Reducing the Time Tax: The Fight Against Bureaucracy

The article analyzes the concept of the 'time tax,' defining it as the cost of administrative burdens borne by citizens. The author argues that true modernization of the state does not consist of digitizing existing forms (automating waste), but in the systemic elimination of redundant procedures. The proposed hierarchy of interventions assumes first removing the obligation, then its automatic execution by the state using available data, and only finally simplifying the interface. The example of Project Re from Michigan proves that reducing application complexity not only makes citizens' lives easier but drastically reduces administrative operational costs by limiting errors and processing time. The key is shifting the responsibility for system complexity from the user to the institution creating the law.