## Energy Subsidy Reform (ESRx)

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Energy Subsidy Reform (ESRx)](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ol/2024/esrxol24-149)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ol/2024/esrxol24-149/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ol/2024/esrxol24-149/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ol/2024/esrxol24-149/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Session: OL 24.149
- Location: Course conducted online
- Dates: May 1, 2024 - April 15, 2025 (50 weeks)
- Delivery method: Online Training
- Primary language: Arabic
- Status: Deadline passed

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### Program overview and logistics
- Session No.: OL 24.149
- Delivery Method: Online Training
- Location: Course conducted online
- Date: May 1, 2024 - April 15, 2025 (50 weeks)
- Deadline status: Deadline passed
- Primary Language: Arabic
- Course offered in: English and Arabic
- Target Audience:
  - All government officials are welcome to register.
  - Officials in finance, economy, and planning ministries who provide advice on macroeconomic policies or implement policy will find the course particularly beneficial.
- Qualifications:
  - Some knowledge of economics would be helpful.
  - Basic Microsoft Excel skills and access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection and a Google Chrome web browser are essential.

### Course description and scope
- The course is presented jointly by the Institute for Capacity Development and the Fiscal Affairs, Middle East and Central Asia, and Asia and Pacific Departments of the IMF.
- 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
  - economic, social, and environmental implications
- Presents toolkits to:
  - assess the distributional effects of alternative subsidy reform scenarios
  - design a fuel pricing mechanism
- Reviews lessons on what works best in energy subsidy reform and illustrates successes and failures in terms of particular countries.

### Learning objectives and technical competencies
Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:
- Explain the concept of energy subsidies and estimate pre- and post-tax subsidies.
- Define corrective energy taxes and explain how to calculate them.
- Describe the economic, social, and environmental impact of energy subsidies.
- Explain how to design robust subsidy reform strategies.
- Design policy responses 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.

### Technical tools and methods emphasized
- Emphasis on an Excel-based toolkit for distributional analysis across income groups.
- Analytical focus on:
  - definition and measurement of subsidies (pre- and post-tax)
  - calculation of corrective energy taxes
  - design of fuel pricing mechanisms to manage volatility
  - policy responses to limit inflationary and welfare impacts of reform

---


## References

- [Online Training](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/delivery-methods)
- [Core Elements of Banking Supervision (CBS)](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/at/2027/cbsat27-10)
- [Advanced Government Finance Statistics (GFS-A)](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ce/2026/gfs-ace26-45)
- [Fiscal Sustainability (FS)](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ce/2026/fsce26-38)
- [Safeguards Assessments of Central Banks (SAC)](https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/at/2026/sacat26-30)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/capacity-development/training/icdtc/schedule/ol/2024/esrxol24-149_