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<TITLE>Ending fuel price controls in Asia?</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>A number of the large countries in Asia control the price of transport fuels. As a result they suffered budget blowouts earlier in 2008 when the oil price hit its highs.<BR>
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But several are now talking about ending their price controls. The low oil price now gives a golden opportunity to do so. China, Indonesia and Malaysia have all announced the possibility of shifting to some kind of managed float (with price caps probably and maybe also price floors).<BR>
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It will be interesting to see if they can follow through on this.<BR>
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See <A HREF="http://reinventingtransport.blogspot.com/2008/11/great-time-to-end-fuel-subsidies.html">http://reinventingtransport.blogspot.com/2008/11/great-time-to-end-fuel-subsidies.html</A> for a little more detail.<BR>
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Paul<BR>
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Paul A. Barter | Assistant Professor | LKY School of Public Policy National University of Singapore | 469C Bukit Timah Road | Singapore 259772 | Tel: +65-6516 3324 | Fax: +65-6778 1020 | paulbarter@nus.edu.sg | <A HREF="http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/Faculty_Paul_Barter.aspx">http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/Faculty_Paul_Barter.aspx</A> <A HREF="http://reinventingtransport.blogspot.com/">http://reinventingtransport.blogspot.com/</A><BR>
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