerging and 

Developing Asia.

Sources: Staff estimates, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Energy Agency, Deutsche 

Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, IMF World Economic Outlook, and World Bank.

Note: Adv.=Advanced, CEE-CIS=Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, LAC=Latin America 

and Caribbean, S.S. Africa=Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA=Middle East and North Africa, and E.D. Asia=Emerging and 

Developing Asia.

1Data for electricity are for the most recent year available. Subsides in percent of GDP and revenues are calculated as 

identified subsidies divided by regional GDP and revenues, respectively.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Petroleum 

products

Natural 

gas

Electricity

Coal

Adv.

CEE-CIS

E.D. Asia

LAC

MENA

SubSaharan 

Africa

Total pre-tax subsidies

$480 billion

Petroleum products

$212 billion

Electricity

$150 billion

Natural gas

$112 billion

Coal

$6 billion

Percent of GDP1

Share of total subsidies1

Percent of governmentrevenues

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Petroleum 

products

Natural 

gas

Electricity

Coal
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

12 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Figure 4. Pre-tax Petroleum Subsidies Among Petroleum

Importing and Exporting Countries, 2011

(Percent of GDP)

Petroleum product subsidies are systematically higher for oil exporters.

Sources: Staff estimates, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Energy Agency, 

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, IMF World Economic Outlook, and World Bank.

Note: CEE-CIS=Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, LAC=Latin America and 

Caribbean, MENA=Middle East and North Africa, and E.D. Asia=Emerging and Developing Asia.

Subsidies in percent of GDP are calculated as identified subsidies divided by regional GDP.

Number of countries in each category indicated in parentheses. 

 Countries in Emerging and Developing Asia were responsible for over 20 percent of global 

energy subsidies. They amounted to nearly 1 percent of regional GDP or 4 percent of total 

government revenues, with petroleum products and electricity accounting for nearly 90 percent 

of subsidies. Energy subsidies exceeded 3 percent of GDP in four countries (Bangladesh, Brunei,

Indonesia, and Pakistan).

 The Central and Eastern Europe and CIS accounted for about 15 percent of global energy 

subsidies, including the highest share (at nearly 36 percent) of global natural gas subsidies. 

Energy subsidies amounted to over 11⁄2 percent of regional GDP or 41⁄2 percent of total 

government revenues, with natural gas and electricity accounting for about 95 percent. They 

exceeded 5 percent of GDP in four countries (Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and 

Uzbekistan).

 The Latin America and Caribbean made up over 71⁄2 percent of global energy subsidies

(approximately 1⁄2 percent of regional GDP or 2 percent of total government revenues), with 

petroleum subsidies accounting for nearly 65 percent. Energy subsidies exceeded 5 percent of 

GDP in two countries (Ecuador and Venezuela).

(30) (20)

(18)

(25)

(7)

(35) (4)

(4)

(3)

(7)

(13)

(9)

(34) (27)

(27) (32)

(20)

(44)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Advanced CEE-CIS E.D. Asia LAC MENA Sub-Saharan 

Africa

Oil importers

Oil exporters

Region total

Number of 

countries
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 13

 Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 4 percent of global energy subsidies. Energy subsidies 

amounted to 11⁄2 percent of regional GDP or 51⁄2 percent of total government revenues, with 

electricity subsidies accounting for over 70 percent. Total subsidies exceeded 4 percent of GDP 

in three countries (Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).

 The only advanced economy where energy subsidies were a non-negligible share of GDP was 

Taiwan Province of China at 0.3 percent of GDP (electricity).

15. In summary, pre-tax subsidies are pervasive and impose significant fiscal costs in most 

developing and emerging regions. They are most prominent in Middle East and North Africa, 

especially among oil exporters. Given that energy consumption can be expected to rise as incomes 

grow, the size of subsidies could climb in regions where they currently account for a small share of 

the global total, such as sub-Saharan Africa.

16. Post-tax energy subsidies are much larger than pre-tax subsidies, amounting to 

$1.9 trillion in 2011—about 21⁄2 percent of global GDP or 8 percent of total government 

revenue. Virtually all of the world’s economies provide energy subsidies of some kind when 

measured on a tax-inclusive basis, including 34 advanced economies. For some products, such as 

coal, post-tax subsidies are substantial because prices are far below the levels needed to address 

negative environmental and health externalities. The fact that energy products are taxed much less 

than other products also contributes to the high level of post-tax subsidies. In MENA, for example, 

applying the same rate of VAT or sales taxes to energy products as other goods and services would 

generate 3⁄4 percent of GDP. Of the global total, pre-tax subsidies account for about one-quarter, 

and tax subsidies account for about three-quarters (Figure 5). The advanced economies account for 

about 40 percent of the global total. The top three subsidizers across the world, in absolute terms, 

are the United States ($502 billion), China ($279 billion), and Russia ($116 billion).
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

14 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Figure 5. Adjustment of Energy Subsidies for Taxes and Externalities, 2011

Energy subsidies increase substantially when externalities and tax considerations are taken on board.

Sources: Staff estimates, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International 

Energy Agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, IMF World Economic 

Outlook, and World Bank.

Note: VAT refers to the tax subsidy provided when energy products are taxed by less than the 

economy’s standard VAT rate (see Appendix I).

Note: Adv.=Advanced, CEE-CIS=Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent 

States, LAC=Latin America and Caribbean, S.S. Africa=Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA=Middle East and 

North Africa, and E.D. Asia=Emerging and Developing Asia.

1

Estimates for electricity are for the most recent year available. Subsidies in percent of GDP and 

revenues are calculated as identified subsidies divided by global or regional GDP and revenues, 

respectively.

0 500 1000 1500 2000

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Advanced

CEE-CIS

E.D. Asia

LAC

MENA

Sub-Saharan Africa

World

Advanced

CEE-CIS

E.D. Asia

LAC

MENA

Sub-Saharan Africa

World

Advanced

CEE-CIS

E.D. Asia

LAC

MENA

Sub-Saharan Africa

World Percent of GDP Total subsidy, billions U.S. dollars

Pre-tax subsidy

Externalities VAT Percent of government revenues

Percent of total subsidies1

Adv.

CEE-CIS

E.D. 

Asia 

LAC

MENA

S.S. 

Africa

Total post-tax subsidies

$1.90 trillion

Petroleum products

$879 billion

Coal

$539 billion Natural gas

$299 billion

Electricity

$179 billion
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 15

B. Macroeconomic, Environmental, and Social Implications

17. Energy subsidies depress growth through a number of channels. The effects of subsidies 

on growth goes beyond their adverse impact on fiscal balances and public debt (Rogoff and 

Reinhart, 2010; Kumar and Woo, 2010):

 Subsidies can discourage investment in the energy sector. Low and subsidized prices for energy 

can result in lower profits or outright losses for producers, making it difficult for SOEs to expand 

energy production and unattractive for the private sector to invest both in the short and long 

run (Box 3). The result is severe energy shortages that hamper economic activity.

9

Box 3. Electricity Subsidies and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Electricity subsidies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are substantial and primarily reflect high costs of 

production. The average cost of subsidized electricity prices in a sample of 30 countries was 1.7 percent of 

GDP, and in 12 countries it exceeded 2 percent of GDP. On average, the effective tariff in SSA was only about 

70 percent of the cost-recovery price during 2005–09. The primary driver of high subsidies has been high 

costs, rather than low retail prices—residential tariffs in SSA countries are much higher than in other regions 

of the world. High costs stem from operational inefficiencies, extensive use of back-up electricity generation, 

low economies of scale in generation, and limited regional integration. Therefore, in addition to increasing 

tariffs, reducing subsidies will require improving operational efficiency and modernizing electricity 

operations.

The losses incurred by electricity suppliers due to subsidized prices have severely constrained their 

ability to invest in new electricity capacity and improve service quality. As a result, installed per capita 

generation capacity in SSA (excluding South Africa) is about one-third of that of South Asia and one-tenth of 

that in Latin America. Similarly, per capita consumption of electricity in SSA (excluding South Africa) is only 

10 kWh per month, compared with roughly 100 kWh in developing countries and 1,000 kWh in high-income 

countries.

Deficient electricity infrastructure and shortages dampen economic growth and weaken 

competitiveness. Weaknesses in electricity infrastructure are correlated with low levels of productivity 

(Escribano, Guasch, and Pena, 2008). For example, potential efficiency gains in electricity generation and 

distribution could reduce costs in the sector by more than 1 percentage point of GDP for at least 18 SSA 

countries. Simulations based on panel data in Calderón (2008) suggest that if the quantity and quality of 

electricity infrastructure in all SSA countries were improved to that of a better performer (such as Mauritius), 

long-term per capita growth rates would be 2 percentage points higher.

 

9

Both households and firms spend considerable amounts to address electricity shortages, including through the 

purchase of generators. For example, in the Republic of Congo private household and enterprise generator capacity 

is nearly double the public generation capacity. The cost of own generation by firms is estimated in the range of 

$0.3–$0.7 per kWh—about three to four times as high as the price of electricity from the public grid (Foster and 

Steinbuks, 2008). These costs are even higher for households because of the smaller generators they use.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

16 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

 Subsidies can crowd out growth-enhancing public spending. Some countries spend more on 

energy subsidies than on public health and education (Figure 6). Reallocating some of the 

resources freed by subsidy reform to more productive public spending could help boost growth

over the long run.

Figure 6. Post-tax Subsidies and Social Spending, 2010

(Percent of GDP)

Subsidies are substantially higher than critical social spending in many countries.

Sources: International Energy Agency; World Bank; Clements, Gupta, and Nozaki (2012); IMF staff estimates; and 

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Note: Health and education spending are for 2010 or latest available.

 Subsidies diminish the competitiveness of the private sector over the longer term. Although in the 

short-run subsidy reform will raise energy prices and increase production costs, over the longer 

term there will be a reallocation of resources to activities that are less energy and capital 

intensive and more efficient (Box 4), helping spur the growth of employment. Removing energy 

subsidies helps prolong the availability of non-renewable energy resources over the long term

and strengthens incentives for research and development in energy-saving and alternative

technologies. Subsidy reform will crowd-in private investment, including in the energy sector, 

and benefit growth over the longer term.

 Subsidies create incentives for smuggling. If domestic prices are substantially lower than those in 

neighboring countries, there are strong incentives to smuggle products to higher-priced 

destinations. Illegal trade increases the budgetary cost for the subsidizing country while limiting 

the ability of the country receiving smuggled items to tax domestic consumption of energy. Fuel 

smuggling is a widespread problem in many regions around the world including in North 

America, North Africa, and the Middle East, parts of Asia, and Africa. For example, Canadians buy 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Uzbekistan

Turkmenistan

Iran, Islamic Rep.

Algeria

Ukraine

Kyrgyz Republic

Egypt, Arab Rep.

Libya

United Arab Emirates

Oman

Qatar

Ecuador

Brunei Darussalam

Kazakhstan

Bangladesh

Pakistan

Indonesia

Syrian Arab Republic

Zambia

Azerbaijan

Pre-tax subsidies

Public education 

spending

Public health spending

Post-tax subsidies
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 17

cheap fuel in the United States; Algerian fuel is smuggled into Tunisia; Yemeni oil is smuggled

into Djibouti; and Nigerian fuel is smuggled into many West African countries (Heggie and 

Vickers, 1998).10

Box 4. Energy Subsidy Reform and Competitiveness

The short-run effects of higher energy prices on competitiveness depend on the energy intensity of 

traded sectors and developments in energy prices in competing countries. Increases in energy prices to 

reduce subsidies—or avoid the emergence of subsidies in periods of rising international prices—increase 

production costs. The effects on costs will vary by sector, depending on both their direct use of energy 

(e.g., fuel products) and indirect use (e.g., the higher costs of intermediate inputs that use fuel) (Gupta, 1983; 

Dick and others, 1984). Higher fuel prices, for example, can lead to higher electricity prices, which in turn will 

affect costs and output in manufacturing (e.g., Clements, Jung, and Gupta, 2007). The use of input-output 

tables can often be helpful to trace the direct and indirect effects of higher energy prices on costs and 

competitiveness and to quantify which sectors will be most affected. The effect of higher energy prices on 

competitiveness depends on developments in energy prices in countries competing for the same markets. If 

all countries pass on the increase in international prices to domestic prices, for example, the effects on 

production costs may be similar across countries.

The adverse effects on competitiveness, at the aggregate level, can be reduced if appropriate 

macroeconomic policies are in place. The extent to which higher energy costs result in a persistently 

higher price level and an adverse effect on competitiveness will depend on the strength of ―second round‖ 

effects on wages and the prices of other inputs (Fofana, Chitiga, and Mabugu, 2009). If prices rise relative to 

those in trading partners, the real exchange rate will appreciate, reducing competitiveness. These secondround effects can be contained with appropriate monetary and fiscal policies that help anchor inflationary 

expectations (IMF, 2012a). Subsidy reform helps support an appropriate fiscal policy response by reducing 

budget deficits and helping contain demand pressures on prices. Flexible exchange rate regimes also 

mitigate the impact of volatile international prices on economic growth (IMF, 2008b).

