Housing
CityLab Daily: Making the Case for Monthly Tax Refunds
Also: Cities rise in influence and power, and mapping where pollution hurts children most.
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Tax-onomy: For the millions of Americans who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit each year, April 15 is just another day. Taxpayers who depend on it are often the first to file in January, because the return isn’t merely a bonus for them. With an average refund of $2,488 last year, the EITC functions as an important, if unsung, part of the social safety net, often covering household spending on utilities, food, and other essentials.