## Energy Subsidy Reform (ESRx)

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Energy Subsidy Reform (ESRx)](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/courses/esrx)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/courses/esrx/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/courses/esrx/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/courses/esrx/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: October 1, 2025

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## Upcoming offerings

| Start date | End date | Location | Delivery Method | Session No. | Primary & (Interpretation) language | Apply |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| May 1, 2026 | April 15, 2027 | Course conducted online | [[Online Training](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/delivery-methods)](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/delivery-methods) | [OL 26.132](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ol/2026/esrxol26-132) | Arabic | [[Apply online](https://www-ins.imf.org/TAS/signon.aspx?pkey=OL26.135E)](https://www-ins.imf.org/TAS/signon.aspx?pkey=OL26.132A) by April 1, 2027 |
| May 1, 2026 | April 15, 2027 | Course conducted online | [[Online Training](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/delivery-methods)](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/delivery-methods) | [OL 26.135](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ol/2026/esrxol26-135) | English | [[Apply online](https://www-ins.imf.org/TAS/signon.aspx?pkey=OL26.135E)](https://www-ins.imf.org/TAS/signon.aspx?pkey=OL26.132A) by April 1, 2027 |

### Overview
- Course builds on extensive cross-country analysis and hands-on experience in design of technical assistance and subsidy reform to make recommendations on how best to reduce energy subsidies.
- Introduces the concept of energy subsidies, including their definition and measurement.
- Reviews economic, social, and environmental implications of energy subsidies.
- Presents toolkits to assess distributional effects of alternative subsidy reform scenarios and to design a fuel pricing mechanism.
- Reviews empirical evidence on what works best in energy subsidy reform and illustrates successes and failures in particular countries.

### Target audience and qualifications
- Target audience:
  - Officials in finance, economy, and planning ministries who provide advice on macroeconomic policies or implement policy.
- Qualifications:
  - Some knowledge of economics would be helpful.
  - Basic Microsoft Excel skills are essential.

### Course objectives
- Explain the concept of energy subsidies, estimate pre- and post-tax subsidies, and describe their economic, social and environmental impact.
- Define corrective energy taxes and explain how to calculate them.
- Explain how to design robust subsidy reform strategies, and policies to mitigate the effects of subsidy reform on inflation and on household welfare.
- Use an Excel-based toolkit to assess the effects of alternative energy subsidy reform scenarios on households in different income groups.
- Design effective fuel pricing mechanisms to mitigate fuel price volatility.

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## References

- [Online Training](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/delivery-methods)
- [OL 26.132](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ol/2026/esrxol26-132)
- [OL 26.135](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ol/2026/esrxol26-135)
- [Apply online](https://www-ins.imf.org/TAS/signon.aspx?pkey=OL26.132A)
- [Apply online](https://www-ins.imf.org/TAS/signon.aspx?pkey=OL26.135E)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/courses/esrx_