Paperwork, lines, hours on hold: There's a 'Time Tax' on Americans who need help most
Journalist Annie Lowrey argues that excessive administrative hurdles in government agencies create a 'time tax' that disproportionately affects low-income individuals seeking benefits. This bureaucratic friction not only prevents access to essential services but also erodes public trust in government institutions.
Why it matters
The concept of a 'time tax' provides a framework for understanding how administrative design choices can exacerbate social inequality and reduce the efficacy of the social safety net.
How much of your life do you spend waiting, either in line, on the phone or while filling out government forms? Annie Lowrey , a journalist with The Atlantic, says all that waiting amounts to what she calls a "time tax," paid most often by those applying for government benefits like unemployment, disability and food assistance.
"I really saw this as a tax, because there's this understanding that, with the government, we should be getting what's ours," Lowrey explains. "How much time, how much effort, how much emotional strain, how much do you have to give up to receive something that you're trying to either purchase or obtain or a right that you are supposed to have?"
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