Identifying the Adverse Impacts of Implementing the Targeted Subsidies Policy in Iran: Meta-Synthesis Approach

The Targeted Subsidies Policy (TSP) was implemented as one of the biggest economic reforms in Iran in 2009. However, after more than a decade, it did not achieve all its predetermined goals. Regardless of its positive effects, this research aims to identify and determine the adverse effects of this plan after its implementation, which led to the inefficiency of TSP. This research is based on Sandelowski & Barroso Meta-Synthesis method in which, by searching keywords related to the topic in scientific databases, the relevant researches were found and systematically reviewed. The search results were filtered by reviewing titles, abstracts, and content, and screened articles were evaluated using the CASP tool. Finally, 86 sources were selected and analyzed. By coding and categorizing the articles, nine main categories were identified as disadvantages and negative effects of TSP: negative effects on macroeconomics, negative effects on the production sector, unfair distribution, decreased welfare, failure to save or reduce energy consumption, energy smuggling and corruption, adverse effects on medicine and health, adverse effects on transportation, and adverse environmental effects. The findings can help to structurally reform the current method and prevent the repetition of past mistakes.