The resources freed from subsidy reform can boost competitiveness over the longer term. Subsidy 

reform can contribute to lower budget deficits and interest rates, thus stimulating private investment 

(Fofana, Chitiga, and Mabugu, 2009; Clements, Jung, and Gupta, 2007). Furthermore, if part of the freed 

resources is invested in productivity-enhancing public spending, growth dividends can be high (Breisinger, 

Engelke, and Ecker, 2011; Lofgren, 1995). By removing distortions in price signals, subsidy reform can help 

reallocate resources toward their best use and improve incentives to adopt energy-saving technologies. Not 

all sectors will benefit from subsidy reform over the longer term, because those that cannot adapt to higher 

energy prices will suffer a loss of competitiveness. Yet in the aggregate, the effects on competitiveness are 

positive. Empirical estimates suggest that higher investment in more efficient and energy-saving 

technologies could boost growth by up to 1 percent over the long term (Burniaux and others, 2009; 

Ellis, 2010; UNEP, 2008; and von Moltke, McKee, and Morgan, 2004).

 

10 In 2011, it was estimated that more than 80 percent of gasoline consumed in Benin was smuggled from Nigeria 

(IMF, 2012c).
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

18 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

18. Energy subsidies exacerbate the difficulties of both oil importers and exporters in 

dealing with the volatility of international energy prices. The balance of payments of many 

energy-importing countries is vulnerable to international price increases (IMF, 2008b).11 The adverse 

impact can be mitigated by passing through international price increases and by providing greater 

incentives for improving energy efficiency and lowering energy consumption (Dudine and others, 

2006).12 The volatility of subsidies also complicates budget management. For oil exporters, energy 

subsidies accentuate macroeconomic volatility by increasing subsidies during periods of 

international price increases (Gelb and others, 1988). Allowing domestic prices to rise with 

international prices can help cool off domestic demand during commodity booms and build up 

fiscal buffers for use during periods of declining prices. To offset concerns about the transmission of 

high international price volatility to domestic prices, some smoothing of price increases can be 

considered (see paragraph 45).

19. The negative externalities from energy subsidies are substantial. Subsidies cause overconsumption of petroleum products, coal, and natural gas, and reduce incentives for investment in 

energy efficiency and renewable energy. This over-consumption in turn aggravates global warming 

and worsens local pollution. The high levels of vehicle traffic that are encouraged by subsidized fuels 

also have negative externalities in the form of traffic congestion and higher rates of accidents and 

road damage. The subsidization of electricity can also have indirect effects on global warming and 

pollution, but this will depend on the composition of energy sources for electricity generation. The 

subsidization of diesel promotes the overuse of irrigation pumps, resulting in excessive cultivation of 

water-intensive crops and depletion of groundwater.

20. Eliminating energy subsidies would generate substantial environmental and health

benefits. To illustrate the impact of subsidies on global warming and local pollution, the effects of 

raising energy prices to levels that would eliminate tax-inclusive subsidies for petroleum products, 

natural gas, and coal were estimated (see Appendix II).13 The results suggest that this reform would 

reduce CO2 emissions by 41⁄2 billion tons, representing a 13 percent decrease in global energyrelated CO2 emissions. Eliminating subsidies would also generate significant health benefits by 

reducing local pollution from fossil fuels in the form of SO2 and other pollutants. In particular, this 

reform would result in a reduction of 10 million tons in SO2 emissions and a 13 percent reduction in 

other local pollutants.

 

11IMF (2008b) estimated that a 20 percent increase in international oil prices would reduce international reserves in 

developing economies by more than half a month of imports.

12Based on a review of 124 developed and developing countries, Dahl (2012) estimates a range of values for the 

demand price elasticity between -0.11 and -0.33 for gasoline, and between -0.13 and -0.38 for diesel. Long-run price 

elasticities are estimated to be larger than those found for the short-term. For developed countries, Goodwin and 

others (2004) found a mean price elasticity for fuel consumption ranging from -0.25 (short run) to -0.64 (long run).

13The impact of electricity subsidy removal is not assessed due to data limitations.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 19

21. The over-consumption of energy products due to subsidies can also have effects on 

global energy demand and prices. The multilateral removal of pre-tax fuel subsidies in non-OECD 

countries, under a gradual phasing-out, would reduce world prices for crude oil, natural gas, and 

coal by 8 percent, 13 percent, and 1 percent respectively in 2050 relative to the no-change baseline 

(OECD, 2009; IEA, 2011c). The reduction would be substantially larger if prices were raised to levels 

that eliminated subsidies on a post-tax basis. These spillover effects suggest that non-subsidizers 

would share the gains from subsidy reform, as well as extending the availability of scarce natural 

resources.

C. Equity Implications

22. Energy subsidies are highly inequitable because they mostly benefit upper-income 

groups. Energy subsidies benefit households both through lower prices for energy used for 

cooking, heating, lighting and personal transport, but also through lower prices for other goods and 

services that use energy as an input. On average, the richest 20 percent of households in low- and 

middle-income countries capture six times more in total fuel product subsidies (43 percent) than the 

poorest 20 percent of households (7 percent) (Figure 7). The distributional effects of subsidies vary 

markedly by product, with gasoline being the most regressive (i.e., subsidy benefits increase as 

income increases) and kerosene being progressive. Subsidies to natural gas and electricity have also 

been found to be badly targeted, with the poorest 20 percent of households receiving 10 percent of 

natural gas subsidies and 9 percent of electricity subsidies (IEA, 2011a). While subsidies primarily 

benefit upper-income groups, a sharp increase in energy prices can nevertheless have a significant 

impact on the budgets of poor households, both directly through the removal of the subsidies and 

indirectly through the reduction in real income because of higher consumer prices. For example, a 

$0.25 per liter increase in fuel prices can reduce real consumption of the poorest 20 percent of 

households by about 51⁄2 percent (Arze del Granado, Coady, and Gillingham, 2012). This underscores 

the need for mitigating measures to ensure that fuel subsidy reform does not result in increased 

poverty (Sterner, 2012). In the case of electricity, the ability to differentiate tariff levels according to 

consumption levels (e.g., a lifeline tariff) can help protect low-income groups during electricity 

subsidy reforms. Nevertheless, such subsidies do not reach poor households who have no access to 

electricity, which limits their progressivity. Only 30 percent of households, for example, are 

connected to the grid in sub-Saharan Africa (IFC, 2012).

23. Energy subsidies divert public resources away from spending that is more pro-poor. In 

many subsidizing countries, equity could be improved by reallocating outlays toward bettertargeted programs in health, education, and social protection. Over the longer term, the removal of 

subsidies, accompanied by a well designed safety net and an increase in pro-poor spending, could 

yield significant improvements in the well-being of low-income groups. In oil-exporting countries, 

subsidies are often used as a tool for sharing oil wealth with its citizens. But given the high share of 

benefits that accrues to upper-income groups, the inefficiencies that subsidies create in resource 

allocation, and in some countries the large share of the expatriate population, energy subsidies are a 

much less effective policy instrument for distributing wealth than other public spending programs.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

20 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Figure 7. Distribution of Petroleum Product Subsidies by Income Groups

(Percent of total product subsidies)

The distribution of subsidies varies across products, with gasoline being the most regressive and kerosene progressive.

Source: Arze del Granado and others, 2012.

3 6

10

19

61

Gasoline

19

20

21

20

21

Kerosene

4

8

13

21

54

LPG

7

12

16

23

42

Diesel

Bottom 

quintile

Top quintile

Fourth quintile

Second quintile

Third quintile
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 21

REFORMING ENERGY SUBSIDIES: LESSONS FROM 

EXPERIENCE

A. Overview

24. This section provides insights from country case studies to identify ingredients for 

successful subsidy reform. The country case studies include both successful and unsuccessful 

subsidy reform episodes over the past two decades across a broad range of countries and different 

energy products. A total of 22 country case studies were undertaken covering 28 major reform 

episodes (Table 1 and supplement). These involve episodes in which governments attempted to 

reduce the fiscal burden of subsidies by raising energy prices to households and firms or improving 

the efficiency of state-owned enterprises in the energy sector. They contain cases where 

governments attempted to reduce pre-tax subsidies but also where governments sought to restore 

energy taxation to levels that had prevailed prior to increases in international energy prices and to 

levels needed to eliminate post-tax subsidies.

14 The studies include cases where countries 

successfully implemented reforms that led to a permanent and sustained reduction of subsidies 

(success); those which achieved a reduction of subsidies for at least a year, but where subsidies have 

reemerged or remain a policy issue (partial success); and subsidy reforms that failed, with price 

increases or efforts to improve efficiency in the energy sector being rolled back soon after the 

reform began (unsuccessful). Out of the 28 reform episodes, 12 were classified as a success, 11 as a 

partial success—often because of reversals or incomplete implementation—and five as unsuccessful. 

Out of the 22 case studies, 14 address fuel subsidy reform, seven electricity sector reform, and one 

involves coal sector reform. The studies cover seven countries from sub-Saharan Africa, 

two countries in emerging and developing Asia, three countries in the Middle East and North Africa, 

four countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and three countries in Central and Eastern Europe 

and the CIS. In 14 of the 28 episodes, an IMF-supported program was in place, and in all but two the 

program contained conditionality on energy subsidy reform.

25. The selection of countries for the case studies reflects the availability of data and of 

previously documented evidence on country-specific reforms. The larger number of studies on 

fuel subsidies reflects the wider availability of data and past studies of these reforms. The countries 

were chosen to ensure coverage of different regions of the world and a mix of reform outcomes.

 

14For instance, as a result of subsidy reforms over the late 1980s and the 1990s, Turkey has eliminated subsidies on a 

post-tax basis.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

22 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Table 1. Summary of Country Energy Subsidy Reform Episodes

Source: IMF staff.

Note: n.a.=not applicable.

Note: CEE-CIS=Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, LAC=Latin America and Caribbean, S.S. Africa=SubSaharan Africa, and MENA=Middle East and North Africa.

Region/Country Energy 

product

Reform episode Reform outcome Reform impact IMF-supported 

program during 

the reform 

episode

Conditionality 

on energy 

subsidy reform

CEE-CIS

Turkey Fuel 1998 Successful SOEs turned from net loss to net profitability Yes Yes

Armenia Electricity Mid-1990s Successful Electricity sector financial deficit declined from 22 

percent of GDP in 1994 to zero after 2004

Yes Yes

Turkey Electricity 1980s Successful Generated additional revenues for maintenance Yes Yes

Coal 1990–1998 Unsuccessful n.a. Yes Yes

Coal 1998 Successful The industry became financially viable and achieved 

substantial reduction in government transfer

No

Emerging and Developing Asia

Fuel 1997 Unsuccessful n.a. Yes Yes

Fuel 2003 Unsuccessful n.a. No

Fuel 2005 Partially successful Subsidies declined from 3.5 percent of GDP in 2005 

to 1.9 percent in 2006

No

Fuel 2008 Partially successful Subsidies declined from 2.8 percent of GDP in 2008 

to 0.8 percent in 2009

No

Philippines Fuel 1996 Successful 0.1+ percent of GDP Yes Yes

Philippines Electricity 2001 Successful Subsidies declined from 1.5 percent of GDP in 2004 

to zero in 2006

No

LAC

Brazil Fuel Early 1990s–2001 Successful From 0.8 percent of GDP in subsidies in mid-1990s 

to revenue generating since 2002

Yes Yes

Chile Fuel Early 1990s Successful n.a. No

Peru Fuel 2010 Partially successful 0.1 percent of GDP No

Brazil Electricity 1993–2003 Successful 0.7 percent of GDP Yes Yes

Mexico Electricity 1999/2001/2002 Unsuccessful n.a. Yes No 

MENA

Iran Fuel 2010 Partially successful Growth in the consumption of petroleum products 

initially stabilized

No

Fuel 2008 Unsuccessful n.a. Yes No 

Fuel 2011 Partially successful Subsidies declined from 2 percent of GDP in 2011 

to close to zero in 2012

Yes Yes

Fuel 2005 Partially successful Subsidies declined from 8.7 percent of GDP in 2005 

to 8.1 percent in 2006

No

Fuel 2010 Partially successful Subsidies declined from 8.2 percent of GDP in 2010 

to 7.4 percent in 2011

Yes Yes

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ghana Fuel 2005 Partially successful 50 percent price increase on average No

Namibia Fuel 1997 Partially successful 0.1+ percent of GDP No

Niger Fuel 2011 Partially successful 0.9 percent of GDP No

Nigeria Fuel 2011–12 Partially successful Subsidies declined from 4.7 percent of GDP in 2011 

to 3.6 percent in 2012

No

South Africa Fuel 1950s Successful Successfully avoided subsidies and secured supply No

Kenya Electricity Mid-1990s Successful Subsidies declined from 1.5 percent of GDP in 2001 

to zero in 2008

Yes Yes

Uganda Electricity 1999 Successful 2.1 percent of GDP Yes Yes

Poland

Indonesia

Mauritania

Yemen
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 23

The findings from the country studies identified in Table 1 are complemented with the insights from 

additional country studies conducted previously by the IMF and others, including Gupta and others 

(2000); Coady and others (2006); IMF (2008b); Coady and others (2010); Global Subsidies Initiative 

(2010); the UNEP (2002 and 2008); World Bank (2010); Vagliasindi (2012); and Arze del Granado, 

Coady, and Gillingham (2012).15 They also draw on lessons from technical assistance reports on 

energy subsidies undertaken by the Fiscal Affairs Department.16

B. Barriers to Reform

26. Country reform experiences suggest a number of barriers to successful subsidy reform.

While there is no single recipe for success, addressing these barriers, which vary from country to 

country, can increase the likelihood of reforms achieving their objectives and help avoid policy 

reversals.

