Henry George's 19th century ideas on taxing land, not labor, still influence economic thinking today

Henry George argued in the 1800s that taxing land values could replace income taxes and fund government services. His ideas sparked a worldwide reform movement.

George toured Australia in 1890, giving 48 lectures advocating a "single tax" on land and free trade policies. His ideas influenced how the ACT has treated land.

Economist Ross Garnaut said in 2021 that George's ideas "seem to me to be broadly right now" and could raise substantial revenue through land taxes.

The Monopoly board game was originally called The Landlord's Game and designed by Elizabeth Magie in 1904 to teach Georgist economic principles.

Magie wanted the game to show how rents enrich landlords but impoverish tenants, though the game evolved over time to lose its specific Georgist messaging.