Indirect Subsidies
Indirect subsidies are a form of economic assistance offered by governments to businesses. They are usually offered as tax breaks or temporarily reduced taxes. This type of assistance is often given when businesses are in financial difficulty or when a particular sector of the economy is targeted for growth. In most cases, indirect subsidies are granted for a specific period of time and are in place to help businesses weather difficult economic times or to stimulate the sector in question.
Indirect subsidies are intended to help businesses, both large and small, stay afloat and continue to provide jobs and services to their respective communities. For instance, in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the UK government introduced various levels of corporate tax cuts in order to assist businesses. This enabled companies to keep operating despite the upending of the economy. In addition to helping businesses, reducing taxes can often result in additional revenue for the government, as it makes a sum of money back through the payment of duties or other forms of taxes and levies associated with business activity.
Unlike direct subsidies, indirect subsidies don’t necessarily involve a cash flow from the government to the business. Instead, they often take the form of reduced or temporarily waived taxes or other forms of legal or regulatory relief. For example, the US government’s Environment Protection Agency grants subsidies to businesses that develop energy efficient technologies. These companies receive a reduction in taxes for their services, which can be used to further invest in the sector or fund research and development activities.
Indirect subsidies are often used to help communities as well. For instance, the government can grant indirect subsidies to offset the cost of living in an area where wages are low. This can mean the government waives some taxes or temporary grant programs in order to make it more affordable to live in these areas. This is beneficial for both local businesses, who get to employ more people, and for the local economy, which can benefit from the additional income made possible through the subsidies.
In conclusion, indirect subsidies are an important tool for governments to help businesses and communities make ends meet in times of economic hardship. Whether they’re offered through tax breaks or temporary grants, they enable businesses to keep operating, while at the same time preserving jobs and other assets in their respective communities. As such, indirect subsidies are a powerful tool for governments to deploy in order to help their economies and citizens weather difficult economic times.