 Lack of information regarding the magnitude and shortcomings of subsidies. The full fiscal 

cost of energy subsidies—including both producer and consumer subsidies—are rarely reflected 

in the budget. This is especially the case for oil exporters, since the subsidies provided by low 

energy prices are often implicit, i.e., not explicitly recorded in the budget.17 Populations are also 

often unaware of how domestic energy prices compare with international market prices, the 

consequences of low energy prices for both the budget and economic efficiency, and the benefit 

distribution of energy subsidies. As a result, the public is unable to make a connection between 

subsidies, constraints on expanding high-priority public spending, and the adverse effects of 

subsidies on economic growth and poverty reduction. This is especially important for oil 

exporters, where subsidies are very large. Out of the 28 reform episodes, 17 indicate that the

lack of information was a barrier to reform, including fuel subsidy reforms in Ghana, Mexico,

Nigeria, the Philippines, Uganda, and Yemen, and electricity subsidy reforms in Mexico and 

Uganda. Most countries that successfully reformed energy subsidies undertook an evaluation of 

the magnitude of energy subsidies prior to implementing subsidy reforms. Public discussions 

based on such studies were an important component of the information campaigns in fuel 

subsidy reforms in Ghana, Namibia, and the Philippines.

 Lack of government credibility and administrative capacity. Even where the public 

recognizes the magnitude and shortcomings of energy subsidies, it often has little confidence 

that the government will use savings from subsidy reform wisely. This is especially true in 

countries with a history of widespread corruption, lack of transparency in the conduct of public 

policy, and perceived inefficiencies in public spending. The middle class may fiercely resist the 

 

15The case studies do not disentangle the effects of subsidy reform on macroeconomic variables such as inflation and 

the real exchange rate. This would require isolating these effects over the period in which subsidy reforms were 

implemented, which on average was five years.

16Over the past five years, there were 19 technical assistance missions to member countries addressing the issue of 

energy subsidy reform. About one third of these missions were to sub-Saharan Africa and another third to the MENA 

region.

17Gupta and others (2004) estimate implicit subsidies in oil exporters at 31⁄2 percent of GDP, on average, in 1999.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

24 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

removal of these subsidies because they are viewed as one of the few concrete benefits they 

receive from the state. This is especially the case for oil exporters that have ample fiscal 

resources yet lack the administrative capacity to implement cash transfer programs. Lack of 

credibility was seen as an important factor behind the less successful fuel subsidy reforms in 

Indonesia in 2003 and Nigeria in 2011.

 Concerns regarding the adverse impact on the poor. Although most of the benefits from 

energy subsidies are captured by higher-income groups, as noted earlier, energy price increases 

can still have a substantial adverse impact on the real incomes of the poor, both through higher 

energy costs of cooking, heating, lighting, and personal transport, as well as higher prices for 

other goods and services, including food. This is an important consideration for countries that

do not have a well-functioning social safety net that is capable of effectively protecting the poor 

from the adverse impact of higher energy prices. In 20 episodes, subsidy reform was 

accompanied by specific measures to mitigate the impact of price increases on the poor. In 

seven episodes, price increases were initially concentrated on products that were less important 

for poor household budgets.

 Concerns regarding the adverse impact on inflation, international competitiveness, and 

volatility of domestic energy prices. Increases in energy prices will have short-term effects on 

inflation, which may give rise to expectations of further increases in prices and wages unless 

appropriate macroeconomic policies are in place (Box 4). This may especially be a concern for

countries that have difficulty in anchoring inflation expectations. Higher energy prices may also 

lead to concerns about the international competitiveness of energy-intensive sectors. In 

addition, countries are hesitant to liberalize energy prices in order to avoid high volatility in

domestic prices arising from international price developments. In Armenia, the impact of 

electricity price increases on inflation was mitigated by the implementation of macroeconomic 

stabilization measures. In Iran and Nigeria, fuel subsidy reform was accompanied by specific 

measures intended to mitigate the impact of price increases on energy-intensive sectors.

 Opposition from specific interest groups benefiting from the status quo. Politically vocal 

groups that benefit from subsidies can be powerful and well organized and can block reforms. 

For example, in some countries the urban middle class and industrial sector (which also benefits 

from subsidies) can be an obstacle to reform. On the other hand, those benefitting from reform 

are often dispersed and less organized. Reform strategies therefore need to address the 

concerns of the losers. In Poland, initial mining sector reforms were unsuccessful because they 

did not provide adequate support for miners. In Mexico, strong opposition from labor unions 

contributed to the failure of the electricity sector reform. An important stumbling block to 

reform in many countries is often SOEs in the energy sector, which can resist efforts to 

strengthen governance and performance.

 Weak macroeconomic conditions. Public resistance to subsidy reform is lower when economic 

growth is relatively high and inflation is low—although subsidy reform cannot always be 

postponed and is often required as part of efforts to constrain inflation and stimulate growth.

Rising household incomes can help households better afford the increases in energy prices 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 25

entailed by subsidy reform. In Peru, the implementation of subsidy reforms in early 2010 during 

a period of stable prices and strong economic growth helped make the reform politically more 

palatable. In Turkey, reforms of the electricity sector coincided with a period of economic growth 

and improving standards of living, which assured the public that reforms were moving the 

country in the right direction. High inflation is also an obstacle to reform. When inflation is high, 

frequent large changes in controlled prices are needed to avoid the emergence of fuel subsidies 

(as in Brazil).

C. Designing a Subsidy Reform Strategy

27. Many countries have incorporated specific measures into their subsidy reform 

strategies to overcome the above barriers. Staff’s review of country reform experiences suggests 

the following key elements can increase the likelihood of successful subsidy reform:

(i) a comprehensive reform plan; (ii) a far-reaching communications strategy, aided by 

improvements in transparency; (iii) appropriately phased energy price increases, which can be 

sequenced differently across energy products; (iv) improving the efficiency of SOEs to reduce 

producer subsidies; (v) targeted mitigating measures to protect the poor; and (vi) depoliticizing 

energy pricing to avoid the recurrence of subsidies. Each of these elements is discussed in turn 

below in more detail.

(i) Comprehensive reform plan 

28. Most of the successful reforms were well planned with a clear reform strategy. In Iran, 

the 2010 fuel subsidy reform incorporated clear objectives, compensating measures, and a timetable 

for reform, preceded by an extensive public relations campaign. The public information campaign 

emphasized that the main objective of the reform was to replace price subsidies with cash transfers 

to reduce incentives for excessive energy consumption and smuggling. Bank accounts were opened 

for most citizens prior to the reform and compensating cash transfers deposited into these accounts 

preceding the implementation of price increases. In Namibia, the authorities undertook 

comprehensive planning, with broad consultation with civil society and a well-crafted plan that 

included the introduction of a fuel price adjustment mechanism and a targeted subsidy for those 

living in remote areas. A clear medium-term reform strategy backed by careful planning was also a 

major factor behind the successful electricity price liberalization reforms in the Philippines and 

Turkey. By contrast, the lack of effective planning contributed to less successful outcomes in some 

countries (fuel subsidy reform in Indonesia in 1998 and only partial success in Nigeria in 2011). A 

good reform plan often requires extensive time to prepare, as in Iran.

29. A comprehensive reform plan requires establishing clear long-term objectives, 

assessing the impact of reforms, and consulting with stakeholders.

Clear long-term objectives. Subsidy reforms are more likely to be successful and durable if they are 

embedded within a broader reform agenda. In particular, reforms should incorporate both a 

sustainable approach to energy pricing and a plan to improve the efficiency of energy consumption 

and supply.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

26 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

 In the Philippines and Turkey, full price liberalization and structural reform of the energy sector,

for both fuel and electricity, were articulated as the ultimate goals of reform. This contributed to 

the eventual success of reform as the public and governments were able to focus on and adhere

to long-term goals, without being distracted by setbacks at intermediate stages.

 This comprehensive strategy is especially important for electricity reforms. There is a strong 

inverse correlation between the size of electricity subsidies and the quality of service, reflecting 

the dampening effect of subsidies on investment. Yet the public is often unwilling to pay higher 

prices in the absence of quality improvements. Reforms in this sector should not only seek to 

improve access and service quality but also tackle operational inefficiencies (such as high 

distribution losses and inadequate bill collection and metering). The need to accompany tariff 

increases with service improvements can constrain the speed of reform, since improving services 

often requires up-front investment. Electricity subsidy reforms in Armenia, Brazil, and Kenya 

were successful because they were part of a broader package intended to address supply 

problems.

Assessing the impact of reforms. Designing a comprehensive subsidy reform strategy requires 

information on the likely impact of reforms on various stakeholders and the identification of 

measures to mitigate adverse impacts. This involves assessing the fiscal and macroeconomic effects 

of subsidies and identifying the winners and losers from reform. In Ghana, in 2005, the government 

commissioned an independent poverty and social impact analysis to assess the winners and losers 

from fuel subsidies and subsidy removal. This was an important foundation for persuasively 

communicating the necessity for reform and for designing policies to reduce the impact of higher 

fuel prices on the poor. In Nigeria, in contrast, the National Assembly did not support the removal of 

the gasoline subsidy in 2011, claiming a lack of firm data underpinning the size and incidence of 

subsidies.

Consultation with stakeholders. Stakeholders should be invited to participate in the formulation of 

the subsidy reform strategy. This ―stakeholder approach‖ has proven successful in a number of 

countries (Graham, 1998; Gupta and others, 2000).

 In Kenya, electricity tariff increases faced significant difficulties early in the reform process. These 

were overcome after intense negotiations with stakeholders, particularly with large consumers, 

and efforts to communicate the objectives and benefits of the reform.

 In Namibia, the National Energy Council, chaired by the Minister of Mines and Energy, 

established the National Deregulation Task Force to examine fuel price deregulation through a 

consultative process.

 In Niger, the authorities established the Comité du Différé to discuss the best way to approach 

the fuel subsidy reforms and their subsequent consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 27

 In Indonesia, on the other hand, consultation with stakeholders was inadequate. The opposition 

to the 2003 fuel subsidy reform was partially motivated by the belief that the reform had been 

undertaken in favor of powerful interest groups.

(ii) Communications strategy

30. A far-reaching communications campaign can help generate broad political and public 

support and should be undertaken throughout the reform process. A review of subsidy reform 

experiences found that the likelihood of success almost tripled with strong public support and 

proactive public communications (IMF, 2011). The information campaign should explain the 

magnitude of energy subsidies and their implications for other parts of the budget. The benefits of 

removing subsidies, including on a post-tax basis, should be underscored, in particular the scope for 

using part of the budgetary savings or additional revenues to finance high-priority spending on 

education, health, infrastructure, and social protection. Information campaigns have underpinned

the success of a number of countries, including fuel subsidy reforms in Ghana, Iran, Namibia, and 

the Philippines, and electricity subsidy reforms in Armenia and Uganda.

 In Namibia, a White Paper on Energy Policy was produced, which formed the basis of an 

effective public communications campaign.

 In the Philippines, a public communication campaign began at an early stage and included a 

nationwide road-show to inform the public of the problems of petroleum price subsidies.

 In Uganda, the government effectively communicated the cost of the electricity subsidy and its 

incidence to the public. As a consequence, a large portion of the media considered the raising of 

tariffs to be a pro-poor measure.

31. Ensuring transparency is a key component of a successful communications strategy.

Useful information to be disseminated includes: (i) the magnitude of subsidies and how they are 

funded, including in oil-exporting countries where subsidies are provided implicitly and not shown

in the budget or recorded as tax expenditures. To the extent that subsidies are off-budget, they 

could be reported as a memorandum item in budget documents. Data on subsidies should also 

cover producer subsidies, which may necessitate better reporting of the accounts of SOEs in the 

energy sector and reporting on SOEs in budget documents (see paragraph 35); (ii) the distribution 

of subsidy benefits across income groups; (iii) changes in subsidy spending over time; and (iv) the 

potential environmental and health benefits from subsidy reform. Prior to its successful subsidy 

reform, Niger started to record fuel subsidies explicitly in the budget. Making such information 

public allows for an independent assessment of the costs and benefits of subsidy policies. It is 

particularly important for determining whether subsidies are the most effective way to achieve 

desired outcomes, such as social protection for the poor. Subsidy expenditures should be compared 

to spending on priority areas and planned increases in these outlays as a consequence of the 

enlarged fiscal space from subsidy reform. Governments should also disclose as much information 

as possible about how prices are formulated and the factors behind planned price increases. Both 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

28 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Ghana and South Africa regularly publish such details for petroleum products on their government 

websites and in the national media.

