Smart Talk With Dr. Alexandra W. Lough Discussing Henry George's

In this Smart Talk series Andrew Mazzone and Dr. Alexandra W. Lough discuss the life and work of Henry George's masterpiece, "Progress and Poverty".

Dr. Alexandra (Alex) W. Lough holds a PhD in American History from Brandeis University where she completed a dissertation titled, “The Last Tax: Henry George and the Social Politics of Land Reform” (2013). While completing her dissertation, Alex worked as a teaching fellow and instructor in the History and University Writing Departments. Alex is currently the director of Henry George Birthplace, Archive & Historical Research Center in Philadelphia. She is currently writing a social biography of the single tax and can be reached by email at awlough@hgsss.org.

Henry George, was an American economist and social philosopher born in Philadelphia in 1839 and died in New York in 1897. His main works include: The Science of Political Economy, Progress & Poverty, Protection or Free Trade, The Condition of Labor, A Perplexed Philosopher, Social Problems. He brought changes in politics and eco-political theories in America. Henry George was the first economist to demonstrate that taxes based on resources, which he called land tax, or single tax, produced the greatest prosperity with the least adverse effects. He also showed how poverty and unemployment could be destroyed by the removal of all current taxation and the replacement with the single tax.

With his book Progress & Poverty published in 1879, a global Georgist movement began. Henry George outlined how current land ownership laws allow a pyramid society for the rich to live off the poor. His simple but emotionally inspired writings alerted the people to this travesty. He also provided a solution which many followed and still apply in today's world. With his writings, Progress and Poverty put Henry George into the spotlight and fame. He emerged as one of the most influential of the reformers which politicians, economists, scientists and other leaders were influenced by his analysis of poverty and its relationship to progress.

Watch this interesting episode of Smart Talk for the rest of the discussion. For full transcript please visit:
http://hgsss.org/smart-talk-with-andrew-mazzone-and-alexandra-w-lough/

The Henry George School of Social Science has launched Smart Talk, a series of discussions with leading economists around the world moderated by Andrew Mazzone, president of the HGS board of trustees. We invite you to watch the Smart Talk videos of discussions with some of the most talked-about economic and social thinkers of our times. Please visit: http://hgsss.org/smart-talk/ to watch more videos.