Burkina Faso: Policies to Protect the Poor From the Impact of Food and Energy Price Increases

ByIsabell Adenauer, Javier Arze del Granado

August 1, 2011

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

This paper assesses the effectiveness of policies taken by the Burkinabè authorities to protect the poor from the adverse impact of a combined food and oil price shock in 2008. Estimates of the impact based on household survey data and a price pass-through model suggest that these policies were not well-targeted, benefiting the wealthier groups of the population rather than the poor. More effective policy measures, such as a conditional cash transfer system, which is already being implemented on a pilot basis in urban areas, are discussed as an alternative policy option.

Subject: Consumption, Energy prices, Food prices, Inflation, National accounts, Population and demographics, Prices

Keywords: benefit, Burkina Faso, cash, conditional cash transfer system, Consumption, energy price, Energy prices, food, food price, food price shock, Food prices, fuel price subsidies, Inflation, loss, price, price change, price effect, price impact, price increase, price shock, Sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa, WP

Pages:
25
Volume:
2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9781463902117.001
Issue:
202
Series:
Working Paper No. 2011/202
Stock No:
WPIEA2011202
ISBN:
9781463902117
ISSN:
1018-5941

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