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Energy and labour reform: Evidence from Iran

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  • Hesham AlShehabi, Omar

Abstract

Taking Iran as a case study, we analyze the effects of eliminating crude oil and fuel subsidies on the labour market using two alternative policy options. The first redistributes additional revenue as extra income to households, while the second directs revenue into increased investment. We investigate immediate versus gradual subsidy removal, focusing on the transition dynamics at play. A purpose-built dynamic Computable General Equilibrium model is deployed with a unique Social Accounting Matrix of Iran. It is shown that rebating the extra revenue to households would adversely affect the labour market. Industries and employment contract due to the Dutch Disease effect and the more expensive fuel inputs. Channeling extra revenue into investment, however, considerably improves the labour market's fortunes in the long run via increased capital accumulation and shifts in industrial composition. Gradual subsidy removal allows for a smoother transition that minimizes short-run costs in the labour market.

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  • Hesham AlShehabi, Omar, 2012. "Energy and labour reform: Evidence from Iran," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 441-459.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:34:y:2012:i:3:p:441-459
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2011.09.003
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    1. Jesper Jensen & David Tarr, 2014. "Trade, Exchange Rate, and Energy Pricing Reform in Iran: Potentially Large Efficiency Effects and Gains to the Poor," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: APPLIED TRADE POLICY MODELING IN 16 COUNTRIES Insights and Impacts from World Bank CGE Based Projects, chapter 13, pages 307-326, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    2. Agenor, Pierre-Richard & Nabli, Mustapha K. & Yousef, Tarik & Jensen, Henning Tarp, 2007. "Labor market reforms, growth, and unemployment in labor-exporting countries in the Middle East and North Africa," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 277-309.
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    4. Thomas F. Rutherford & E. Elisabet Rutstrom & David Tarr, 2014. "Morocco's free trade agreement with the EU: A quantitative assessment," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: APPLIED TRADE POLICY MODELING IN 16 COUNTRIES Insights and Impacts from World Bank CGE Based Projects, chapter 17, pages 405-437, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

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    3. Farajzadeh, Zakariya & Zhu, Xueqin & Bakhshoodeh, Mohammad, 2017. "Trade reform in Iran for accession to the World Trade Organization: Analysis of welfare and environmental impacts," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 75-85.
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    5. Breisinger, Clemens & Diao, Xinshen & Wiebelt, Manfred, 2012. "Can oil-led growth and structural change go hand in hand in Ghana? A multi-sector intertemporal general equilibrium assessment," Kiel Working Papers 1784, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
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    7. Gelan, Ayele U., 2018. "Kuwait's energy subsidy reduction: Examining economic and CO2 emission effects with or without compensation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 186-200.
    8. Hossein Mirshojaeian Hosseini & Shinji Kaneko, 2012. "A general equilibrium analysis of the inflationary impact of energy subsidies reform in Iran," IDEC DP2 Series 2-8, Hiroshima University, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (IDEC).
    9. Proque, Andressa Lemes & Betarelli Junior, Admir Antonio & Perobelli, Fernando Salgueiro, 2022. "Fuel tax, cross subsidy and transport: Assessing the effects on income and consumption distribution in Brazil," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
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    11. Solaymani, Saeed & Kari, Fatimah, 2014. "Impacts of energy subsidy reform on the Malaysian economy and transportation sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 115-125.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unemployment; Oil; Energy; CGE; Subsidies; Iran;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C68 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computable General Equilibrium Models
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy

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