Email of the day (2)
Comment of the Day

April 18 2011

Commentary by Eoin Treacy

Email of the day (2)

on ethanol:
"Thank you for your explanation on Ethanol. You obviously have a far greater understanding of it than I do. I am still baffled as to the U.S. policy on corn based ethanol in these times. There is probably some reason for it, but I hesitate to give the government too much credit."

Eoin Treacy's view Thank you for your kind words but I don't claim any specialist knowledge on the ethanol industry. I believe it is usually a safe policy to follow the money. Corn famers are probably the greatest beneficiaries of corn-based ethanol production and Mid Western farmers are a powerful lobby. Such is the importance of the Iowa caucus to Presidential candidates that this demographic tend to have an outsized say relative to their contribution to the national economy. With the next election 18 months away, there is little chance farmers are going to be ill treated by government this year.

Back to top