Of consumer-targeted subsidies, producers and free markets

*Subsidy is often granted by a government to support critical parts of the economy that are thought to be vulnerable to external forces

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Many have simply asked, ‘How do government subsidies help an industry in the economy?

Government subsidies help an industry by paying for part of the cost of the production of a good or service by offering tax credits or reimbursements or by paying for part of the cost a consumer would pay to purchase a good or service, a report has stated.

A subsidy is often granted by a government to support critical parts of the economy that are thought to be vulnerable to external forces.

Key takeaways

According to Investopedia, subsidies are payments, tax breaks, or other forms of economic support given by governments to certain industries or economic sectors.

The goal of subsidies is to aid or support what are deemed to be key parts of the economy or national infrastructure.

While subsidies may have a direct positive impact on the particular industry or companies involved, economists argue that subsidies work against free trade and create market inefficiencies.

Effect of subsidies on product/service supply

It is also noted that  governments world over do seek to implement subsidies to encourage production and consumption in specific industries.

Experts also opine that when government subsidies are implemented to the supplier, an industry is able to allow its producers to produce more goods and services.

This, they suggest, increases the overall supply of that good or service, which increases the quantity demanded of that good or service and lowers the overall price of the good or service.

In this sense, when the government gives subsidies to the supplier, what results is a win-win situation for both the supplier and the consumer.

Essentially, the supplier is benefitting as if the good were selling at a higher price and is able to produce more of the product.

What’s in it for consumers?

Meanwhile, consumers get to enjoy the product for what would be a comparatively cheaper price, since suppliers do not need to charge exorbitant rates to break even on production.

Since the government helps suppliers through tax credits or reimbursements, the lower overall price of their goods and services is more than offset by the savings they receive.

Tax Credits/ holidays

On the consumer side, government subsidies can help potential consumers with the cost of a good or service, usually through tax credits.

For example, a great example of this is the transition to more renewable sources of energy.

With still nascent models of green economics, the current demand to purchase new energy-saving technology is low.

In order to sway consumer interest, government subsidies or tax credits can help with this high cost of adoption.

When consumers refit their houses with solar panels, the government will provide a tax credit to individuals and families to offset the high price of purchasing the new solar panels.

In this sense, consumer-targeted subsidies will not necessarily increase supply, since producers aren’t being motivated or compensated to produce more.

However, tax credits will offset higher prices for consumers so that the margin still goes back to producers.

In the same vein, some states also provide a tax credit or subsidy for buying an electric or hybrid vehicle.

This helps the renewable energy industry by allowing more consumers to purchase the products associated with that industry, without having to absorb the entire cost.

Some critiques of government subsidies

Critics of government subsidies in the economy  have claimed that they interfere with free markets, and therefore, can cause anomalies or inefficiencies.

They also argued that subsidies could create unfair conditions that favor one set of companies over others, reducing competition.

Such critics also submitted that these companies could take advantage of subsidies to engage in rent-seeking, ultimately at the harm of consumers.

Between direct and indirect subsidies

Direct subsidies involve cash transfers or tax breaks that immediately impact a company or industry.

Indirect subsidies do not have a specific cash value or involve payments of cash.

These can instead include making it easier to obtain inputs or reducing costs in other ways.

Example of industries Nigerian, US Governments subsidise

Nigeria and the United States Governments have subsidised the domestic agricultural sector.

ConsumerConnect reports the two economies also subsidise oil and energy producers, some housing, automakers, and some healthcare (e.g., medicare).

The Bottom line

Therefore, it should be noted that government subsidies can help an industry on both the supplier side and the consumer side, no matter on which end they are implemented.

And for the government, the implement subsidies, governments need to raise taxes or reallocate taxes from existing budgets.

There is also an argument that incentives in the form of subsidies actually reduce the incentives of firms to cut costs. However, whether it’s by increasing supply through supplier-side subsidies, or helping consumers with high costs of adoption through tax credits, it’s clear that government intervention in market economics has real-life impacts on both parties alike.

Producer Price Index (PPI)

The producer price index is a monthly measure of change in the prices received by domestic producers.

Supply is a fundamental economic concept that describes the total amount of a specific good or service that is available to consumers.

Price Ceiling Types, Effects, and Implementation in Economics

A price ceiling is a maximum amount, mandated by law, that a seller can charge for a product or service. It’s generally applied to consumer staples.

Externality: What It Means in Economics, With Positive and Negative Examples

An externality is an economic term referring to a cost or benefit incurred or received by a third party who has no control over how that cost or benefit was created.

In terms of the concept of natural monopoly  is a monopoly that arises or would rise through natural conditions in a free market.

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