There is a case for subsidies!

I personally do not like subsidies, they distort markets and and and, the usual economist provisio's. With one exception. When the question is for sheer survival, then subsidies are not just subsidies but humanitarian aid. This is why I am very jaundiced about the agricultural round of the WTO or the debates about child labour which are very sterile, theoritical and do not apply to real world, extreme poverty situations. But read here and consider the case of subsidies.

But remember, subsidies become relatively expensive too soon too fast. And then the usual problems of only few people getting subsidies, too much of deficit financing, etc. etc. happens.

All this to be taken with a grain of piquant salt!!!