Henry George and the Institution of Private Property in Land: A Property Rights Approach |
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| Authors: | Gary B Buurman |
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| Institution: | [G. B. Buurman, M.A., is senior lecturer in economics, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.] This study is based on a paper presented at Massey University in commemoration of the centenary of publication of George's Progress and Poverty;, and published in the series, Massey Economic Papers, No. A8402, January, 1984, C. Michelini, M. Pickford and P. Read, eds. The author thanks Stuart Birks for helpful comments on an earlier draft. The usual disclaimers apply. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract . Conflicting statements concerning whether the implementation of Henry George's single tax proposal would destroy the institution of private property in land have appeared in the literatures of economics and other disciplines. A number of writers have implied that the taxation of Ricardian rent is equivalent to land nationalization. In the main, followers of George have denied that the single tax would abolish private property in land. Their claim is based on the fact that land titles would remain in private hands under the single tax. Since the whole question of private property is beset with ideological difficulties, a property rights approach is applied to this issue in an attempt to resolve the controversy. The conclusions are that the actual implementation of George's system would not destroy private property in land and that it is incorrect to equate the single tax with land nationalization. |
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