30 May 2024
“Addressing the cost of fuel subsidies is one of the most politically challenging reforms a government can attempt. While subsidies pose a heavy burden on budgets and tend to accrue benefits toward the wealthy, they are quite popular with a large segment of the population, as they serve as a key supplement to those with low incomes. Since announcing its intention to put an end to fuel subsidies in 2004, the Jordanian government has faced a number of political challenges. While many of these obstacles are typical of any country attempting a politically challenging reform, some of the most acute impediments have come in the form of unstable regional dynamics.”
