Subsidies can bolster growth and resilience in developing economies. Yet, when poorly justified, designed, or weakly implemented, they become costly, straining public finances, distorting markets, and exacerbating inequality. The difference lies in disciplined use—grounded in clear objectives, sound accounting, evidence-based design, and effective execution.

This event launches the World Bank Group’s new report Hooked on Subsidies: The Case for Reform. The report offers a practical roadmap for reform, starting with a comprehensive inventory of subsidies, so decision-makers can see the full picture. It then sets out tools to assess value for money, including distributional analysis and competition impacts. And it provides advice to redesign subsidies, so they are repurposed, better targeted or phased out. The report also provides practical guidance for policymakers on political economy aspects, communication, and transparency to facilitate a reform path and subsidy outcomes.

Join us to explore how policymakers can make subsidies work better—supporting productive investment, boosting growth, and creating jobs. Hear from report authors and experts on actionable reforms, case studies, and ways to design, implement, and evaluate subsidy programs.