## Energy Subsidy Reform: Lessons and Implications

_Books, September 13, 2013_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Energy Subsidy Reform: Lessons and Implications](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/books/issues/2016/12/31/energy-subsidy-reform-lessons-and-implications-40410)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/books/issues/2016/12/31/energy-subsidy-reform-lessons-and-implications-40410/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/books/issues/2016/12/31/energy-subsidy-reform-lessons-and-implications-40410/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/books/issues/2016/12/31/energy-subsidy-reform-lessons-and-implications-40410/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Benedict J. Clements, David Coady, Stefania Fabrizio, Sanjeev Gupta, Trevor Serge Coleridge Alleyne, Carlo A Sdralevich
- Published: September 13, 2013
- Series: Books
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781475558111.071

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### Overview and key findings
- Energy subsidies are aimed at protecting consumers, however, subsidies aggravate fiscal imbalances, crowd out priority public spending, and depress private investment, including in the energy sector.
- The book provides the most comprehensive estimates of energy subsidies currently available for 176 countries.
- The analysis draws on insights from 22 country case studies undertaken by the IMF staff and analyses carried out by other institutions.

### Analytical scope and data coverage
- Coverage: 176 countries.
- Case studies: 22 country case studies.
- Pages: 194.
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781475558111.071
- ISBN: 9781475558111
- Publication date: September 13, 2013.
- Preview citation metadata (as presented): Benedict J. Clements, David Coady, Stefania Fabrizio, Sanjeev Gupta, Trevor Serge Coleridge Alleyne, and Carlo A Sdralevich. Energy Subsidy Reform: Lessons and Implications, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2013) accessed 9/8/2026, https://doi.org/10.5089/9781475558111.071

### Thematic focus and policy implications
- Core assessment: Energy subsidies protect consumers but have adverse macroeconomic and sectoral effects, including:
  - Aggravating fiscal imbalances.
  - Crowding out priority public spending.
  - Depressing private investment, including in the energy sector.
- Reform emphasis: The book provides an analysis of “how to do” energy subsidy reform, drawing on country experience and cross-country analysis.
- Relevant subjects and policy areas (as listed):
  - Energy pricing
  - Energy subsidies
  - Expenditure
  - Fuel prices
  - Inflation
  - Prices
  - Tariffs
  - Taxes

### Geographic and topical keywords
- Geographic: Africa, Caribbean, Global, Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Topical keywords: BOOK, cost-recovery price, Energy pricing, Energy subsidies, enterprise, Fuel prices, government, Inflation, price, producer subsidy, subsidy, subsidy reform, supply cost, Tariffs, transfer program.

*Source: Energy Subsidy Reform: Lessons and Implications — https://www.imf.org/en/publications/books/issues/2016/12/31/energy-subsidy-reform-lessons-and-implications-40410*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/books/issues/2016/12/31/energy-subsidy-reform-lessons-and-implications-40410_