(iii) Appropriately phased and sequenced price increases 

32. Phasing-in price increases and sequencing them differently across energy products 

may be desirable. The appropriate phasing-in and sequencing of price increases will depend on a 

range of factors, including the magnitude of the price increases required to eliminate subsidies, the 

fiscal position, the political and social context in which reforms are being undertaken, and the time 

needed to develop an effective communications strategy and social safety nets. In the case studies, 

successful and partially successful subsidy reforms required, on average, about five years. 

 Pace and timing of energy price increases. Too sharp an increase in energy prices can 

generate intense opposition to reforms, as happened with fuel subsidy reforms in Mauritania in 

2008 and Nigeria in 2012. A phased approach to reforms permits both households and 

enterprises time to adjust, and permits the country time to build credibility by showing that 

subsidy savings are being put to good use. As noted earlier, it also helps reduce the impact of 

subsidy reform on inflation and creates room for governments to establish supporting social 

safety nets. The case studies show that 17 out of the 23 reform episodes that were successful or 

partially successful involved a phased reduction of subsidies. In Namibia, subsidies were 

removed steadily according to a three-year reform plan. In Brazil, the government pursued a 

step by step approach to reforming petroleum subsidies during the 1990s in order to minimize 

opposition from key interest groups. Despite initial sharp increases in prices, gradual adjustment 

of fuel prices was a key design feature of the reforms introduced in Iran, where the plan was to

eliminate petroleum subsidies over a five-year period. A gradual approach was also adopted by 

Kenya (electricity), where the authorities were able to progressively gain support for broader 

reform by delivering improved services. The timing of energy price increases should also be 

considered carefully. For example, coordinating increases in electricity with the expansion of 

capacity could help win broad acceptance of tariff increases, as in Uganda. Tariff increases that 

coincide with price increases for other socially sensitive products, such as food and fuels, may 

meet strong resistance. 

 Sequencing of reform. Price increases can also be sequenced differently across energy 

products. For example, petroleum price increases can initially be larger for products that are 

consumed more by higher-income groups and by industry, such as gasoline and jet kerosene. As 

the safety net is strengthened, subsequent rounds of reform can include larger increases in 

prices for fuel products that are more important in the budgets of poor households and part of 

the budgetary savings can be used to finance targeted transfers to poor households. For

electricity, tariff increases can initially focus on large residential users and commercial users. Out 

of the 28 reform episodes, seven reforms sequenced price increases in this way. In Brazil, for 

instance, petroleum product reforms started by liberalizing prices for petroleum products used 

primarily by industry, followed by a more extensive liberalization of gasoline prices and finally 

diesel prices. Reforms in Peru initially focused on raising high-octane gasoline prices.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 29

33. However, gradual reform can create additional reform challenges. First, a slower pace of 

reform reduces budgetary savings in the short term. There is thus a trade-off between the objectives 

of achieving budgetary savings and softening the impact of reforms on households. Second, 

sequencing of reforms can severely distort consumption patterns. For example, there is a limit to 

how low kerosene prices can be maintained without serious disruption of energy markets when 

other petroleum product prices are raised. These problems include the redirection of kerosene and 

LPG from households to the transport sector and cross-border smuggling. Turkey had to curtail LPG 

subsidies more rapidly than planned because of a sharp increase in LPG consumption due to the 

conversion of vehicles to LPG. Third, a gradual reform runs the risk that opposition may build up 

over time. To address this concern, gradual reforms must be accompanied by the government’s

long-term commitment to follow-through on planned price increases, possibly over several 

successive administrations. This challenge can be overcome by building up a broad support base for 

reforms. For example, Turkey started toward a more liberalized regime for energy pricing, including 

fuel and electricity, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and continued implementing the plan under

subsequent administrations. Effective planning and communication promoted broad consensus on 

the need for petroleum and electricity sector reforms in the Philippines and enabled the government 

to successfully implement its reform strategy gradually.

(iv) Improving the efficiency of SOEs to reduce producer subsidies

34. Improving the efficiency of SOEs can reduce the fiscal burden of the energy sector.

Energy producers often receive substantial budgetary resources—both in terms of current and 

capital transfers—to compensate for inefficiencies in production and revenue collection. 

Improvements in efficiency can strengthen the financial position of these enterprises and reduce the 

need for such transfers.

35. Country experiences suggest the importance of strengthening SOE governance, 

improving demand management and revenue collection, and better exploitation of scale 

economies to improve enterprise efficiency:

 Governance of SOEs can be strengthened by improving the reporting of information on 

operations and costs. This can help identify system inefficiencies (e.g., overstaffing) and 

vulnerabilities (e.g., major loss points and bottlenecks in energy flows). Countries that have 

adopted information systems include Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia. Consistent with the Code of 

Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency, all extrabudgetary activity of the central government, 

including that undertaken by SOEs, should be reported in budget documents (see also IMF, 

2012b). A second step is to set performance targets and incentives on the basis of this 

information. In Cape Verde, the electricity company is allowed to keep resources from overperformance on their targets, which can then be used for investment. Introducing competition, 

including from the private sector, can strengthen performance. This option will be more viable 

for countries with larger markets, where there is scope to ―unbundle‖ activities in both the 

petroleum and electricity sectors. Notwithstanding these limitations, the private sector’s role in 

the electricity sector is growing in many emerging and low-income countries. Many of these 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

30 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

countries have permitted competition among private generation companies and some of them 

have invited the private sector to manage electricity distribution, primarily to address 

operational inefficiencies.

 Improved demand management (by charging higher prices during peak periods) has proven 

effective in shifting demand to periods where marginal costs of provision are lower (Antmann, 

2009). Utilities in sub-Saharan Africa have had programs to provide free compact fluorescent 

bulbs, which have helped reduce demand and costs in Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda,

and Rwanda. Revenue-enhancing measures include improved collection and metering. These 

efforts can start with large customers and then gradually extend to medium and smaller ones.

 Efficiency can be improved by exploiting regional trade in electricity (Foster and BriceñoGarmendia, 2010). For instance, Mali and Burkina Faso have been able to expand domestic 

supply and household access through integration into the regional market.

(v) Targeted mitigating measures

36. Well-targeted measures to mitigate the impact of energy price increases on the poor 

are critical for building public support for subsidy reforms. The first step in this regard is to 

assess the capacity to expand existing (or implement new) social programs in the short term. 

Implementing or expanding targeted programs immediately prior to price reforms can help 

demonstrate the government’s commitment to protecting the poor. Untargeted cash transfers to 

compensate the population following a subsidy reform could be limited to the amount consumed 

by the poorest. This can generate fiscal savings, since poor households typically consume 

substantially lower quantities of energy than the rich. Further fiscal savings would be generated by 

targeted cash transfers to compensate only lower income groups. In some oil-exporting countries, 

where subsidies are often seen as a form of wealth sharing, uniform per capita transfers can be both 

more efficient and more equitable than untargeted energy subsidies. However, wealth sharing may 

be better achieved through targeted and productive public spending aimed at building physical and 

human capital. The degree to which compensation should be targeted is a strategic decision that 

involves trade-offs between fiscal savings, capacity to target, and the need to achieve broad 

acceptance of the reform. Out of the 28 reform episodes, 18 relied on targeted mitigating measures, 

including expansion of public works, education, and health programs in poor areas.

37. Targeted cash transfers or near-cash transfers (vouchers) are the preferred approach 

to compensation. Cash transfers give beneficiaries the flexibility to purchase the level and type of 

energy that best suits their needs, and at a time and place of their choosing. They also remove the 

need for governments to be directly involved in the distribution of subsidized energy to households, 

which is often extremely costly and prone to abuse (Grosh and others, 2008). Targeted cash transfers 

were used to protect poor households in nine out of the 28 reform episodes. Indonesia’s 

unconditional cash transfer program, which covered 35 percent of the population, was an important 

component of its successful strategy in overcoming social and political opposition to fuel subsidy 

reforms. Its experience also suggests that such programs need good preparation and monitoring in 

order to effectively assist the poor. Armenia successfully introduced a targeted cash transfer 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 31

program during its electricity reform and was able to gradually reduce the coverage of households 

from 25 percent in 1999 to 18 percent in 2010. The recent expansion of conditional cash transfer 

programs throughout emerging and low-income economies, with eligibility for benefits linked to 

household investments in the education and health status of family members, has greatly increased 

the capacity of these economies to protect poor households from price and other shocks while

simultaneously addressing the root causes of persistent poverty (Fiszbein and Schady, 2009; Garcia 

and Moore, 2012).

38. When cash transfers are not feasible, other programs can be expanded while 

administrative capacity is developed. This should focus on existing programs that can be 

expanded quickly, possibly with some improvements in targeting effectiveness (for instance, school 

meals, public works, reductions in education and health user fees, subsidized mass urban transport, 

subsidies for consumption of water and electricity below a specified threshold). This approach was 

used in 15 of the reform episodes, sometimes in conjunction with targeted cash transfers.

 Gabon, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, and Mozambique expanded targeted social spending programs 

to protect lower-income households from fuel price increases.

 In the context of electricity reforms, Armenia, Brazil, Kenya, and Uganda kept their lower 

electricity lifeline tariffs fixed and concentrated tariff increases on households with higher 

electricity consumption levels.

 The Philippines maintained electricity subsidies for indigent families, college scholarships for 

low-income students, and subsidized loans to convert engines used in public transportation to 

less costly LPG (World Bank, 2008).

 Kenya subsidized connection costs in place of electricity price subsidies, which helped expand 

coverage to poor households and those in remote and rural areas. The rural electrification 

program helped to increase the number of connections from 650,000 in 2003 to 2 million at 

present, with a fund for connection fee payments financed by donors.

39. Providing an affordable alternative energy source can mitigate the impact of subsidy 

reform on low-income groups. A key objective of subsidies in many countries is to provide an 

affordable source of energy to low-income households. Subsidy reform can therefore often be more 

acceptable if it is accompanied by complementary measures that support this objective. Such 

measures were included in five reform episodes. In Indonesia and Yemen, subsidy reform was 

facilitated by the government’s efforts to help households convert from the use of kerosene for 

cooking to low-cost LPG.

40. Subsidy reform involving SOE restructuring requires temporary sector-specific social 

measures to support employees and enterprises. In the short term, SOE restructuring may involve 

laying-off part of the workforce or require increased investment in energy-saving technologies. 

Policies that mitigate the impact on workers and promote restructuring can increase support for 

subsidy reform. In the case of coal sector reform in Poland, unemployed miners had access to social 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

32 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

assistance and job training. In the context of fuel subsidy reform, the Iranian government undertook 

extensive consultation with enterprises to understand the challenges they faced if energy prices 

increased substantially. This led to a program targeted to agriculture and energy-intensive sectors

hard hit by price increases, which included direct assistance and access to subsidized fuel. Such 

measures should be temporary, with a clearly specified lifespan and communicated to the public to 

demonstrate the government’s commitment to reforms.

(vi) Depoliticize energy pricing

41. Successful and durable reforms require a depoliticized mechanism for setting energy 

prices. Many countries have successfully implemented reforms only to see subsidies reappear when

international oil prices increase. Out of 28 reform episodes, 11 were classified as partially successful 

because subsidies later re-emerged. In Ghana, the 2005 reform eliminated fuel subsidies but when 

oil prices soared in 2007 and 2008, the government abandoned its policy of linking domestic to 

international prices and automatic adjustment was temporarily suspended. In Indonesia, in spite of

increasing international prices, subsidy reform reduced fuel subsidies from 31⁄2 percent of GDP in 

2005 to 2 percent of GDP in 2006. However, unwillingness to fully pass-through continued increases 

in international prices resulted in fuel subsidies escalating again to 2.8 percent of GDP in 2008.

42. Automatic pricing mechanisms can help reduce the chances of reform reversal.

Establishing an automatic pricing formula for fuel products can help distance the government from 

pricing of energy and make it clearer that domestic price changes reflect changes in international 

prices which are outside the control of the government. Reliance on a formula can reassure the 

public that price increases would not lead to windfall profits for suppliers. South Africa has 

successfully implemented an automatic pricing mechanism for fuel products for over five decades. 

Both the Philippines and Turkey successfully implemented such a mechanism during their transition 

to liberalized fuel pricing. In all three countries, detailed information on the mechanism and its 

implementation was disseminated to the public on government websites and through other media.

