In the news interview, Professor Matthew Desmond argues that in contrast to the more visible direct aid that the government gives to the poor, the middle class is subsidized through more indirect and invisible ways, such as:

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When evaluating the ways the middle class is subsidized indirectly, several options can be assessed for how visible or invisible they are in public discourse.
Option 1: 'Business subsidies' – These are typically used to support firms and industries, and while they involve financial benefits, they are not usually framed as a direct subsidy to middle-class households in the same way as tax provisions tied to home ownership. The connection to middle-class subsidy is indirect and contextual, but the phrasing in the option does not align with the usual household-level subsidies highlighted in discussions about indirect support to the middle class.
Option 2: 'Child care vouchers' – This is an example of government assistance aimed at families with children, and when provided, it often targets low- to moderate-income households. While important, these vouchers are designed to directly aid specific families with child care costs, making them a more straightforward form of direct support rather than the broader, invisible subsidies discussed in Desmond’s framing.
Option 3: 'Mortgage interest tax deduction (that comes with homeownership)' – This tax provision reduces the cost of homeownership for those who itemize deductions, effectively subsidizing the middle class through the tax system in a way that is not always obvious or widely recognized. It benefits households with mortgages and home ownership, typically middle- and upper-middle-income groups, and operates as an indirect, systemic subsidy embedded in tax policy rather than an explicit government transfer. This aligns with Desmond’s argument about indirect, invisible subsidies.
Option 4: 'Progressive tax rates' – While the progressive tax structure is a core feature of many tax systems, its effect is broad and not unique to the middle class in the sense of a targeted, indirect benefit specific to households with mortgages. Moreover, progressive rates are typically discussed as a structural design rather than a discreet middle-class subsidy, and this option does not capture the specific example of the homeownership-related subsidy highlighted in the described argument.
Across these choices, the reasoning emphasizes the distinction between direct assistance (which provides explicit aid) and indirect subsidies embedded in policy design, with mortgage interest deductions standing out as the classic case of a middle-class subsidy that is not immediately visible as a direct government payout but reduces costs for homeowners.

(UCSB ILP) SOC 145_SPR25 Quiz#4

In the news interview, Professor Matthew Desmond argues that in contrast to the more visible direct aid that the government gives to the poor, the middle class is subsidized through more indirect and invisible ways, such as:

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