In an episode of "The Ezra Klein Show," host Ezra Klein interviews Atlantic staff writer Annie Lowrey about her book "The Time Tax." Lowrey defines the time tax as the burden of emotional, logistical, and knowledge work required to navigate government bureaucracy. She argues these administrative burdens function as tools of social control and regressive filters on progressive policies, making it deliberately difficult for intended beneficiaries to access aid. Lowrey cites examples like SNAP restrictions preventing purchase of hot food such as rotisserie chickens, which she says reflects a desire to control behavior rather than promote nutrition.

Work requirements and complex paperwork disproportionately exclude those most in need. Klein notes that people Democrats aim to help often vote against government expansion because their experiences with government programs are punitive and humiliating. Lowrey emphasizes these barriers construct class divisions and shape economic decisions, serving as mechanisms of control rather than neutral administrative necessities.