Tapsearch Com EditorQuick thought on subsidies
June 4th 2007 02:04
Apologies to all for not blogging more lately -- I've been doing a lot of writing and traveling (went to NY this weekend) and haven't seen much in the news I have much to say about.
However, on the bus ride back to DC it struck me how a lot of economists prattle on about "getting the incentives right" for given behaviors; that is, if there isn't enough of something, the government should subsidize it.
What they never mention, though, is that the subsidy has to come from somewhere.
So here's my random thought (a la Thomas Sowell): A subsidy is when the government takes your money, then refuses to give it back until you do what it says. It calls this "voluntary."
By Robert VerBruggen
However, on the bus ride back to DC it struck me how a lot of economists prattle on about "getting the incentives right" for given behaviors; that is, if there isn't enough of something, the government should subsidize it.
What they never mention, though, is that the subsidy has to come from somewhere.
So here's my random thought (a la Thomas Sowell): A subsidy is when the government takes your money, then refuses to give it back until you do what it says. It calls this "voluntary."
By Robert VerBruggen
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