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This is the first in the series of 10 guidance notes under the Energy Sector Reform Assessment Framework (ESRAF), an initiative of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank. ESRAF proposes a guide to analyzing energy subsidies, the impacts of subsidies and their reforms, and the political context for reform in developing countries. This note provides guidance on how to approach and assess energy subsidies, quantifying them where possible. it suggests a definition of subsidies and describes options for categorizing and measuring subsidies. it also outlines policy issues to consider in reforming the subsidies in developing countries.

From Booklist: "Each volume in the Opposing Viewpoints Series could serve as a model-not only providing access to a wide diversity of opinions, but also stimulating readers to do further research for group discussion and individual interest. Both shrill and moderate, the selections-by experts, policy makers, and concerned citizens-include complete articles and speeches, long book excerpts, and occasional cartoons and boxed quotations-all up to date and fully documented. The editing is intelligent and unobtrusive, organizing the material around substantive issues within the general debate. Brief introductions to each section and to each reading focus the questions raised and offer no slick answers

Though some programs that were created to promote homeownership in the United States, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have been harshly criticized in the wake of the housing crisis, we are likely to continue to provide some form of taxpayer-funded assistance to those who would become homeowners. Historically, assistance has taken the form of either interest rate or down-payment subsidies, but recent research suggests that down-payment subsidies are much more effective. They create successful homeowners—homeowners who keep their homes—at a lower cost.

Many governments use price subsidisation (total costs less
total revenues from user charges) to meet social protection objectives
in lieu of, or in addition to, direct income transfers. Such subsidies
may be perceived as influencing behaviour to further other socially
desirable policies. For example, the price response induced by lowering
the price of schooling will both lower the cost of living for the
beneficiaries and also increase the investment in education more than a
similar income transfer would achieve. The incidences of benefits from a
general price subsidy are proportional to purchases and can be deduced
from the pattern of expenditures. Some goods are inappropriate vehicles
for redistribution since subsidies on them will not only accrue mainly
to the rich they will actually increase inequality in welfare. It is
therefore important to ensure that commodities chosen for price
subsidisation are largely consumed by the lower income groups. Also,
detailed data on such commodities should be made public to make the
extent of subsidy easily tractable.