The Iranian government has paid out $28 billion in cash to over 73 million citizens (out of a population of 76 million) in the first eight months of the subsidy reform program [Kayhan, 2 October].
The cash payouts, estimated at $3.3 billion per month, is meant to soften the blow of the rapidly rising prices, mainly due to removal of government subsidies of energy and some food products.
Wow that's a lot of money. This was a great improvement to let people spend it as they wish, rather than spend it on gasoline. Unfortunately too much of it will be spent on Chinese goods, but thanks to the sanctions Iran isn't as much of a victim to world trade as are some other countries (such as the US which has seemingly exported its entire manufacturing economy)/
ReplyDeleteActually Iran recently banned the imports of cheap Chinese goods that damage Iran's industry.
ReplyDeleteThe next step now should be to make sure that the money is given out to people that need it. Currently it is given to everyone that applies for it.
If they handed that amount of money to a smaller number of people they would make a make a larger impact. Currently the richest applicant is receiving the same amount as the poorest applicant.
Where did you read that? I never heard of such a ban.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how it looks the fact is the country is being lead to bankruptcy because as the saying goes "Damned if you do or Damned if you don't" the conclusion is that Iran is Damned as long as these people hold power period.
ReplyDeleteThat is to the tune of $3.5 billion more than $2.3 Billion monthly handout before.
ReplyDeleteThis money is paid to keep the regime supporters happy. These are the ones that vote and keep this government in power. Think about it, if 40% of Iranianians live under poverty line, it is in the interest of the regime to keep them dependent on handouts!
Anon 8:56 AM
ReplyDeleteGood point.That's how they hold on to power by drip feeding the needy and blackmail.
Who's to say that $28 Billion (a part of it) wasn't stolen and divided between Khamenei and his band of Mafia ?
ReplyDeleteThey can easily write any amount they wish and no one is answerable in the Mafia state because the head of the Islamist clan is the biggest thief of them all.
There cant be any corruption in the money as its all computer based and every 1 gets the fixed money every month and if u add the whole populations mones writteny the sum is what
ReplyDelete