← Home
The Ezra Klein Show · August 25, 2026 · 1h 17m 28s

This Is Why People Hate the Government

Annie Lowrey discusses her book 'The Time Tax' and the staggering hidden cost of government paperwork. Americans spend 12 billion hours a year on forms, worth $430 billion in lost time. She argues that while programs like Social Security and Medicare are efficient, those for the poor are deliberately punitive, and that this administrative burden is a regressive policy tool that drives distrust in government.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Preview

While universal programs like Social Security and Medicare are simple to use, programs for the poor are often designed with cumbersome requirements that humiliate and deter applicants.
6 Workdays Per Year Lost to Government Paperwork
Americans spend an average of six full workdays a year filling out government forms, totaling 12 billion hours and $430 billion in uncompensated labor annually.

2 more ideas, 3 references & all timestamps

This episode is in its early-access window. The full breakdown unlocks free in about 70 hours — Pro members read everything the moment it lands.

Read it now with Pro$10/mo · founding $96/yr
Was this useful?