I.M.F. Calls for Curbing Fuel Subsidies - NYTimes.com
▻http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/business/imf-calls-for-curbing-fuel-subsidies.html
The paper said that subsidies were expensive for governments, and that, instead of helping consumers, they detracted from increased investment in infrastructure, education and health care, which would help the poor more directly.
Subsidies have been a counterproductive way to help the poor because they are more beneficial to the rich, who consume more energy, the fund said. The richest 20 percent of households in low- and middle-income countries received six times more in fuel subsidies than the lowest 20 percent, the fund said.