Subsidy
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Michael4 (talk | contribs) at 22:33, January 27, 2011. It may differ significantly from current revision.
A subsidy is a payment or tax break by government to certain businesses to help them survive or to give them a competitive advantage. Sometimes the subsidy can be direct, as in the case of cash payments to farmers, and sometimes it can be indirect, as in the case of building a transcontinental railroad.
Subsidies can also be given out by individuals or non-governmental institutions, but this is more commonly referred to as charity.