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Government Subsidies

Author

Listed:
  • Gerd Schwartz
  • Benedict Clements

Abstract

This paper addresses the problems of defining and measuring government subsidies, examines why and how government subsidies are used as a fiscal policy tool, discusses their general economic effects in terms of real welfare costs and distributional implications, appraises international empirical evidence on government subsidies, and offers options for their reform. Recent international trends in government subsidy expenditure are analyzed for the 16‐year period from 1975 to 1990, using general government subsidy data for 60 countries from the United Nations’ System of National Accounts (SNA). The paper reviews major policy options for subsidy reform, focusing on ways to improve the cost‐effectiveness of subsidy programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerd Schwartz & Benedict Clements, 1999. "Government Subsidies," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(2), pages 119-148, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jecsur:v:13:y:1999:i:2:p:119-148
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-6419.00079
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Shi, Guifeng & Li, Huijun, 2025. "Government-led resource allocation and firm productivity: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Mustapha K. Nabli & Jennifer Keller & Claudia Nassif & Carlos Silva-Jáuregui, 2006. "The Political Economy of Industrial Policy in the Middle East and North Africa," World Bank Publications - Reports 28426, The World Bank Group.
    3. Barbosa, Luciana & Rodrigues, Artur & Sardinha, Alberto, 2022. "Optimal price subsidies under uncertainty," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 303(1), pages 471-479.
    4. Ozturk-Kose, Ebru & Tsagdis, Dimitrios & Jiménez, Alfredo, 2025. "Internationalization and escapism: Government support as a pullback force for small and large enterprises," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(3).
    5. Mr. Chandra Prakash Bhambhri & Mr. Parkash Chander, 2001. "Subsidy Reforms and Poverty Alleviation," IMF Working Papers 2001/126, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Wang, Zhongcheng & Li, Xinyue & Xue, Xinhong & Liu, Yahuan, 2022. "More government subsidies, more green innovation? The evidence from Chinese new energy vehicle enterprises," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 11-21.
    7. Branstetter, Lee G. & Li, Guangwei & Ren, Mengjia, 2023. "Picking winners? Government subsidies and firm productivity in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 1186-1199.
    8. Xie, En & Li, Fanshu & Wu, Zhan & Kumar, Vikas, 2024. "State ownership and Chinese private firms’ OFDI in developed economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 59(3).
    9. Qiao, Lu & Fei, Junjun, 2022. "Government subsidies, enterprise operating efficiency, and “stiff but deathless” zombie firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    10. Lee, Jun Seop & Chung, Byung Do, 2022. "Effects of government subsidy programs on job creation for sustainable supply chain management," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PB).
    11. Siqi Li & Mengdi Sun, 2024. "Spillover effects of government subsidies on outward foreign direct investment: Evidence from China," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(4), pages 1521-1566, September.
    12. Han, Jixuan & Li, Tianshu & Philbin, Simon P., 2023. "Does low-carbon pilot policy in China improve corporate profitability? The role of innovation and subsidy," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 2(2).
    13. Deng, Jiapin, 2025. "Deleveraging backed by fiscal support: The monetary–fiscal policy mix during the deleveraging campaign in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    14. Goldstein, Eli & Schiffman, Daniel, 2024. "Bread and the dilemmas of socialist paternalism in Israel, 1948–1977," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    15. Brian Tavonga Mazorodze, 2025. "Government Subsidies and Industrial Productivity in South Africa: A Focus on the Channels," Econometrics, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-26, May.
    16. Ackerschott, Adriana & Kohlhase, Esther & Vollmer, Anita & Hörisch, Jacob & von Wehrden, Henrik, 2023. "Steering of land use in the context of sustainable development: A systematic review of economic instruments," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    17. Ting Feng & Zhongyi Xue, 2023. "The impact of government subsidies on corporate resilience: evidence from the COVID-19 shock," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4199-4221, December.
    18. Zhao, Lingxiao & Liu, Xiao & Tang, Yunpeng & Zhang, Wenjing, 2024. "Functional subsidies, selective subsidies and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    19. repec:hal:cepnwp:hal-05000473 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Mehta, Tarun & Sarangi, Gopal K., 2022. "Is the electricity cross-subsidization policy in India caught between a rock and a hard place? An empirical investigation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    21. Animashaun, Jubril & Wossink, Ada, 2024. "How do households cope during aggregate shocks? Evidence from the 2009–2015 oil crisis in Nigeria," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    22. Wu, Lichao & Wei, Yingqi & Wang, Chengang & McDonald, Frank & Han, Xia, 2022. "The importance of institutional and financial resources for export performance associated with technological innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    23. Guo, Jingjing & Huang, Zhihong & Zhou, Baicheng, 2025. "How does industrial policy affect corporate M&A Activities?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

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