Tumbling oil prices were supposed to boost growth in a host of major oil-importing economies. It isn’t necessarily working out that way. Some governments have moved already to shore up their revenues by raising gasoline taxes or cutting fuel subsidies. At the same time, falling oil costs have pumped up deflation fears across Europe and Japan, adding to the risk that consumers and businesses will hold back on spending and investment, dragging on growth. China has raised fuel-consumption taxes by 50% since November. Gasoline prices have soared in Indonesia as the authorities eliminated subsidies altogether. High taxes in Japan mean pump prices have fallen only 15% in the past six months, compared with a 40% decline in the U.S. Taxes also blunt the fall in Europe: premium gasoline prices have fallen 29% in the U.K. and 32% in France. Brazil has trimmed subsidies and raised taxes to shore […]