The Welfare Effects of Cash Transfers of Electrical Energy Subsidies on Iran Economy

Withdrawing energy subsidies has inevitably welfare effects on the Iranian economy. The estimation of this effect can help policy-makers and planners to take the right decisions. In this paper, welfare effects of cash transfer are calculated for electrical energy subsidies using a social accounting matrix and the computable general equilibrium model. In order to evaluate the welfare effect of this policy, GDP index has also been implemented. Three scenarios of prices, cash payment of subsidies and model simulation are considered in this regard. The research findings reveal that as a result of these policies, GDP will dramatically decrease and the economy will fall into a recession. If the cash payments are financed through the following three methods; a) surplus government revenues, b) sales tax on electricity commodity, c) income tax, combined with price increasing policy, will cause a deeper recession and a lower rate of GDP as a result. This trend has a negative and reverse relation with the amount of cash payment subsidies and electrical energy price. Also, the rate of change will heavily depend on the sort of financial resources for such subsidies, as with an increase in cash subsidies and electricity prices, the result would be decreased level of GDP over time.