As leaders in emerging-market countries have recognized, falling oil prices represent the best opportunity to implement reform. Governments that act now can reduce energy subsidies or increase taxes while sparing consumers an increase in the retail price from one year to the next.
国际货币基金组织（IMF）的最新研究估算，全球能源补贴每年超过5万亿美元，而美国化石燃料补贴保守估计每年为370亿美元（不包括环境外部性的成本）。正如新兴市场国家领导人所认识到的，油价下跌是实施改革的良机。现在采取行动的政府能够在不让消费者面临零售价格年复一年上涨的情况下降低能源补贴或提高税收。