43. However, adoption of such a mechanism is not a panacea for achieving a sustained 

reform of energy subsidies. A number of countries have abandoned such mechanisms shortly after 

adopting them, partly due to an unwillingness to pass through sharp international price increase to 

consumers. Gabon suspended its mechanism in August 2002 as international oil prices started to 

increase. Ghana adopted an automatic mechanism in February 2001 but suspended it before the 

end of the year. It reintroduced the mechanism in January 2003, only to suspend it again in June 

2003. More recently, newly adopted pricing mechanisms have been suspended in other sub-Saharan 

African countries, including the Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The sustainability of these 

mechanisms can be enhanced if they are packaged and communicated as part of broader structural 

reforms, including expansion of targeted social safety net and social spending programs. Using price 

smoothing rules can also help to avoid large price increases (see paragraph 45 below).

44. Responsibility for implementing the automatic mechanism can be given to an 

independent body. Technical decisions on pricing can be delegated to an independent institution

to ensure that subsidy reform proceeds as planned. The institution can also have the responsibility 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 33

for implementing the automatic mechanism once subsidies are eliminated. A number of countries 

that successfully reformed subsidies for petroleum products (including South African and Turkey) 

and electricity (including Armenia, Kenya, the Philippines and Turkey) gave responsibility for 

reforming and regulating energy prices to an independent agency.

45. A smoothing rule can be incorporated into the automatic pricing mechanism to avoid 

sharp increases in domestic prices (Coady and others, 2012). Countries often abandon automatic 

pricing mechanisms when international prices increase sharply. In China, for example, a key barrier 

to the adoption of an automatic pricing mechanism has been concern about the political and social 

consequences of fully passing through such sharp price increases. Some countries (including Chile,

Colombia, Malawi, Nigeria, Peru, Thailand, and Vietnam) have used smoothing rules to address this 

problem. Smoothing mechanisms can also help contain inflationary expectations if supported by 

appropriate macroeconomic policies. They can help dampen the effects of international price and 

exchange rate volatility. Several sub-Saharan countries, including the Gambia, Sierra Leone, and 

Togo, are considering the use of smoothing rules. With a smoothing mechanism, periods of sharp 

increases in international prices would only gradually be transmitted to domestic prices. For 

instance, energy prices changes could be limited to a maximum of, say, 5 percent of the current 

consumer price in any given month.

46. To protect the budget over the medium term, smoothing must be applied both to 

price increases (when subsidies increase or taxes fall) and to price decreases (when subsidies 

decrease or taxes increase). How much smoothing the government chooses to implement will 

depend on its preference between lower price and higher fiscal volatility. Peru adopted a smoothing 

rule in 2004 whereby international price changes were fully passed through to domestic prices as 

long as the latter fell within a fixed price band. When prices fell outside this price band, the cost (if 

above) or benefit (if below) was absorbed by the budget. Since 2010, the band price limits are 

updated to reflect trends in international prices, with adjustments limited to 5 percent. While

stabilization funds have also been used to smooth price increases, experience with such funds has 

been mixed, with funds exhausting their reserves during periods of sharp increases in international 

prices or incurring large contingent liabilities for the budget (Chile, Namibia, Peru, the Philippines, 

and Thailand).

47. Over the longer term, subsidy reforms for petroleum products should aim to fully 

liberalize pricing. More liberalized regimes—where prices are determined by private sector 

suppliers and move freely with international prices—tend to be more robust to the reintroduction of 

subsidies than automatic pricing mechanisms (Baig and others, 2007). Under a liberalized regime, 

the role of the government is to ensure that fuel markets are competitive and there is free entry and 

exit from the sector. A well functioning social safety net should be in place before countries 

liberalize to ensure that low-income groups can be protected from future price increases and thus 

avoid public pressure to reintroduce subsidies. Successful implementation of an automatic pricing 

mechanism can facilitate the transition to a liberalized pricing regime by getting the public used to 

frequent changes in domestic energy prices. It can also build up the confidence of private suppliers 

that the government will not return to subsidized pricing. This approach was used in the Philippines, 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

34 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

which adopted an automatic pricing mechanism in 1996 as part of its transition to a liberalized 

supply and pricing regime in 1998.

48. In the electricity sector, the small size of the market in some countries limits the scope 

for competition and price liberalization. In many emerging and low-income economies, the 

electricity market is small. Under these circumstances, the market may not support many firms of a 

size sufficient to reap economies of scale and produce at the lowest possible cost. In such cases,

price regulation will be needed, and competition alone will not be the best approach to reforming 

the sector (Besant-Jones, 2006). Prices should be determined by an autonomous agency and set at a 

level that is sufficient to avoid subsidies and ensure an adequate return to investment under 

efficient operations. Enhancing the progressivity of tariff structures by imposing higher tariff rates 

for larger consumers can also reduce subsidy expenditures while protecting the poor. For instance,

there is scope to make tariff structures more progressive in many African countries. Greater 

emphasis could also be given to subsidizing connections, rather than consumption of electricity.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 35

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42 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix I. Estimating Pre-tax and Post-tax Global Energy Subsidies

This appendix describes the data sources and methodologies used for the estimation of subsidies 

for petroleum products, coal, natural gas, and electricity.

A. Pre-tax Subsidies

Petroleum products

Pre-tax consumer subsidies for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene are estimated as the difference 

between international prices adjusted for transport margins and domestic consumer prices for 

176 countries between 2000 and 2011.18 International prices are taken as the monthly average of 

spot prices from IEA. For importers, margins are calculated as $0.10 per liter to cover international 

transport costs and another $0.10 per liter to cover domestic distribution and retailing costs. For net 

oil exporters, no adjustment is made as the two costs are assumed to cancel out each other. 

Domestic consumer prices for petroleum products (for both firms and households) are taken from 

publicly available sources for Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 

countries. For other countries, domestic prices were provided by country authorities to IMF staff, 

supplemented by survey data from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

(Ebert and others, 2009). For gasoline, the price is for regular unleaded or other grades, based on 

availability. Where consumer prices were unavailable, they were imputed based on observed pass 

through behavior. This was done for approximately 54 countries in 2009 and one country 

(Venezuela) in 2011. End-of-year prices are used to estimate subsidies except for 30 countries, 

mostly in the MENA region, where quarterly price data are available.

Fuel product consumption levels used to calculate total subsidies are based on OECD and 

International Energy Agency (IEA) data, and include consumption by both households and 

enterprises.

Coal and natural gas

Consumer subsidy estimates are based on IEA data for coal in 39 countries and for natural gas in 

37 countries between 2007 and 2011. IMF staff estimates on natural gas subsidies are available for 

additional four countries in the MENA region. In addition, producer coal subsidies for 16 countries 

between 2007 and 2011 are based on OECD data. This calculation measures subsidies as the 

difference between the reference price and the domestic price paid by households and firms. The 

IEA reference prices for natural gas and coal, both traded goods, are defined differently for net 

importers and net exporters. For net importers, the reference price was defined as the price at the 

nearest international market, adjusted for quality differences, the cost of freight and insurance, 

distribution and marketing costs, and any value added tax (VAT). The price does not include excise 

 

18Subsidies for oil-based heating fuels and non-road transportation vehicles, which are substantial in some countries, 

are not included due to data limitations.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 43

duties. For net exporters, the reference price was calculated as the price at the nearest international 

market, adjusted for quality differences, less the costs of freight and insurance, plus distribution, 

marketing, and VAT. It should be noted that the quantities of coal and natural gas used in this 

calculation do not include the amount used for electricity and heat generation. To estimate pre-tax 

subsidies, the VAT is subtracted from the IEA estimates, using the standard VAT rate in the country. 

Producer subsidies for coal are based on OECD producer support estimates that capture the amount 

of tax subsidies (such as special income tax treatment) or budgetary expenditures designed to 

support producer incomes (OECD, 2012a).

Electricity

Given the varying availability of data, a number of different approaches are taken to measure 

subsidies. For 40 countries from Africa and Middle East, and a few selected emerging economies of 

Europe, estimates of combined producer and consumer subsidies are compiled from various World 

Bank reports and IMF staff estimates; thus, they are not necessarily comparable. For these countries, 

subsidy estimates are based on average domestic prices and cost-recovery prices that cover 

production costs, investment cost, distributional loss and the non-payment of electricity bills. An 

upward adjustment is also made for the input subsidies that electricity producers may receive 

through their use of subsidized fossil fuel products. For 31 of these 40 countries, the latest year for 

which data are available is 2009.

For 37 countries, estimates of consumer price subsidies between 2007 and 2011 are taken from the

International Energy Agency, based on the difference between costs (adjusted for any subsidy on 

fossil fuel inputs) and average domestic prices (IEA, 2011b). As these prices do not include 

investment cost, non-payment of electricity and distributional losses, the estimates may understate 

subsidies. In total, the sample covers 77 countries.

B. Post-tax Subsidies

Post-tax subsidies are estimated as pre-tax subsidies plus:

 a corrective (or “Pigouvian”) tax, reflecting an (excise) tax on energy products to charge for 

externalities associated with CO2 emissions, local pollution, and (in the case of gasoline and 

motor diesel) other externalities such as traffic congestion and accidents.

 a revenue component, reflecting an (ad valorem) tax on energy products that would be 

consistent with taxation of any other consumer good at the standard value-added tax (VAT) or 

general sales tax (GST) rate.

Corrective taxes

This section discusses the estimation of taxes needed to correct for externalities from petroleum 

products, coal, and natural gas. To avoid double counting we do not measure externalities from 

electricity generation and, due to the lack of available evidence, we do not measure externalities for 
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

44 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

other generation fuels.

19 Environmental and transportation-related externalities have been 

quantified for the United States and just a few other countries.20

Petroleum products

Combustion of petroleum products (gasoline, diesel and kerosene) contributes to global warming 

through CO2 emissions and local pollution. In addition, externalities associated with motor vehicle 

use—which we apportion to gasoline and diesel fuels—include traffic congestion and accidents, and 

(primarily in the case of trucks) road damage. Appendix Table 1 summarizes some estimates of 

motor fuel taxes to correct for these externalities that have been conducted for the United States, 

the United Kingdom, and Chile. The corrective tax estimate for Chile is higher, reflecting a 

combination of elevated local emission rates and a high incidence of pedestrian deaths and traffic

congestion.

Appendix Table 1. Corrective Motor Fuel Taxes, Selected Countries

(Cents per liter, 2011 dollars)

Sources: IFS (2012), Parry (2011), Parry and Strand (2012), and Parry and Small (2005).

Notes: The above studies estimate corrective diesel fuel taxes for the United States and Chile, but not for the United Kingdom.

 

19For example, for nuclear power it is extremely difficult to quantify the risks from radioactive waste and meltdowns.

20More detailed work for other countries is underway in the Fiscal Affairs Department to provide more precise 

estimates (IMF, forthcoming).

United States United Kingdom Chile United States Chile

Total 36 42 71 37 62

Contribution of:

local pollution 3 4 18 10 16

carbon 6 5 6 6 6

congestion 15 26 19 10 16

accidents 12 8 28 3 12

noise 0 0 0 2 1

road damage 0 0 0 6 12

Gasoline (cars) Diesel (trucks)
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 45

For CO2 emissions, we assume an illustrative value for global warming damages of $25 per ton (in 

2010 dollars) of CO2 emissions, following the US IAWG (2010). The estimates in the literature have 

varied considerably, ranging from $12 per ton (Nordhaus, 2011) to $85 per ton (Stern, 2006). The 

$25 per ton of CO2 emission translates into $0.05–$0.06 per liter of gasoline or diesel as shown 

Appendix Table 1. The same value ($25 per ton of CO2 emissions) is used in the calculation of global 

warming damages from the consumption of coal and natural gas.

A careful assessment of the non-carbon corrective fuel taxes for other countries would take into 

account a variety of local factors that affect the willingness-to-pay for reductions in these negative 

externalities, including, most importantly, income, local emission rates, population density, travel 

delays, and the frequency of traffic accidents. Data on these factors across other countries are not 

readily available, except for income per capita. We make adjustments to the estimates of willingness 

to pay by comparing a given country’s income (say Colombia) in purchasing parity terms with the 

United States, the United Kingdom, and Chile.21 An income elasticity of 0.8 is assumed between the 

willingness to pay for reductions in externalities and per-capita income, following the OECD (OECD, 

2012b). We then apply this correction to the estimates of externalities per liter described in 

Appendix Table 1 for the United States, the United Kingdom, and Chile. We then take the average 

across the three countries to arrive at our estimate for Colombia.

Coal

To estimate the corrective tax per ton of coal for global warming damages, we first derive 

CO2 emissions per ton of coal, based on IEA data on coal consumption and CO2 emissions from coal 

by country. The corrective tax per ton of coal is then calculated by multiplying CO2 emission per ton 

of coal consumption with the global warming damages of $25 per ton of CO2 emission.

Beyond its CO2 emissions, the other major externality associated with coal combustion is local air 

pollution (most importantly fine particulates formed from SO2 emissions). A state-of-the-art 

modeling exercise for the United States by a committee of experts (NRC, 2010) put the local 

pollution damages from the average coal plant in 2005 at about $65 (in 2010 dollars) per (short) ton. 

