Re: Land, Labour and Capital Taxation....

From: Mark Monson (m_monson_at_ztech.com)
Date: 12/12/04 

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 19:06:02 -0500

<lev_lafayette@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:1102728820.779185.155690@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> I'm trying to be reasonable and neutral on all this, and thought I'd
> pose the questions here (I know, reasonable and neutral on usenet
> *shakes head*).
>
> Conventional economic wisdom says that taxes on labour and capital
> reduce incentives in these productive activities. Ditto for consumption
> taxes. No great surprise there.
>
> I also, continiously read, that "taxation", or more appropriately
> "resource rents" on land (broadly defined), causes a shift of resources
> to productivity activities.
>
> The monies raised from resource rentals could also be used to pay a
> citizen's dividend, thus reducing the bureaucratic costs and reliance
> on the welfare state.
>
> So why isn't happening in a more widespread manner? Apart from the
> politics of the situation of course. I just read this stuff and think
> "Well, here seems to be something that capitalists, socialists and
> environmentalists _should_ all agree on. The only people who would
> disagree are those who profit from land speculation."
>
> Which leads me to think there might be something erroneous about the
> general idea. So what the hell is it?

Land Value Taxation prevents land from appreciating in price. In fact, it destroys
land price. The majority of people are programmed to consider their self interest
entirely in terms of personal monetary gain, without much regard for improving
general conditions. Such short-sighted people tend to close their ears to
arguments however logical that require them to give up future land price
appreciation for other benefits.

MM

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Land, Labour and Capital Taxation....
    ... >>Land Value Taxation prevents land from appreciating in price. ... >>arguments however logical that require them to give up future land price ... > is an asset, and a tax on land reduces the value of the asset. ...
    (sci.econ)
  • Re: Land, Labour and Capital Taxation....
    ... >>Land Value Taxation prevents land from appreciating in price. ... >>arguments however logical that require them to give up future land price ... > is an asset, and a tax on land reduces the value of the asset. ... refuse to even consider proposals like LVT that improve the entire economy. ...
    (sci.econ)
  • Re: Land, Labour and Capital Taxation....
    ... >land price. ... >arguments however logical that require them to give up future land price ... is an asset, and a tax on land reduces the value of the asset. ... caused by the land tax. ...
    (sci.econ)