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This disingenuous argument by @IlliniBizDean basically summarizes what’s wrong with economics in one tweet. Instead of empathizing with students who are struggling to make ends meet, he deflects to an intellectual argument that doesn’t even stand up to basic scrutiny. https://twitter.com/illinibizdean/status/1350663875671126017
First of all, tax credits are not useful to people who need money to pay for groceries RIGHT NOW. People who are struggling need CASH. And actually, the EITC is highly vulnerable to being captured by employers who lower wages in response, which is why we need a minimum wage.
Second, the EITC can’t be claimed by someone who is a dependent, which most students are, especially in a world where they need healthcare! The EITC is built for families, which most research assistants do not have, and there’s no realistic policy future where this would change.
And finally, it’s especially ironic that someone like @IlliniBizDean, who has the power to affect research budgets across an entire department, make a comment about budget constraints and demand curves as if it was just a fact of life that could never be changed.
