There is an important difference between child allowances and tax credits. The former is long-term free government money; the latter allows families to keep more of what they’ve earned. This distinction is at the heart of fundamental governing questions related to agency, duty, and power.
In my view, allowances look like government largess but they expand the role of the central state in our lives with predictable, concomitant risks. Tax credits prioritize work, limit Uncle Sam’s reach, and leave space for states, local governments, and non-government bodies to support families.