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Production subsidies

15 February, 2016 - 09:58

Figure 15.5 illustrates the effect of a subsidy to a supplier. As in Figure 15.4, the amount Q_D is demanded in the free trade equilibrium and, of this, Qs is supplied domestically. With a subsidy per unit of output sold, the government can reduce the supply cost of the domestic supplier, thereby shifting the supply curve downward from S to S'. In this illustration, the total quantity demanded remains at Q_D, but the domestic share increases to Q's

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Figure 15.5 Subsidies and trade
 

With a world supply price of P, a domestic supply curve S, and a domestic demand D, the amount Qo is purchased. Of this, Qs is supplied domestically and (Qo - Qs) by foreign suppliers. A per-unit subsidy to domestic suppliers shifts their supply curve to S0 , and increases their market share to Q's.

The new equilibrium represents a misallocation of resources. When domestic output increases from Qs to Q's, a low-cost international producer is being replaced by a higher cost domestic supplier; the domestic supply curve S lies above the international supply curve P in this range of output.

Note that this example deals with a subsidy to domestic suppliers who are selling in the domestic market. It is not a subsidy to domestic producers who are selling in the international market – anexport subsidy.