Departmental Papers / Policy Papers

Energy Subsidy Reform in Sub-Saharan Africa : Experiences and Lessons

Author/Editor:

Trevor Serge Coleridge Alleyne ; Mumtaz Hussain

Publication Date:

August 12, 2013

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

The reform of energy subsidies is an important but challenging issue for sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. There is a relatively large theoretical and empirical literature on this issue. While this paper relies on that literature, too, it tailors its discussion to SSA countries to respond to the following questions: Why it is important to reduce energy subsidies? What are the difficulties involved in energy subsidy reform? How best can a subsidy reform be implemented? This paper uses various sources of information on SSA countries: quantitative assessments, surveys, and individual (but standardized) case studies.

Series:

Departmental Paper No. 13/2

Subject:

Cross country analysis Electric power Energy sector Energy taxes Fiscal reforms Gasoline prices Oil prices Sub-Saharan Africa Subsidies

Notes:

Also available in French