{ "href": "/post/2011/03/15/subsidizing-the-markers-of-status-doesnt-produce-the-character-traits-that-result-in-that-status-it-undermines-them/", "relId": "2011/03/15/subsidizing-the-markers-of-status-doesnt-produce-the-character-traits-that-result-in-that-status-it-undermines-them", "title": "\"Subsidizing the markers of status doesn\u2019t produce the character traits that result in that status; it undermines them.\"", "author": "pmjones", "markup": "html", "tags": [ { "href": "/tag/economics/", "relId": "economics", "title": "Economics", "author": null, "created": null, "updated": [], "markup": "markdown" }, { "href": "/tag/government/", "relId": "government", "title": "Government", "author": null, "created": null, "updated": [], "markup": "markdown" } ], "created": "2011-03-15 16:52:57 UTC", "updated": [ "2011-03-15 16:52:57 UTC" ], "html": "
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The government decides to try to increase the middle class by subsidizing things that middle class people have: If middle-class people go to college and own homes, then surely if more people go to college and own homes, we\u00e2\u0080\u0099ll have more middle-class people. But homeownership and college aren\u00e2\u0080\u0099t causes of middle-class status, they\u00e2\u0080\u0099re markers for possessing the kinds of traits -- self-discipline, the ability to defer gratification, etc. -- that let you enter, and stay, in the middle class. Subsidizing the markers doesn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t produce the traits; if anything, it undermines them.

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via Reynolds\u00e2\u0080\u0099 Law \u00c2\u00ab The View from Alexandria.

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