A Different Type of Land Value Tax In the Republic of Ireland

Once Ireland was a rural and poverty-stricken land. Hundreds of years of British rule by a landed aristocracy sucked rent, food, and money out of the nation.

Tomatoes, Robots, Civilization, and Farm Fresh Equity

When we hear the word “Technology” we tend to think of electronics, flying cars, and the like. Since most of us live our lives as urbanites or suburbanites and few of us make a living farming, the Tech of Agriculture may seldom cross our minds. In this entry of the Tech & Society blog we will turn that around by asking how civilization even exists without the Agriculture Tech we rely on every day to stay alive. We will also look at how new and emerging technology including AI and robotics are shaping the future of Digital Agriculture and what this means on a global scale for Equity and economic fairness in light of the teachings of Henry George.

The “Unland Land” Around Us

Most of us have a shared understanding of what is meant when we hear the word land. Normally, people think of the ground underfoot or the plains stretching to the mountains or the contrast of the Earth and the sea. However, some technical abstractions can also be considered as land in the view of Henry George. In this blog entry we will discuss the societal implications of how we manage certain ethereal properties affecting satellites, cell phones, and even your Wifi connection. These naturally occurring elements are what I call “Unland Land.” As we will see they are universal, impactful, and highly valuable.

Home Sweet Home: Or Required Refuge

There is the Rule of Threes which states that: “Humans can survive three weeks without food, three days without water…” and so on. I was reminded of this recently when being suddenly forced to find emergency shelter. So much goes into providing housing including construction methods, fuel sources, safety systems, and more. This also led me to think about housing as a right and how some people are lacking in this essential service and why. In this post we delve into the thinking of Henry George on providing equitably for land use and housing access.

Living Equitably with Tech at Any Age

For all those kids out there from 1 to 92 who need to use technology, how do you make it work for yourself? Are you really connected to the society or is society passing you by? This post explores the “red shift” inherent in our technological environment and how the pace of change and complexity it generates leaves a Digital Divide and an economic gap in its wake.

Fiscal Policies for a Low-Carbon Economy

Climate disasters are occurring with ever higher frequency, threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide.

Can Diaspora Bonds Supercharge Development Investment?

Over the past two decades one of the most intriguing ideas in development finance has been the proposal that developing nations can raise substantial funds from their expatriate communities by creating diaspora bonds.

Tech To Table: Global Trade and Your Smart Kitchen

When I wake up each morning, I like to make myself a cup of coffee and a bite to eat. I normally do not think twice about where I start my day. My handy and cozy kitchen.

Do inflation expectations even matter anymore?

We got a big CPI print today, 5.0%. That’s above expectations. And, we saw a mild uptick in US Treasury bond yields on the back of the number. But I am wondering whether it really matters. Let me explain.

Lions and Tigers and Technology: Why new tech (like vaccines) scare us

Since the earliest times, technologies have been a two-edged sword – literally. They cut both ways. We all remember in our Jungian collective unconscious the scene where the exceedingly useful wheel – now on the nasty armed chariot – scares the fleeing peasant. Boy, the inventor of that technology sure never intended for that to unfold.