The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is currently offering online course on energy subsidies, their costs, and the design of a successful reform. This 4-weeks course will emphasize on extensive cross-country analysis.
The overall objective of this course is to provide hands-on training on the design of successful reforms of energy subsidies. This MOOC starts on January 27, 2016.
Course At A Glance
Length: 4 weeks
Effort: 6-8 hours/week
Subject: Energy Subsidy Reform
Institution: International Monetary Fund and edX
Languages: English
Price: Free
Certificate Available: Yes
Session: Starts on January 27, 2016.
Providers' Details
The Institute for Capacity Development oversees the IMF training program on topics spanning macroeconomic analysis, monetary and fiscal policy, macro-financial linkages, balance of payments issues, financial markets and institutions, as well as statistical and legal frameworks in these areas. The IMF's online learning program receives generous financial support from the Government of Belgium.
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About This Course
Energy subsidies are an issue in practically every country in the world. Pre-tax subsidies, which arise when energy consumers pay less than the supply cost of energy, are high in many emerging and developing economies, and have risen in recent years. Although pre-tax subsidies are not a large enough problem in advanced economies to cause fiscal difficulties, these countries have tax subsidies, where the taxes imposed on energy are not high enough to account for all of the adverse effects of excessive energy consumption, including on the environment. The issue of energy subsidy reform is not new. Despite widespread recognition of their adverse consequences, energy subsidies have proven difficult to reform.
This course builds an extensive cross-country analysis, which is reported in the recently published IMF book “Energy Subsidy Reform: Lessons and Implications,” to make recommendations on how to best implement reforms aimed at reducing state subsidies on energy.
Why Take This Course?
This is a free online course. This MOOC will be offered with Video Transcripts.
Learning Outcomes
After completing this course you will have knowledge of:
- How to measure energy subsidies
- Economic, social and environmental implications of energy subsidies
- Successful energy subsidy reform measures
- Rules that allow countries to phase out subsidies over time
- How to measure the impact of energy subsidies in your own country
Instructors
-Nooman Rebei
Nooman Rebei is an Economist at the IMF's Institute for Capacity Development.
-Samah Mazraani
Samah Mazraani is an Economist at the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department.
-Luc Moers
Luc Moers is a Senior Economist in the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia Department.
-Kangni Roland Kpodar
Kangni Roland Kpodar, currently Senior Economist in the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department.
-Masahiro Nozaki
Masahiro Nozaki is a Senior Economist at the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department.
Requirements
Some knowledge of economics would be helpful, but is not required. Some graded assignments require the use of spreadsheets.
Course Format
- In the first part of the course, economists from the IMF will introduce the definition and measurement of subsidies, and then describe the economic, social, and environmental implications of subsidies.
- The second part of the course has two principal purposes: first, to review what works best in energy subsidy reform, in light of country experiences globally; and second, to illustrate successes and failures in particular country contexts by summarizing some case studies.
How To Join This Course
- Go to the course website link
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- Choose “Register Now” to get started.
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