How the Government Wastes Our Time
The Atlantic discusses the concept of the 'time tax,' where government bureaucracy and excessive paperwork create unnecessary obstacles for citizens. The piece explores how these administrative burdens hinder access to essential services and rights.
Why it matters
It addresses the intersection of government efficiency and public policy, highlighting how administrative friction impacts the daily lives of citizens.
What do we lose in the hours spent filling out paperwork?
Chuck Savage / Getty September 7, 2026, 12 PM ET Share Save Listen − 1.0 x + Seek 0:00 27:58
Americans are bogged down in paperwork for reasons that are sometimes necessary, sometimes thoughtless—and, at times, nefarious. In her new book, The Time Tax: How the Government Wastes Our Time—And How to Fix It , my colleague Annie Lowrey looks at all those hours spent looking for tax documents or trying to certify income for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA and finds that things don’t have to be this way.
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