Henry George
American political economist and author of Progress and Poverty · 1839–1897
Henry George was an American journalist and economist whose book Progress and Poverty argued that land rent should be captured for the public through a single tax on land values. He also campaigned for free trade and ran for mayor of New York City.
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Estimated from their documented words and actions. A simplification, not a verdict.
No strong recorded view.
Campaigned for democratic reform, including the secret ballot, and ran for public office.
Opposed monopolies and privilege that restrict individual opportunity.
Saw free trade as bringing nations together peacefully.
Opposed militarism and war spending.
Supported restricting immigrant labour in his early writings.
Argued land should be treated as common property through a tax capturing its rental value.
Wanted a single land tax to replace other taxes, with otherwise free markets.
Wrote Protection or Free Trade, a sustained argument for abolishing tariffs.
Framed his economics in religious and moral language while not seeking a role for churches in law.
A reformer focused on reducing poverty and privilege in his era.
Saw material progress as positive if its gains were shared.