PROGRESS AND POVERTY, a famous work by Henry George, written in 1877-79. The manuscript was declined by publishers, but finally D. Appleton and Company agreed to publish the book if the author would bear the cost of making the plates. The latter were made under the author's personal supervision in San Francisco. Before being shipped east, late in 1879, an 'Author's Proof Edition) of 500 copies was struck off. The first regular edition was brought out in January MO. It soon went through many editions, both in the United States and England. It has also been translated into almost every modern language and it is claimed that more than 2,000,000 copies have been sold. The best recent edition is the 25th anniversary edition (New York 1916). The author seeks in this work to solve a problem and prescribe a remedy. The problem is: 'Why, in the midst of a marvelous progress, is grinding poverty on the increase?* The remedy is to nationalize the land,— make it public property; leaving that already in use in the possession of those holding it, but confiscat ing the rent and abolishing all other forms of taxation. Though the principles established by
the book were not altogether original, but more or less similar to those of the French economic school known as Physocrates (q.v.), they had never before received an equally lucid and popular treatment in the English language.
They gave origin to the so-called Single-Tax movement (q.v.), a school of economic philos ophy which has still many adherents. Consult Dixwell, G. B., 'Progress and Poverty: A Re view of the Doctrines of Henry George' (Cain bridge 1882) ; George, H., Jr., 'The Life of Henry George) (New York 1900) • Longe, F. D., 'A Critical Examination of Air. George's 'Progress and Poverty*' (London 1883); Mil ler, J. B., 'Trade Organizations in Politics; also Progress and Robbery' (New York 1887) ' • Stebbins, G. B., 'Progress from Poverty, etc.' (Chicago 1887) ; Taylor, E. R. 'Henry George, the Man' (in 20th Century Vol. VI, p. 13, Boston 1912) • Toynbee, A., 'Progress and Poverty:* A Criticism of Mr. George) (London 1883).