Since Assad’s fall, Syria’s subsidies on bread, fuel, cooking gas, and public transport are being rapidly dismantled.
Prices have soared:
– Cooking gas jumped from $2 to $11.80 – Bread costs 10x more in #Damascus
– Public transport fees surged after fuel liberalization
– Electricity is still subsidized, although available only for a few hours a day
In June, the government raised public sector wages by 200%, giving some relief to state employees. But without a functioning social safety net, lifting subsidies risks triggering social unrest.
In our latest issue, we explain how subsidy cuts, if not carefully planned and paired with targeted support, could turn economic reform into social crisis.