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Distributing oil revenues to citizens...an economist rages: "Isn't this enough nonsense?"

3/23/2025

Controversy is escalating in Iraq over lawsuits filed by citizens demanding their share of oil revenues. An expert has warned of the disastrous economic consequences of such demands, asserting that direct distribution of oil revenues would lead to the collapse of the Iraqi economy within just one year.

Oil expert Nabil Al-Marsoumi said that oil revenues for 2024 amounted to $90 billion, while non-oil revenues are estimated at only $13 billion, barely enough to cover the government's purchases of electricity, gas, and food ration card items.

He emphasized that demands to distribute oil revenues to citizens ignore economic realities. Allocating all oil revenues would deplete the central bank's cash reserves, forcing the government to resort to deficit financing, or "printing money," to pay employee and pensioner salaries and social security, which total $70 billion annually, in addition to operating and investment expenses, which total no less than $30 billion annually.

Al-Marsoumi added that this approach would lead to rampant inflation and a collapse in the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar after its flotation, thus plunging the country into a stifling economic crisis within just one year.

However, if half of the oil revenues were distributed, the collapse would occur within two years, according to Al-Marsoumi, who concluded with a sarcastic question: "Isn't this enough fooling around?"

This statement comes amid lawsuits filed by dozens of Iraqis before the courts of appeal, citing Article 111 of the constitution, which states that "oil and gas are the property of all the Iraqi people in all regions and governorates."

Legal experts believe these lawsuits involve complex details, noting that national wealth is managed for the benefit of citizens through public services rather than direct cash distribution, a fact confirmed by previous economic experiences in other countries.

On the other hand, some citizens believe that these demands reflect a general dissatisfaction with the performance of successive Iraqi governments in managing wealth, and some have threatened to join these lawsuits if they achieve any positive results.

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