August 7, 2018 2:53PM 

# Growing Dependence on Subsidies 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

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In two maps today, the *New York Times* [illustrates](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/upshot/welfare-and-the-public-imagination.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FWelfare%20(US)&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection) the growing dependence of Americans on federal government subsidies or welfare.

![Media Name: subsidies_1979.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/wp-content/uploads/subsidies_1979.png?itok=NDwv9UPG) 

![Media Name: subsidies_2014.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/wp-content/uploads/subsidies_2014.png?itok=3NDML7Ef) 

h/​t [https://​twit​ter​.com/​v​a​n​e​s​s​a​b​c​alder](https://twitter.com/vanessabcalder)

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