Ma`rifat Eqtesadi

In recent decades, the concept of hidden subsidies of energy carriers has implied that fuels such as gasoline are sold at low costs to the publi and consumers are given unfair hidden subsidies. Using the analytical method, this article examines the logic underlying the policy of eliminating hidden subsidies from the perspective of Islamic economics. According to the research findings, this policy contains two descriptive propositions (hidden subsidies leading to greater benefit to the rich - overconsumption), a value proposition (distributive injustice - waste of resources), and a prescriptive proposition (price liberalization - granting of open subsidies). These propositions have problems such as the false validity of subsidies, the invalidity of hidden taxes, error in highlighting consumer subsidies, and error in the theory of fair prices. This policy implicitly claims that “the fair price of items such as gasoline is the same price as in other countries or the export/import price.” This claim is inconsistent with the theory of justice in Islamic economics, because the mentioned price is not equal to the territorial and real price. Contrary to the claim made, the poor suffer more from the increase in the price of these items. Accepting this logic requires that the price of all goods and services be determined based on the price in other countries or the export/import price, which is not practically possible, especially in the case of wages. Therefore, in practice, a hidden tax is imposed.