The Egyptian Food Subsidy System: Structure, Performance, and Options for Reform

by Akhter U. Ahmed, Tamar Gutner, Hans Löfgren

The Egyptian Food Subsidy Structure, Performance, and Options for Reform evaluates the economic, political, and technical feasibility of reducing costs while improving or maintaining the welfare of the poor. The report addresses five (1) How well does the present system target the poor? (2) How much leakage- the pilferage of subsidized foods in the distribution channel-occurs? (3) At what cost does the government transfer income to the needy? (4) How can subsidies be better targeted to the needy? And (5) What are politically feasible options for reform?

162 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2001