Final answer:
The average American taxpayer subsidizes grocery stores and food corporations through government policies that make corn-based products cheaper and provide fewer subsidies to farmers growing fruits and vegetables. This subsidy differential results in higher prices for healthier food options and lower prices for less nutritious fast food. Political support for farm subsidies remains strong due to the perceived benefits for rural communities and the influence of the agro-business industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Government policies provide subsidies to farmers growing corn-based products, making them cheaper than they would be in a free-market environment. On the other hand, farmers growing fruits and vegetables receive fewer subsidies, leading to relatively higher prices for those products. This subsidy differential results in the affordability of burger combos compared to green salads in most places.
Overall, these government subsidies for farmers benefit farmers by ensuring a price floor for their produce. However, the costs of these subsidies are borne by taxpayers and consumers of food, as they end up paying higher prices for groceries.
To reduce farm subsidies, agricultural economists and policymakers have proposed various solutions. However, political support for subsidies for farmers remains strong in many countries, either due to the perception of supporting traditional rural life or because of the lobbying power of the agro-business industry.