The Essence of Progress and Poverty

Henry George

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780486842073
• eBook ISBN: 9780486846712
• Topic: Economics
• Subtopic: Economic History
• Index: Economics

In this concise text, the distinguished American philosopher John Dewey compiled excerpts from the massive Progress and Poverty to provide those unfamiliar with Henry George's work with the essence of the author's thinking on economics. In his Foreword, Dewey noted, "It would require less than the fingers of the two hands to enumerate those who from Plato down rank with [George]. No man, no graduate of a higher educational institution, has a right to regard himself as an educated man in social thought unless he has some first-hand acquaintance with the theoretical contribution of this great American thinker."
Fifteen brief chapters feature passages from George's highly influential book and examine why poverty persists throughout periods of economic and technological progress as well as the basis for economic cycles of boom and bust.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• An Appreciation of Henry George
• 1. The Problem
• 2. Poverty Not Due to Over-Population
• 3. Land Rent Grows as Community Develops
• 4. Land Speculation Causes Reduced Wages
• 5. The Basic Cause of Poverty
• 6. The Remedy
• 7. Simplicity of Method of Introducing Remedy
• 8. Why a Land-Value Tax Is Better Than an Equal Tax on All Property
• 9. Alleged Difficulty of Distinguishing Land from Improvements
• 10. Effect of Remedy upon Wealth Production
• 11. Effect of Remedy upon the Sharing of Wealth
• 12. Effect of Remedy upon Various Economic Classes
• 13. Effect of Remedy upon Social Ideals
• 14. Liberty, and Equality of Opportunity
• 15. The Cross of a New Crusade