Tobacco and other like products have come under increased scrutiny over the past generation for health hazards that accompany product use. Policy responses have included restrictions on smoking in public places, stricter enforcement of age requirements, mandates for health warnings on product packaging, among others. Suppose that the use of tobacco were to be completely outlawed. In your opinion, which of the followingshould be done for farmerswho depend on growing tobacco for their livelihood?

a. Use tax-payer money to pay the tobacco farmers not to grow tobacco, as is sometimes done as a price support for dairy products and grains.

b. Nothing. Over time, the government has subsidized tobacco, so the past compounded gains offset the future losses.

c. Use tax-payer money to provide low-interest loans to help tobacco farmers switch to new crops or move to different crop-growing regions.

d. Nothing. They should know the harm that tobacco creates and should have known that growing other crops is probably prudent in the long term.