Abstract
The sharp rise in energy prices in the 1980s triggered a strong interest in the production of ethanol as an additional energy component. Economists are divided as to the payoffs from ethanol derived corn in part because of the complex interrelationship between energy produced from ethanol and energy from fossil fuels. Using a welfare economic framework, we calculate that there can be treasury savings from ethanol using tax credits as these subsidies can be smaller than direct payments to corn farmers which are essentially eliminated from the expansion of ethanol. Also, to the extent that ethanol dampens fuel prices there can be a net welfare gain from ethanol production in the presence of ethanol subsidies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 3 |
| Journal | Journal of Agricultural and Food Industrial Organization |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2007 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Food Science
- General Business, Management and Accounting
- Economics and Econometrics