Does Administrative Burden Influence Public Support for Government Programs? Evidence from a Survey Experiment
This study examines how providing information about administrative burden influences public support for government programs like TANF, showing that awareness of these burdens can increase favorability toward the programs and their recipients.
The research uses a survey experiment to test how exposing people to information about administrative burdens—such as required documentation or interviews—in the TANF program affects public opinion.
Results show that Republicans, in particular, express more support for TANF when they learn about these burdens, as it signals program integrity and recipient deservingness. The study highlights how understanding administrative burden can shape broader attitudes toward government assistance programs
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