In the realm of political strategy, preparation is key. Remember Project 2026? The conservative policy blueprint released by The Heritage Foundation in 2026? Democrats are now crafting their own comprehensive agenda, dubbed Project 2029 aimed at addressing a myriad of everyday frustrations collectively known as the annoyance economy.
This initiative seeks to tackle issues like robocallsendless hold times and hidden fees which have become pervasive in modern life. Led by Chad Maisel, the executive director of Project 2029 and former special assistant to President Biden, the project aims to provide a ready-to-go governing blueprint for a future Democratic president.
Understanding the Annoyance Economy
The annoyance economy refers to a range of frustrating business practices that waste time and money. These include hidden fees that appear only at checkout, cumbersome subscription cancellation processes, and mind-numbing insurance paperwork. According to Maisel and Neale Mahoney, a Stanford economist, these practices cost American families at least $165 billion annually.
Maisel and Mahoney argue that these daily annoyances have become a significant policy concern. They believe that addressing these issues will not only improve the quality of life for Americans but also prove to be a political winner. Their work on the Time is Money initiative, unveiled in late summer 2026, highlighted the popularity of tackling junk fees and other headache-causing business practices.
The Economics of Everyday Hassles
The idea to take on the annoyance economy didn’t begin with Project 2029. It started a few years ago in the Biden White House. Maisel, then at the White House Domestic Policy Council, and Mahoney, at the National Economic Council, worked together on a federal rule targeting junk fees. This effort led to the Federal Trade Commission implementing a rule in 2026 that banned junk fees for hotels, vacation rentals, and live events.
Despite the popularity of the Time is Money initiative, most of its proposals never took effect. Maisel attributes this to the short length of time between the initiative’s unveiling and President Biden leaving office, as well as fierce opposition from affected industries. For instance, the airline industry spent millions opposing a rule that would have entitled passengers to cash refunds for significant delays.
Proposed Solutions
In their new proposal, Maisel and Mahoney call for a series of rules and regulations aimed at making daily interactions with companies less frustrating. They propose creating a standardized claims system to simplify filing insurance claims online and ending the widespread use of prior authorization by insurance companies. They also advocate for cracking down on scam calls, implementing click-to-cancel rules for subscriptions, and restoring the ability to press zero to talk to a customer agent.
The Case for Government Intervention
Critics might argue that the market should naturally fix these issues. If companies annoy customers, why don’t customers simply take their business elsewhere? Maisel and Mahoney point to several reasons why real-world markets behave differently than old-school economics would predict.
First, there is a lack of vigorous competition in many industries. Heightened concentration in sectors like telecommunications and airlines means consumers often have few choices. Second, there is a lack of information. When shopping for health insurance or a bank account, consumers often don’t know what they’re getting until it’s too late. Lastly, behavioral economics plays a role. Consumers often focus on upfront costs rather than
Whether you agree with their proposed solutions or not, Maisel and Mahoney are making an unusual economic argument: that everyday hassles in the private sector aren’t just annoyances—they’re a real economic cost. And, as Maisel says, they also carry a civic cost, leaving people with less time, less trust, and less energy to participate in their communities.
