Ten Most Distortionary Energy Subsidies

Government policies should work in tandem with market forces to achieve an adequate energy supply mix that is cleaner and more diverse than what preceeded it. In reality, thousands of government policies in place around the world act counter to stated objectives regarding energy security, diversification, and environmental protection. Based on past work by Earth Track, and querying subsidy experts from around the world, this paper highlights ten global subsidies deemed particularly eggregious. Subsidy removal would be expected to materially realign prices signals to more effectively achieve energy market end goals. This paper is an expanded version of a brief article appearing in the Handbook of Energy, 2007. (January 2007).