Land and Fiscal Systems

The Lincoln Institute is committed to strengthening land-based financing to support public services in order to effectuate a key insight of economist Henry George: there is a crucial public role in private land ownership.

Our work supports efficient and equitable methods of taxation and the use of land-based financing tools to supply a full range of public services, from social housing to investment in climate resilience measures. We provide public officials with the tools and training to improve community welfare through fiscal policy, including modern methods of valuation, new techniques for gauging the land value increment due to public investment, and case studies of successful implementation of these approaches. We also publish extensive databases that allow comparison of alternate approaches to land-based taxation, covering state-by-state property tax features and local finance measures across many categories of revenue.

Land-Based Financing

The Lincoln Institute promotes the use of a well-functioning property tax and other land-based financing tools like land value return (often referred to as land value capture) through multiple lines of work. We research when and how to use land-based financing for infrastructure, services, and affordable housing so policymakers have empirical evidence to make informed decisions. We educate practitioners and policymakers about the legal frameworks, mechanics, and outcomes of land-based financing approaches. We also provide on-the-ground assistance for communities to efficiently and equitably implement land-based financing strategies.