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Social Protection PodcastAuthor: socialprotection.org
Social Protection Podcast is brought to you by socialprotection.org. Were a knowledge sharing and capacity building platform, open to social protection practitioners, policy-makers, and experts, as well as academics and students. Social protection is a large and growing field, that has also achieved increased profile and salience since 2020 due to COVID-19. From building delivery systems and protecting People with Disabilities, to social protection financing and school feeding there is no shortage of topics for Social Protection Podcast to tackle. Each month we will aim to bring you rich, interesting and different content. Through interviews, discussions and debates with experts and practitioners, Social Protection Podcast will illuminate new research and bring a range of perspectives to debates and controversies as well as areas of growing consensus. Language: en Genres: Science, Social Sciences Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ep. 63 | Subsidies and Social Protection Part I: Crises Response
Episode 71
Monday, 6 July, 2026
Over recent decades, global shocks such as the Global Food, Fuel and Financial Crisis of 2007–2009, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine, have driven countries to rapidly scale up social protection measures, including subsidies, to cushion households from rising food and energy prices. Increasing attention has also been placed on shock-responsive measures to address climate disasters and other crises. The recent conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to energy infrastructure and oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have once again highlighted the vulnerability of global energy and food systems. While oil flows have resumed, markets are expected to stabilise over time, with continued impacts on energy prices, agricultural inputs and household budgets. In this first episode of a two-part discussion on subsidies, we draw on recent analyses to explore why such policies continue to account for over half of global responses to price shocks despite their regressive nature and significant fiscal costs, and what it would take to strengthen social protection systems as more effective and sustainable alternatives. Why do governments continue to rely on subsidies despite these challenges? What prevents social protection systems from playing a larger role during crises? And what would it take to build systems that can respond more quickly and effectively when the next shock hits? * This episode was recorded on 17 June 2026. While we recognize that there have been further developments in the Iran-US peace talks, the discussions in this episode remain relevant and continue to provide valuable context. Meet our guests: Giovanna Mazzeo Ortolani, Social Protection Specialist, FAO Yannick Hemmerlé, Economist, OECD Economics Department For our Quick Wins segment, we spoke with Marina Carvalho, Project Manager at socialprotection.org, who introduced some of the key features and improvements of the new socialprotection.org platform, launched in June! We invite you to explore the new platform and join us in growing the world's leading knowledge-sharing community on social protection! Resources: Report | Tracking Global Social Policy Responses to High Energy Prices Report | The role of social protection in addressing the impacts of the 2026 conflict in the Middle East Policy Brief | Energy prices are spiking again