Local pollution damages are adjusted the same way as for petroleum products when extrapolating 

to other countries. This approach assumes that scrubber use and coal content in other countries are 

similar to that of the United States. We do not adjust for differences in the pollution content of coal, 

or for use of flue-gas de-sulfurization technologies (scrubbers) in other countries compared with the 

United States.

 

21Post-tax subsidies as a share of GDP for low-income countries would increase from 3.3 percent of GDP to 

5.3 percent without this adjustment for non-carbon externalities of petroleum products and coal.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

46 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Natural gas

Natural gas is far less emissions-intensive than coal—it produces about half the carbon emissions 

per unit of energy, and only very minimal SO2 emissions. Here only a carbon damage is applied to 

natural gas. Similar to coal, the corrective tax per thousand cubic feet of natural gas is calculated 

based on IEA data on natural gas consumption, CO2 emissions from natural gas by country, and the 

global warming damages of $25 per ton of CO2 emissions.

Revenue component

Here a scenario where energy products would be taxed just like other goods is considered. In 

principle, individual products should be taxed more heavily, or less heavily, than the average 

consumer good (on revenue-raising grounds), depending on whether taxing them causes a 

significant shift towards untaxed goods (i.e., leisure and products that are exempt from VAT). 

However, there is little empirical support on which to make these types of adjustments, and hence 

they are not pursued here. The estimates are based on VAT rates for 150 countries in 2011. For 

countries where VAT rates are not available or do not apply, the average VAT rate of countries with a 

similar level of income in the region is assumed.

Calculating subsidies with corrective tax and revenue components

To quantify the magnitude of subsidies, the subsidy-free post-tax prices are derived by applying the 

VAT/GST rates to both pre-tax international prices/cost recovery prices and excise tax for 

externalities. The subsidy-free post-tax prices are then compared with domestic prices and 

combined with consumption levels to compute subsidies. In the case of electricity, VAT/GST is only 

estimated for countries with pre-tax subsidies. This approach is followed because both domestic 

prices and cost recovery prices are unknown for other countries. In the case of coal and natural gas, 

it is assumed that domestic prices in countries without pre-tax subsidies are the same as 

international reference prices. 

One complication is that revenue from VAT would only be effectively assessed on energy products 

as final consumption goods, not those as intermediate inputs for other consumption goods. To 

separate intermediate inputs from final consumption goods, we use IEA energy consumption data 

by industry type. It is assumed that energy products for residential use, commercial and public 

services, and gasoline for road use are final consumption goods. This approximation indicates that, 

on average, 99 percent of gasoline consumption, 7 percent of diesel consumption, 39 percent of 

kerosene consumption, 12 percent of coal consumption, 46 percent of natural gas consumption, and 

51 percent of electricity consumption can be categorized as final consumption.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 47

Appendix Table 2. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011

22

(Percent of GDP by region)

 

22These subsidy estimates may differ from those in the country budget documents due to the methodologies 

described in this appendix.

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Advanced

Australia 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

Austria 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Belgium 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Canada 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

Cyprus 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Czech Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

Denmark 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Estonia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Finland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

France 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Germany 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.07

Greece 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Hong Kong SAR 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Iceland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ireland 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.05

Israel 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Italy 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Japan 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Korea 0.00 n.a. 0.00 0.02

Luxembourg 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Malta 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Netherlands 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

New Zealand 0.09 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Norway 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Portugal 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Singapore 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Slovak Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.01

Slovenia 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.02

Spain 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.03

Sweden 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Switzerland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Taiwan Province of China n.a. 0.22 0.00 0.03

United Kingdom 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

United States 0.05 n.a. n.a. 0.00
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

48 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 2. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of GDP by region)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

CEE-CIS

Albania 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Armenia 0.45 0.05 n.a. n.a.

Azerbaijan 0.84 0.73 1.16 0.00

Belarus 0.00 0.26 n.a. n.a.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Bulgaria 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Croatia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Georgia 0.55 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Hungary 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

Kazakhstan 0.65 0.94 0.15 0.28

Kosovo 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Kyrgyz Republic 3.47 5.43 n.a. n.a.

Latvia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Lithuania 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Macedonia, FYR 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Moldova 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Mongolia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Montenegro, Rep. of 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Poland 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.14

Romania 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Russia 0.00 0.99 1.09 0.00

Serbia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tajikistan 0.00 1.95 n.a. n.a.

Turkey 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.02

Turkmenistan 6.00 2.32 14.80 n.a.

Ukraine 0.00 1.61 3.59 n.a.

Uzbekistan 0.02 5.71 18.88 n.a.

Emerging and Developing Asia

Afghanistan 0.00 0.11 n.a. n.a.

Bangladesh 0.90 2.63 1.60 0.00

Bhutan 0.51 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Brunei Darussalam 2.34 0.98 0.00 0.00

Cambodia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

China 0.00 0.15 n.a. n.a.

Fiji 0.01 n.a. n.a. n.a.

India 1.25 0.32 0.17 0.00

Indonesia 2.58 0.66 0.00 0.00

Kiribati n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Lao P.D.R. 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Malaysia 1.24 0.33 0.31 0.00

Maldives 0.19 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Myanmar 0.54 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Nepal 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Pakistan 0.13 1.31 2.54 0.00

Papua New Guinea n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Philippines 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Samoa n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Solomon Islands 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sri Lanka 1.16 0.47 0.00 0.00

Thailand 0.15 1.64 0.14 0.25

Timor-Leste 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tonga 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tuvalu 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Vanuatu 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 49

Appendix Table 2. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of GDP by region)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

LAC

Antigua and Barbuda 0.49 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Argentina 0.00 1.03 0.77 0.00

Bahamas, The 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Barbados 0.04 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Belize 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Bolivia 2.40 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Brazil 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Chile 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Colombia 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Costa Rica 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Dominica 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Dominican Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ecuador 6.31 0.18 0.00 0.00

El Salvador 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Grenada 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guatemala 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guyana 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Haiti n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Honduras 0.02 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Jamaica 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Mexico 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Nicaragua 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Panama 0.02 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Paraguay 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Peru 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

St. Kitts and Nevis 0.20 n.a. n.a. n.a.

St. Lucia 0.19 n.a. n.a. n.a.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Suriname 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Trinidad and Tobago 2.75 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Uruguay 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Venezuela 5.58 1.02 0.59 n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

50 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 2. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of GDP by region)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

MENA

Algeria 4.30 1.08 5.36 0.00

Bahrain 5.37 2.57 n.a. n.a.

Djibouti 0.00 0.45 n.a. n.a.

Egypt 6.74 2.30 1.60 0.00

Iran 4.20 3.61 4.83 0.00

Iraq 9.92 1.39 0.25 0.00

Jordan 2.15 3.81 n.a. n.a.

Kuwait 3.09 2.91 1.29 0.00

Lebanon 0.07 4.46 n.a. n.a.

Libya 6.40 1.85 0.59 0.00

Mauritania 0.00 0.85 0.80 n.a.

Morocco 0.66 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Oman 3.01 0.76 2.20 n.a.

Qatar 1.22 1.20 1.07 0.00

Saudi Arabia 7.46 2.48 n.a. 0.00

Sudan 1.37 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Syria n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tunisia 0.77 2.23 n.a. n.a.

United Arab Emirates 0.48 1.86 3.37 n.a.

Yemen 4.67 1.33 n.a. n.a.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Angola 1.30 0.27 0.00 0.00

Benin 0.00 1.78 n.a. n.a.

Botswana 0.02 0.36 n.a. n.a.

Burkina Faso 0.00 0.78 n.a. n.a.

Burundi 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Cameroon 1.69 2.16 n.a. n.a.

Cape Verde 0.00 2.17 n.a. n.a.

Central African Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Chad 0.00 0.00 n.a. n.a.

Comoros n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0.00 1.57 n.a. n.a.

Congo, Republic of 1.20 2.62 n.a. n.a.

Côte d'Ivoire 0.00 2.72 n.a. n.a.

Equatorial Guinea 0.28 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Eritrea n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ethiopia 0.19 1.24 n.a. n.a.

Gabon 0.16 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Gambia, The 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ghana 0.62 2.86 n.a. n.a.

Guinea 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guinea-Bissau 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Kenya 0.00 0.00 n.a. n.a.

Lesotho 0.00 0.85 n.a. n.a.

Liberia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Madagascar 0.11 0.89 n.a. n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 51

Appendix Table 2. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Concluded)

(Percent of GDP by region)

Note: Values are rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent; electricity subsidies are taken from 2009 for 

31 countries and natural gas data are taken from 2010 for four countries. 

World estimates are calculated as identified subsidies divided by global GDP.

Sources: Staff estimates, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Energy 

Agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, IMF World Economic Outlook, and World 

Bank.

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Sub-Saharan Africa, concluded.

Malawi 0.00 1.60 n.a. n.a.

Mali 0.00 0.93 n.a. n.a.

Mauritius 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Mozambique 0.00 4.93 n.a. n.a.

Namibia 0.00 0.52 n.a. n.a.

Niger 0.00 0.00 n.a. n.a.

Nigeria 1.42 1.31 0.00 0.00

Rwanda 0.00 0.29 n.a. n.a.

São Tomé and Príncipe 0.33 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Senegal 0.00 2.26 n.a. n.a.

Seychelles 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sierra Leone 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

South Africa 0.01 0.55 0.00 0.00

Swaziland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tanzania 0.00 2.10 n.a. n.a.

Togo 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Uganda 0.00 1.32 n.a. n.a.

Zambia 0.00 4.85 n.a. n.a.

Zimbabwe n.a. 14.52 n.a. n.a.

World 0.30 0.22 0.16 0.01
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

52 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 3. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 201123

(Percent of government revenues)

 

23These subsidy estimates may differ from those in the country budget documents due to the methodologies 

described in this appendix.

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Advanced

Australia 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.01

Austria 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Belgium 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Canada 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

Cyprus 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Czech Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

Denmark 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Estonia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Finland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

France 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Germany 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.17

Greece 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Hong Kong SAR 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Iceland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ireland 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.14

Israel 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Italy 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Japan 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Korea 0.00 n.a. 0.00 0.06

Luxembourg 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Malta 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Netherlands 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

New Zealand 0.30 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Norway 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Portugal 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Singapore 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Slovak Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.02

Slovenia 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.05

Spain 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.08

Sweden 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Switzerland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Taiwan Province of China n.a. 1.16 0.00 0.17

United Kingdom 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

United States 0.17 n.a. n.a. 0.01
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 53

Appendix Table 3. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of government revenues)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

CEE-CIS

Albania 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Armenia 2.06 0.22 n.a. n.a.

Azerbaijan 1.85 1.59 2.54 0.00

Belarus 0.00 0.62 n.a. n.a.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Bulgaria 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Croatia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Georgia 1.95 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Hungary 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

Kazakhstan 2.33 3.38 0.55 1.01

Kosovo 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Kyrgyz Republic 10.41 16.30 n.a. n.a.

Latvia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Lithuania 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Macedonia, FYR 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Moldova 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Mongolia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Montenegro, Rep. of 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Poland 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.36

Romania 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Russia 0.00 2.58 2.85 0.00

Serbia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tajikistan 0.00 7.85 n.a. n.a.

Turkey 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.07

Turkmenistan 31.84 12.29 78.48 n.a.

Ukraine 0.00 3.80 8.47 n.a.

Uzbekistan 0.06 14.20 46.94 n.a.

Emerging and Developing Asia

Afghanistan 0.00 0.52 n.a. n.a.

Bangladesh 7.56 22.12 13.45 0.00

Bhutan 1.39 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Brunei Darussalam 3.77 1.57 0.00 0.00

Cambodia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

China 0.00 0.68 n.a. n.a.

Fiji 0.05 n.a. n.a. n.a.

India 6.75 1.72 0.90 0.00

Indonesia 14.51 3.69 0.00 0.00

Kiribati n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Lao P.D.R. 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Malaysia 5.67 1.49 1.41 0.00

Maldives 0.61 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Myanmar 9.35 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Nepal 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Pakistan 1.02 10.23 19.89 0.00

Papua New Guinea n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Philippines 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Samoa n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Solomon Islands 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sri Lanka 7.99 3.26 0.00 0.00

Thailand 0.66 7.24 0.61 1.08

Timor-Leste 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tonga 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tuvalu 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Vanuatu 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

54 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 3. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of government revenues)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

LAC

Antigua and Barbuda 2.36 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Argentina 0.00 2.76 2.06 0.00

Bahamas, The 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Barbados 0.10 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Belize 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Bolivia 6.62 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Brazil 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Chile 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Colombia 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Costa Rica 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Dominica 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Dominican Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ecuador 15.44 0.44 0.00 0.00

El Salvador 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Grenada 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guatemala 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guyana 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Haiti n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Honduras 0.09 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Jamaica 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Mexico 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Nicaragua 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Panama 0.08 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Paraguay 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Peru 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

St. Kitts and Nevis 0.55 n.a. n.a. n.a.

