Our Approach

The Henry George Foundation's approach is forged by a radical understanding of the nature of property, and the importance for us all of the common resources of the world.

We recognise that the fundamental cause of the present unequal distribution of wealth is unequal access to the value of our common resources. Explicitly, we see the wealth problem of the 21st Century not as a problem of exchange - and therefore not one solvable by redistribution or trade rules. It is a problem of initial inequitable access to resources - and therefore solvable only by a clearer insight into, and implementation of, the natural laws of wealth distribution. We advocate a simple solution: the collection of the rental value of all natural and community resources - from whomever holds and monopolises them - and the application of the revenue raised for public purposes in lieu of traditional taxation.

This approach to sharing the value of our common resources and paying for public services and infrastructure comes in many guises. One example of the measure is called land value taxation. However fiscal charges should apply to all common resources including, for instance, the use of the radio spectrum, mineral exploitation including oil reserves, air traffic landing slots, pollution emissions capacity, satellite parking stations and deep sea fishing licences.

Such radical reform of our resource and public revenue systems would have far-reaching and profoundly beneficial consequences for society and the environment.