Everyone seems concerned about affordability. Political candidates frequently say they are going to address kitchen table issues and help make life more affordable for families. But government policies are responsible for much of this problem, and policymakers rarely mention their own role in making things more expensive than they need to be.

This report covers three household expenses: housing, transportation and childcare. Housing and transportation are the two largest expenses for the average American household. Childcare can be a significant burden for young families and receives considerable attention from politicians. Government policy makes all of these more expensive.