St. Lucia 0.68 n.a. n.a. n.a.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Suriname 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Trinidad and Tobago 7.49 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Uruguay 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Venezuela 15.83 2.89 1.66 n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 55

Appendix Table 3. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of government revenues)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

MENA

Algeria 10.84 2.72 13.52 0.00

Bahrain 18.96 9.08 n.a. n.a.

Djibouti 0.00 1.32 n.a. n.a.

Egypt 30.61 10.44 7.25 0.00

Iran 16.95 14.54 19.45 0.00

Iraq 12.69 1.78 0.32 0.00

Jordan 8.13 14.41 n.a. n.a.

Kuwait 4.57 4.30 1.91 0.00

Lebanon 0.32 18.96 n.a. n.a.

Libya 16.64 4.80 1.53 0.00

Mauritania 0.00 3.09 2.91 n.a.

Morocco 2.40 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Oman 7.28 1.83 5.31 n.a.

Qatar 3.17 3.12 2.78 0.00

Saudi Arabia 14.00 4.66 0.00 0.00

Sudan 7.33 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Syria n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tunisia 2.42 7.02 n.a. n.a.

United Arab Emirates 1.38 5.32 9.61 n.a.

Yemen 19.03 5.42 n.a. n.a.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Angola 2.67 0.55 0.00 0.00

Benin 0.00 8.84 n.a. n.a.

Botswana 0.07 1.21 n.a. n.a.

Burkina Faso 0.00 3.59 n.a. n.a.

Burundi 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Cameroon 8.92 11.42 n.a. n.a.

Cape Verde 0.00 8.66 n.a. n.a.

Central African Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Chad 0.00 0.00 n.a. n.a.

Comoros n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0.00 5.75 n.a. n.a.

Congo, Republic of 2.82 6.17 n.a. n.a.

Côte d'Ivoire 0.00 13.43 n.a. n.a.

Equatorial Guinea 0.92 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Eritrea n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ethiopia 1.12 7.40 n.a. n.a.

Gabon 0.56 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Gambia, The 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ghana 3.20 14.70 n.a. n.a.

Guinea 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guinea-Bissau 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Kenya 0.00 0.00 n.a. n.a.

Lesotho 0.00 1.61 n.a. n.a.

Liberia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Madagascar 0.95 7.86 n.a. n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

56 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 3. Pre-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Concluded)

(Percent of government revenues)

Note: Values are rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent; electricity subsidies are taken from 2009 for 

31 countries and natural gas data are taken from 2010 for four countries. 

World estimates are calculated as identified subsidies divided by global government revenues.

Sources: Staff estimates, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Energy Agency, 

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, IMF World Economic Outlook, and World Bank.

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Sub-Saharan Africa, concluded.

Malawi 0.00 5.43 n.a. n.a.

Mali 0.00 3.98 n.a. n.a.

Mauritius 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Mozambique 0.00 16.40 n.a. n.a.

Namibia 0.00 1.82 n.a. n.a.

Niger 0.00 0.00 n.a. n.a.

Nigeria 4.82 4.44 0.00 0.00

Rwanda 0.00 1.14 n.a. n.a.

São Tomé and Príncipe 0.90 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Senegal 0.00 10.08 n.a. n.a.

Seychelles 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sierra Leone 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

South Africa 0.02 2.01 0.00 0.00

Swaziland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tanzania 0.00 9.50 n.a. n.a.

Togo 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Uganda 0.00 8.95 n.a. n.a.

Zambia 0.00 21.59 n.a. n.a.

Zimbabwe n.a. 47.02 n.a. n.a.

World 0.91 0.64 0.48 0.03
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 57

Appendix Table 4. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011

24

(Percent of GDP by region)

 

24The estimate for Luxembourg reflects, to a large extent, cross-border sales of petroleum products to neighboring 

countries, with buyers attracted by lower tax rates.

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Advanced

Australia 1.11 n.a. 0.13 0.55

Austria 0.13 n.a. 0.12 0.16

Belgium 0.00 n.a. 0.21 0.09

Canada 1.00 n.a. 0.31 0.21

Cyprus 0.58 n.a. n.a. 0.01

Czech Republic 0.00 n.a. 0.27 1.37

Denmark 0.00 n.a. 0.08 0.18

Estonia 0.09 n.a. 0.15 2.58

Finland 0.00 n.a. 0.07 0.33

France 0.00 n.a. 0.10 0.07

Germany 0.00 n.a. 0.14 0.46

Greece 0.00 n.a. 0.08 0.44

Hong Kong SAR 0.40 n.a. 0.08 0.70

Iceland 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.11

Ireland 0.13 n.a. 0.13 0.22

Israel 0.00 n.a. 0.10 0.54

Italy 0.00 n.a. 0.23 0.11

Japan 0.35 n.a. 0.11 0.32

Korea 0.03 n.a. 0.24 1.23

Luxembourg 3.56 n.a. 0.12 0.03

Malta 0.07 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Netherlands 0.00 n.a. 0.31 0.17

New Zealand 1.58 n.a. 0.12 0.16

Norway 0.00 n.a. 0.07 0.04

Portugal 0.00 n.a. 0.12 0.15

Singapore 1.03 n.a. 0.19 0.01

Slovak Republic 0.00 n.a. 0.37 0.62

Slovenia 0.24 n.a. 0.09 0.50

Spain 0.13 n.a. 0.13 0.17

Sweden 0.09 n.a. 0.01 0.07

Switzerland 0.04 n.a. 0.03 0.00

Taiwan Province of China n.a. 0.28 0.17 1.66

United Kingdom 0.00 n.a. 0.23 0.22

United States 2.42 n.a. 0.27 0.64
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

58 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 4. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of GDP by region)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

CEE-CIS

Albania 0.00 n.a. 0.01 0.01

Armenia 0.84 0.40 0.86 n.a.

Azerbaijan 2.26 0.91 1.90 0.00

Belarus 0.00 0.98 2.46 n.a.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.00 n.a. 0.07 3.41

Bulgaria 0.00 n.a. 0.26 2.18

Croatia 0.00 n.a. 0.33 0.22

Georgia 0.74 n.a. 0.44 0.05

Hungary 0.08 n.a. 0.59 0.30

Kazakhstan 2.22 0.97 0.96 2.81

Kosovo 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.02

Kyrgyz Republic 6.80 5.71 0.27 1.36

Latvia 0.00 n.a. 0.41 0.11

Lithuania 0.00 n.a. 0.39 0.11

Macedonia, FYR 0.00 n.a. 0.09 1.28

Moldova 0.00 n.a. 1.54 0.12

Mongolia 0.00 n.a. n.a. 4.56

Montenegro, Rep. of 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

Poland 0.06 n.a. 0.19 1.84

Romania 0.00 n.a. 0.42 0.55

Russia 1.52 1.27 2.47 1.03

Serbia 0.00 n.a. 0.37 2.46

Tajikistan 0.11 2.50 0.22 0.14

Turkey 0.00 n.a. 0.31 0.66

Turkmenistan 8.31 2.39 19.92 n.a.

Ukraine 0.20 1.85 6.91 2.71

Uzbekistan 0.92 5.95 25.50 0.27

Emerging and Developing Asia

Afghanistan 0.04 0.19 n.a. n.a.

Bangladesh 1.35 3.01 2.54 0.09

Bhutan 1.21 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Brunei Darussalam 5.92 1.37 1.12 0.00

Cambodia 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

China 0.20 0.30 0.09 3.23

Fiji 0.13 n.a. n.a. n.a.

India 1.90 0.36 0.33 1.87

Indonesia 3.87 0.72 0.30 0.47

Kiribati n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Lao P.D.R. 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Malaysia 5.12 0.56 0.79 0.74

Maldives 1.55 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Myanmar 0.97 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Nepal 0.16 n.a. n.a. 0.11

Pakistan 0.98 1.63 3.34 0.16

Papua New Guinea n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Philippines 0.20 0.00 0.08 0.46

Samoa n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Solomon Islands 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 59

Appendix Table 4. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of GDP by region)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Emerging and Developing Asia, concluded.

Sri Lanka 2.02 0.75 0.00 0.03

Thailand 1.40 1.76 0.72 0.84

Timor-Leste 0.01 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tonga 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tuvalu 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Vanuatu 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

LAC

Antigua and Barbuda 1.58 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Argentina 0.31 1.15 1.33 0.09

Bahamas, The 1.40 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Barbados 0.42 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Belize 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Bolivia 4.88 n.a. 0.70 n.a.

Brazil 0.06 n.a. 0.07 0.07

Chile 2.36 0.00 0.09 0.32

Colombia 0.00 0.00 0.17 0.20

Costa Rica 0.30 n.a. n.a. 0.02

Dominica 1.13 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Dominican Republic 0.03 n.a. 0.11 0.13

Ecuador 9.70 0.33 0.05 0.00

El Salvador 0.75 0.00 0.00 0.00

Grenada 0.96 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guatemala 0.72 n.a. n.a. 0.33

Guyana 1.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Haiti n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Honduras 0.43 n.a. n.a. 0.01

Jamaica 0.41 n.a. n.a. 0.04

Mexico 1.98 0.00 0.29 0.12

Nicaragua 0.01 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Panama 2.20 n.a. n.a. 0.02

Paraguay 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Peru 0.22 0.00 0.24 0.03

St. Kitts and Nevis 1.19 n.a. n.a. n.a.

St. Lucia 0.82 n.a. n.a. n.a.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines 0.83 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Suriname 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Trinidad and Tobago 5.78 n.a. 4.45 n.a.

Uruguay 0.00 n.a. 0.01 0.00

Venezuela 8.11 1.24 1.05 0.00
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

60 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 4. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of GDP by region)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

MENA

Algeria 6.11 1.15 6.07 0.00

Bahrain 10.01 2.96 1.87 n.a.

Djibouti 0.07 0.51 n.a. n.a.

Egypt 8.60 2.50 2.59 0.05

Iran 7.66 3.64 6.39 0.02

Iraq 14.30 1.57 0.31 0.00

Jordan 5.27 4.10 0.34 n.a.

Kuwait 6.86 3.12 1.81 0.00

Lebanon 3.57 4.61 0.17 0.11

Libya 8.81 2.33 1.49 0.00

Mauritania 0.73 0.93 0.80 n.a.

Morocco 2.83 n.a. 0.04 0.33

Oman 6.54 0.94 3.34 n.a.

Qatar 5.42 1.26 1.76 0.00

Saudi Arabia 13.27 2.79 0.65 0.00

Sudan 2.26 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Syria n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tunisia 2.56 2.43 0.70 n.a.

United Arab Emirates 3.49 2.04 4.26 0.04

Yemen 6.89 1.47 1.05 n.a.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Angola 2.51 0.31 0.04 0.00

Benin 0.17 2.01 n.a. n.a.

Botswana 0.89 0.48 n.a. 0.34

Burkina Faso 0.29 0.94 n.a. n.a.

Burundi 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Cameroon 2.49 2.41 0.05 n.a.

Cape Verde 0.00 2.57 n.a. n.a.

Central African Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Chad 0.00 0.02 n.a. n.a.

Comoros n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0.00 1.80 0.00 0.09

Congo, Republic of 2.08 2.66 0.01 n.a.

Côte d'Ivoire 0.00 2.96 0.39 n.a.

Equatorial Guinea 1.88 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Eritrea n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 61

Appendix Table 4. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Concluded)

(Percent of GDP by region)

Note: Values are rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent; electricity subsidies are taken from 2009 for 

31 countries and natural gas data are taken from 2010 for four countries. 

World estimates are calculated as identified subsidies divided by global GDP.

Sources: Staff estimates, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Energy Agency, 

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, IMF World Economic Outlook, and World Bank.

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Sub-Saharan Africa, concluded

Ethiopia 0.62 1.32 n.a. n.a.

Gabon 0.74 n.a. 0.06 n.a.

Gambia, The 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ghana 1.85 3.02 n.a. n.a.

Guinea 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guinea-Bissau 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Kenya 0.51 0.16 n.a. 0.01

Lesotho 0.03 0.94 n.a. n.a.

Liberia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Madagascar 0.41 0.98 n.a. n.a.

Malawi 0.13 2.01 n.a. n.a.

Mali 0.15 0.99 n.a. n.a.

Mauritius 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Mozambique 0.24 5.07 0.09 0.01

Namibia 0.04 0.52 n.a. 0.07

Niger 0.20 0.17 n.a. n.a.

Nigeria 2.04 1.34 0.19 0.00

Rwanda 0.00 0.39 n.a. n.a.

São Tomé and Príncipe 0.59 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Senegal 0.00 2.51 0.01 0.16

Seychelles 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sierra Leone 0.45 n.a. n.a. n.a.

South Africa 1.06 0.73 0.00 2.46

Swaziland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tanzania 0.00 2.26 0.19 0.03

Togo 0.72 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Uganda 0.00 1.45 n.a. n.a.

