Tracking Global Social Policy Responses to High Energy Prices

Overview & Synopsis

This note and accompanying database present preliminary analysis from real-time tracking of country responses worldwide. The analysis encompasses 195 countries and 17 variables yielding 3,842 individual data points. Social policy actions have been classified under 5 program categories (i.e., social assistance, social insurance, labor markets, subsidies, and services and logistics support) and 12 sub-categories (i.e., cash transfers, food assistance, vouchers, pensions, other social insurance, public works, trainings, wage subsidies, online work, energy subsidies, food subsidies, and agriculture/fertilizer subsidies). Such tracking system is likely the first and most comprehensive global social policy monitoring effort mounted in response to the current crisis. This note presents main findings as of March 24, with tracking being updated continuously and possible future notes being released pending on the evolving nature of the crisis.