Progress & Poverty

A newsletter dedicated to exploring the thought and implications of Georgism.

[Reed Schwartz @reedschwartzsf]

New York State just authorized a land value tax that could generate billions of dollars for new transit.

For the @NiskanenCenter, @aarmlovi and I wrote about how the renewal of § 119-r in the FY27 budget could unlock a virtuous cycle of infrastructure delivery in NYC.

[Lars Doucet @larsiusprime]

Contra Watling on "The failure of the land value tax"

Sam Watling wrote an article last year in Works in Progress, alleging that because LVT failed in 1910 under the British Liberals, that it is fundamentally unworkable everywhere else.

We (not to mention the evidence) disagree

[Reed Schwartz @reedschwartzsf]

👀

[Progress & Poverty @PnPSubstack]

Land value tax is having a moment.

Next week, June 3rd 7pm ET, we're getting state legislators and advocates from OH, KY, and VA to talk about what's actually moving. And @reedschwartzsf to talk about LVT for finance funding.

Don't miss it!

https://t.co/fLE34uBhaz

[Lars Doucet @larsiusprime]

Property taxes going up? One unexpected cause among many is *hospital consolidation*

The 340B program creates an incentive for nonprofit health systems to roll up for-profit hospitals.

And when they do, that real estate becomes tax exempt.

Who makes up the difference? YOU.

[Progress & Poverty @PnPSubstack]

Will the Housing Market Crash in 2026?

Georgist theory predicted the 2008 crisis and prior recessions. The next prediction is for 2026, giving us reason to revisit the theory.

https://t.co/TNfU418IiP

[Progress & Poverty @PnPSubstack]

This election secured victories for mayoral candidates who endorsed land value taxes from the east coast in Seattle to the midwest in Minneapolis to the west coast in Buffalo.

Land value tax will become mainstream.

https://t.co/zE8rCnSjCW

[Progress & Poverty @PnPSubstack]

10/
Mamdani built the coalition Henry George only dreamed of.
Now he has to decide what to do with it.

Will he freeze the rent — or redistribute it?

Because to make New York fair, he’ll have to turn land’s common wealth into the people’s wealth. 🌎

https://t.co/ZBzuwDf2Vp

[Progress & Poverty @PnPSubstack]

1/
Everyone’s talking about how Zohran Mamdani won.
Let’s talk about what comes next.

Because the new mayor faces the same paradox that has haunted New York for over a century:
Why does progress produce poverty?
🧵

[Progress & Poverty @PnPSubstack]

9/
George saw rent not as a cost of housing, but as revenue flowing to those who monopolize location.

He believed that since land value is created by the community, the rent from land should return to the community.

[Progress & Poverty @PnPSubstack]

Financial incentivizes cities shape our cities, and with surface parking lots, its no different. We must stop incentivizing them. https://t.co/ABufheS5i3

[Progress & Poverty @PnPSubstack]

A Georgist’s reflections on YIMBYtown https://t.co/G2iklZaw4z

[Progress & Poverty @PnPSubstack]

We’ve filled the Monopoly board. Gen Z is running around the board with no properties to buy. Something’s got to give.

https://t.co/xccxwxbsk2