Zambia 0.00 4.96 n.a. 0.00

Zimbabwe n.a. 14.89 n.a. 2.13

World 1.26 0.26 0.43 0.77
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

62 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 5. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011

25

(Percent of government revenues)

 

25The estimate for Luxembourg reflects, to a large extent, cross-border sales of petroleum products to neighboring 

countries, with buyers attracted by lower tax rates.

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Advanced

Australia 3.46 n.a. 0.40 1.71

Austria 0.27 n.a. 0.26 0.34

Belgium 0.00 n.a. 0.42 0.19

Canada 2.61 n.a. 0.80 0.55

Cyprus 1.41 n.a. n.a. 0.02

Czech Republic 0.00 n.a. 0.68 3.39

Denmark 0.00 n.a. 0.15 0.32

Estonia 0.20 n.a. 0.34 5.84

Finland 0.00 n.a. 0.14 0.60

France 0.00 n.a. 0.20 0.13

Germany 0.00 n.a. 0.31 1.04

Greece 0.00 n.a. 0.20 1.09

Hong Kong SAR 1.63 n.a. 0.33 2.85

Iceland 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.26

Ireland 0.38 n.a. 0.39 0.65

Israel 0.00 n.a. 0.26 1.34

Italy 0.00 n.a. 0.50 0.24

Japan 1.13 n.a. 0.37 1.06

Korea 0.11 n.a. 1.03 5.25

Luxembourg 8.58 n.a. 0.29 0.07

Malta 0.18 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Netherlands 0.00 n.a. 0.67 0.36

New Zealand 5.43 n.a. 0.43 0.53

Norway 0.00 n.a. 0.11 0.06

Portugal 0.00 n.a. 0.27 0.33

Singapore 4.15 n.a. 0.75 0.04

Slovak Republic 0.00 n.a. 1.13 1.91

Slovenia 0.59 n.a. 0.23 1.21

Spain 0.36 n.a. 0.36 0.48

Sweden 0.17 n.a. 0.03 0.15

Switzerland 0.11 n.a. 0.08 0.01

Taiwan Province of China n.a. 1.48 0.92 8.82

United Kingdom 0.00 n.a. 0.61 0.61

United States 7.70 n.a. 0.87 2.05
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 63

Appendix Table 5. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of government revenues)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

CEE-CIS

Albania 0.00 n.a. 0.04 0.05

Armenia 3.86 1.81 3.93 n.a.

Azerbaijan 4.96 2.00 4.18 0.00

Belarus 0.00 2.32 5.86 n.a.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.00 n.a. 0.16 7.35

Bulgaria 0.00 n.a. 0.81 6.72

Croatia 0.00 n.a. 0.89 0.60

Georgia 2.62 n.a. 1.55 0.19

Hungary 0.15 n.a. 1.11 0.56

Kazakhstan 7.99 3.49 3.45 10.11

Kosovo 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.06

Kyrgyz Republic 20.39 17.13 0.81 4.07

Latvia 0.00 n.a. 1.14 0.30

Lithuania 0.00 n.a. 1.17 0.33

Macedonia, FYR 0.00 n.a. 0.31 4.46

Moldova 0.00 n.a. 4.20 0.34

Mongolia 0.00 n.a. n.a. 11.49

Montenegro, Rep. of 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.00

Poland 0.15 n.a. 0.51 4.79

Romania 0.00 n.a. 1.34 1.74

Russia 3.96 3.30 6.45 2.67

Serbia 0.00 n.a. 0.89 6.00

Tajikistan 0.45 10.04 0.87 0.57

Turkey 0.00 n.a. 0.91 1.91

Turkmenistan 44.05 12.67 105.63 n.a.

Ukraine 0.48 4.36 16.31 6.40

Uzbekistan 2.28 14.80 63.40 0.67

Emerging and Developing Asia

Afghanistan 0.20 0.86 n.a. n.a.

Bangladesh 11.30 25.26 21.31 0.71

Bhutan 3.31 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Brunei Darussalam 9.51 2.19 1.81 0.00

Cambodia 0.00 n.a. n.a. 0.01

China 0.88 1.34 0.42 14.27

Fiji 0.53 n.a. n.a. n.a.

India 10.24 1.97 1.79 10.08

Indonesia 21.74 4.04 1.67 2.62

Kiribati n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Lao P.D.R. 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Malaysia 23.39 2.54 3.63 3.38

Maldives 4.97 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Myanmar 16.93 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Nepal 0.88 n.a. n.a. 0.62

Pakistan 7.70 12.76 26.13 1.22

Papua New Guinea n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Philippines 1.18 0.00 0.43 2.65

Samoa n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Solomon Islands 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

64 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 5. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of government revenues)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Emerging and Developing Asia, concluded.

Sri Lanka 13.89 5.17 0.00 0.19

Thailand 6.16 7.77 3.19 3.73

Timor-Leste 0.01 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tonga 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tuvalu 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Vanuatu 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

LAC

Antigua and Barbuda 7.64 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Argentina 0.84 3.08 3.58 0.25

Bahamas, The 7.79 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Barbados 1.16 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Belize 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Bolivia 13.48 n.a. 1.94 n.a.

Brazil 0.16 n.a. 0.21 0.21

Chile 9.55 0.00 0.35 1.28

Colombia 0.00 0.00 0.65 0.74

Costa Rica 2.20 n.a. n.a. 0.14

Dominica 3.64 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Dominican Republic 0.21 n.a. 0.85 0.98

Ecuador 23.74 0.80 0.12 0.00

El Salvador 4.21 0.00 0.00 0.00

Grenada 4.30 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guatemala 6.12 n.a. n.a. 2.82

Guyana 3.63 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Haiti n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Honduras 1.81 n.a. n.a. 0.03

Jamaica 1.61 n.a. n.a. 0.16

Mexico 8.95 0.00 1.29 0.55

Nicaragua 0.02 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Panama 8.88 n.a. n.a. 0.06

Paraguay 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Peru 1.02 0.00 1.13 0.15

St. Kitts and Nevis 3.21 n.a. n.a. n.a.

St. Lucia 3.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines 3.17 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Suriname 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Trinidad and Tobago 15.71 n.a. 12.11 n.a.

Uruguay 0.00 n.a. 0.04 0.00

Venezuela 23.00 3.52 2.97 0.01
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 65

Appendix Table 5. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Continued)

(Percent of government revenues)

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

MENA

Algeria 15.40 2.89 15.31 0.00

Bahrain 35.36 10.44 6.61 n.a.

Djibouti 0.19 1.49 n.a. n.a.

Egypt 39.07 11.35 11.79 0.23

Iran 30.89 14.66 25.75 0.07

Iraq 18.31 2.01 0.40 0.00

Jordan 19.94 15.49 1.30 n.a.

Kuwait 10.15 4.62 2.68 0.00

Lebanon 15.17 19.59 0.71 0.45

Libya 22.91 6.04 3.86 0.00

Mauritania 2.65 3.37 2.91 n.a.

Morocco 10.27 n.a. 0.13 1.21

Oman 15.80 2.27 8.06 n.a.

Qatar 14.05 3.26 4.56 0.00

Saudi Arabia 24.91 5.23 1.23 0.00

Sudan 12.11 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Syria n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tunisia 8.07 7.66 2.19 n.a.

United Arab Emirates 9.96 5.82 12.15 0.11

Yemen 28.05 5.99 4.26 n.a.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Angola 5.13 0.64 0.07 0.00

Benin 0.83 9.98 n.a. n.a.

Botswana 3.01 1.64 n.a. 1.16

Burkina Faso 1.31 4.30 n.a. n.a.

Burundi 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Cameroon 13.17 12.76 0.25 n.a.

Cape Verde 0.00 10.23 n.a. n.a.

Central African Republic 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Chad 0.00 0.06 n.a. n.a.

Comoros n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 0.00 6.57 0.01 0.32

Congo, Republic of 4.88 6.25 0.02 n.a.

Côte d'Ivoire 0.00 14.59 1.91 n.a.

Equatorial Guinea 6.09 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Eritrea n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

66 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Appendix Table 5. Post-tax Subsidies for Petroleum Products, Electricity,

Natural Gas, and Coal, 2011 (Concluded)

(Percent of government revenues)

Note: Values are rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent; electricity subsidies are taken from 2009 

for 31 countries and natural gas data are taken from 2010 for four countries.

World estimates are calculated as identified subsidies divided by global government revenues.

Sources: Staff estimates, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Energy 

Agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, IMF World Economic Outlook, and 

World Bank.

Country Petroleum products Electricity Natural gas Coal

Sub-Saharan Africa, concluded

Ethiopia 3.69 7.89 n.a. n.a.

Gabon 2.62 n.a. 0.22 n.a.

Gambia, The 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Ghana 9.53 15.50 n.a. n.a.

Guinea 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Guinea-Bissau 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Kenya 2.04 0.66 n.a. 0.02

Lesotho 0.06 1.77 n.a. n.a.

Liberia 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Madagascar 3.65 8.73 n.a. n.a.

Malawi 0.44 6.83 n.a. n.a.

Mali 0.64 4.24 n.a. n.a.

Mauritius 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Mozambique 0.79 16.89 0.30 0.05

Namibia 0.12 1.82 n.a. 0.25

Niger 1.02 0.88 n.a. n.a.

Nigeria 6.94 4.55 0.64 0.00

Rwanda 0.00 1.50 n.a. n.a.

São Tomé and Príncipe 1.59 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Senegal 0.00 11.22 0.03 0.72

Seychelles 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sierra Leone 2.64 n.a. n.a. n.a.

South Africa 3.86 2.65 0.00 8.93

Swaziland 0.00 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Tanzania 0.00 10.23 0.84 0.12

Togo 3.35 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Uganda 0.00 9.79 n.a. n.a.

Zambia 0.00 22.07 n.a. 0.00

Zimbabwe n.a. 48.22 n.a. 6.90

World 3.77 0.77 1.28 2.31
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND 67

Appendix II. Assessing the Environmental and Health Impacts of Energy 

Subsidy Reform

This appendix describes the methodologies used to provide calculations of the impact of energy 

subsidy reform on CO2 emissions, SO2 emissions and other local pollutants. Here we consider a 

scenario in which energy prices are raised to levels that would eliminate tax-inclusive subsidies for 

petroleum products, coal, natural gas, and electricity.

Petroleum products

CO2 emissions. A price elasticity of -0.4 is assumed for gasoline, diesel and kerosene (Parry, 2011). 

The reduction in CO2 emissions is then calculated by multiplying the reduction in consumption by 

the CO2 coefficient of 0.0089 tons per gallon of gasoline. The CO2 coefficient is assumed to be 

16 percent higher for diesel and kerosene (Parry, 2011).

Local pollution. The reduction (in percentage terms) in other local pollutants due to fossil fuel 

combustion is approximated by the reduction in fuel consumption. Fuel combustion produces only a 

small amount of SO2, and thus the impact of petroleum subsidy removal on SO2 is not estimated.

Coal

CO2 emissions. The reduction (in percent) in coal consumption is calculated assuming a price 

elasticity of -0.2 (EIA, 2012).

26 The reduction in CO2 emissions due to the removal of coal subsidies is 

then estimated as the same reduction (in percent) in total CO2 emissions from coal, based on OECD 

data. 

SO2 emissions. This is estimated using an SO2 coefficient of 0.01 tons of SO2 per short ton of coal 

(EPA, 2012; EIA, 2012). Local pollution other than SO2 from coal is considered minor. 

Natural gas

The reduction (in percent) in natural gas consumption is calculated assuming a price elasticity of

-0.3 (EIA, 2012). The reduction in CO2 emissions is then estimated as the same percent reduction in 

total CO2 emissions from natural gas, based on OECD data. As noted previously, the impact of 

natural gas use on local pollution is assumed to be relatively small.

 

26An upward adjustment is made to the EIA estimate as it is generally viewed as being on the conservative side.
ENERGY SUBSIDY REFORM: LESSONS AND IMPLICATIONS

68 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Electricity

Electricity subsidies increase the consumption of coal, natural gas and other generation fuels due to 

excess demand for electricity. However, for several reasons these effects on emissions are not 

quantified in this paper: (i) in some countries, part of the electricity subsidies are due to 

inefficiencies in the electricity sector. In other words, part of the problem is not that prices are too 

low, but that costs are too high. Thus, successful subsidy reforms could reduce these inefficiencies 

without raising prices and suppressing demand; (ii) data limitations make it difficult to quantify the 

environmental impact of electricity subsidy removal. For example, price and cost data are limited 

and there is a lack of information on the marginal energy source for electricity generation, which 

may be different from the average; and (iii) the environmental impact of price increases in fuel, coal 

and natural gas as inputs for electricity generation is already incorporated in the calculations of 

these energy products. In addition, electricity subsidies are relatively small as a share of total posttax subsidies, and thus, this omission is expected to only have a small impact on the overall 

estimates.

Caveats

The proposed methods here are used to provide some rough estimates on the magnitude of the 

impacts and have several limitations. For example, they do not take into account the substitution 

between different energy products and resulting offsetting effects.