The Subsidy reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Subsidy

A subsidy is a grant or monetary gift given by a private person or entity (often a government) to another private person or entity, as financial assistance or to help launch an enterprise. Supporters of subsidies often justify their use as intended for some socially beneficial purpose, although economists point out that subsidies may often have socially detrimental effects.

Examples of subsidies include welfare and certain aspects of student loans.

A subsidy exemplifies the opposite of a tax.

See also: agricultural subsidy, cultural subsidy.

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