rural idiocy

[Patrick Bond]

Yes, also for underutilised rural land. But as usual the banal impulse 
against taxation -- so as to make SA more internationally competitive 
-- has poisoned that debate, and we expect very little progress. The 
Department of Land Affairs, whose minister Derek Hanekom is an 
ex-lefty, was penetrated quite early on by a World Bank advisory 
team, so it's market-oriented policy nearly all the way. Hanekom was 
given the mandate (in the ANC election manifesto) to redistribute 30% 
of arable land and will in fact redistribute less than 1% by all accounts.

This is true rural idiocy.

When I worked in Philadelphia I remember the Henry George folk coming 
around (with an institute even) and making a bit of a splash, but 
they lacked gravity and didn't accomplish anything durable there. Any 
urban land tax experiences elsewhere?


> From:          "Max B. Sawicky" <maxsaw at cpcug.org>
...
> Which raises the question of the Henry George solution,
> namely a tax on the site value of land, and a parallel
> premium -- either a zero or lower rate -- on improvements
> on land (fixed capital?).  Proponents of the tax argue
> that it means that holding an unusued or under-utilized
> parcel of land is tantamount to burning money, and the
> tax will accelerate development.  It could also displace
> existing residents, however.  Anybody talking about this
> in S.A.?
> 
> MBS