Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/162246 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
Nota di Lavoro No. 4.2017
Publisher: 
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Milano
Abstract: 
During the last few years and because of the low oil prices in particular, the increasing awareness of the unsustainability of subsidized systems led several MENA countries to take steps to lower subsidies, which have been part of the social contract for decades, especially as far as the energy sector is concerned. Nowadays, the need for reforms is compelling for more than one reason. Namely, the subsidized system distorts market trends, fosters inefficient use of resources, depresses foreign direct investment and fuels overconsumption, which is no longer sustainable, particularly as far as the population growth in most of the MENA countries is concerned. In this paper both the resource-abundant countries and the energy importing nations will be analyzed, in order to investigate similarities and differences between the two and to carry out an initial assessment of the reforms in two representative countries, namely Saudi Arabia, exporting country par excellence, and Egypt, which imports energy.
Subjects: 
Energy Sector
Subsidies
Subsidy Reforms
MENA Region
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Rentier State
Resource Curse Theories
JEL: 
O1
O13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.