From the President

We announced in the last issue of Land Lines that I will be stepping down next year as president of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Rather than use this column to talk about the many innovative programs we have undertaken in the past, I want to offer my view of the factors that will guide the work of the Institute in the future.

Most important, the staff and board are committed to continuing the Institute’s educational focus. We hope that this work will improve the quality of information available to decision makers in the areas of land policy and land-related tax policy, and will enhance public discussion and debate by disseminating ideas, information, analysis and experience to institutions and individuals engaged in these topical areas. Our focus on land and tax policy stems from our commitment to introduce the thinking and ideas of Henry George, especially as developed in his book Progress and Poverty, into contemporary policy making in the United States and through our international programs.

To help guide particular projects at the Institute, the staff has developed and the board has approved eight objectives.

1. To build capacity for better decision making by offering educational programs that provide information, ideas and analytical tools to public officials, professionals and citizens.
2. To identify, support and disseminate research that will lead to better understanding, decisions and actions.
3. To develop and demonstrate more effective, fair and efficient programs and policies for accomplishing public goals.
4. To advance the understanding and application of new methods, tools and techniques for achieving policy goals.
5. To foster and participate in communications and interactions with scholars, practitioners, public officials, policy advisers and civic leaders.
6. To encourage and support scholars who will pursue academic disciplines related to land policy and land-related tax policy.
7. To develop training materials and other educational resources that can be used in our programs and those of other organizations.
8. To identify relevant audiences in our topical areas and disseminate our work to them through the most effective means available, including courses, seminars, conferences, printed publications, Web-based materials, electronic media, audio and video resources, and other methods of communication.

   Each program and activity of the Institute is designed to serve one or more of these objectives. I believe that the conformation of our educational focus with these specific program objectives will provide valuable guidance to the Institute’s leadership to improve ongoing programs and develop new ones in the future.