How rising land values shape society and who pays the price.
The Unearned Increment analyzes how land grows in value as cities expand and industry flourishes. It explains why landlords often benefit at the expense of workers, and how public improvements, speculation, and tenancy rules shape rents and housing quality. This edition compiles historical evidence and economic arguments to show the social costs of rapid land value increases.
With a focus on both urban and rural contexts, the work traces how rent, taxation, and policy interact with development. It sheds light on long-standing tensions between property owners, tenants, and the broader public, offering a framework for understanding housing and land policy today.
- How land value rises beyond labor and investment, and who gains from it
- The leasehold system and its impact on building quality and tenant rights
- Historical data and arguments about rents, taxation, and public costs
- Connections between urban growth, housing scarcity, and social equity
Ideal for readers interested in economic history, housing policy, and the social effects of land ownership.
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