Paragraph 2
Another
the finance ministry has taken in a
to shore up the economy is the suspension of a cost of living
. This is a payment of about $256 per month to
employees. It was introduced to help offset rising prices and more expensive petrol at the
. Saudi's Finance Minister said: "These measures are
but necessary to maintain financial and economic
over the medium to long term...and to overcome the unprecedented coronavirus
with the least damage possible." A Gulf expert said: "The move will impact consumption and could also lower the expected
. These are pro-austerity and pro-revenue moves rather than pro-growth
."