Men did not make the earth. It is the value of the improvements only, and not the earth itself, that is individual property. Every proprietor owes to the community a ground rent for the land which he holds." Agrarian Justice 1797 -Thomas Paine
Our modern fiscal system creates incentives for industry to deplete our natural and social resources, pollute the environment, and speculate in land and finance, while simultaneously preventing positive growth in wages, benefits, and hiring. We the people, encourage industry to pollute natural resources and exploit social institutions by forfeiting our right to charge them for use of our common assets, and even subsizing pollution and depletion. Instead, we impose on industry inefficiencies such as taxes on wages, income, and profits, which prevent job and wage growth. The Gund Institute's Common Asset and Green Tax project is a solution to these problems.