4 ms·

In the most basic sense, land value tax would mean that the tax would be the same whether your land was just sitting there empty or you had a hundred-story skys

by 3825 13y ago

In the most basic sense, land value tax would mean that the tax would be the same whether your land was just sitting there empty or you had a hundred-story skyscraper on it. I don't know what that effects it would have. I assume the first and most direct effect would be budget shortfalls in local governments which would probably try to create more fines[0] and sin taxes (assuming they are still legal). [0] LA has an almost $200 fine for jaywalking. I'd argue that fines and confiscated money from drugs should never go into general treasury much less directly used to fund the department collecting such fines and confiscations. Our government should run on taxes alone and not on fines and fees. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/us/in-a-car-culture-clash-its-los-angeles-police-vs-pedestrians.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/us/in-a-car-culture-clash-...

toomuchtodo 13y ago
Thank you!
dllthomas 13y ago
"I don't know what that effects it would have. I assume the first and most direct effect would be budget shortfalls in local governments which would probably try to create more fines[0] and sin taxes (assuming they are still legal)." In principle you could have a revenue neutral transition to a land-value tax. In practice, it might very well lead to crazy numbers.
notahacker 13y ago
Land which is worth enough to put a hundred story skyscraper on it usually doesn't stay empty for long, especially if the landowner is paying the same tax rates as the owners of the surrounding city centre lots. There's no a priori reason to assume that land value taxes would either fully replace other tax systems or not be revenue neutral. If collected locally, they might even favour well-managed local governments who should see their investment in better services reflected in higher land prices.
- dllthomas 13y ago
  Interestingly, it would be a huge blow to cars in cities, as parking would need to get substantially more expensive.

by 3825 13y ago

toomuchtodo 13y ago

Thank you!

dllthomas 13y ago

"I don't know what that effects it would have. I assume the first and most direct effect would be budget shortfalls in local governments which would probably try to create more fines[0] and sin taxes (assuming they are still legal)." In principle you could have a revenue neutral transition to a land-value tax. In practice, it might very well lead to crazy numbers.

notahacker 13y ago

Land which is worth enough to put a hundred story skyscraper on it usually doesn't stay empty for long, especially if the landowner is paying the same tax rates as the owners of the surrounding city centre lots. There's no a priori reason to assume that land value taxes would either fully replace other tax systems or not be revenue neutral. If collected locally, they might even favour well-managed local governments who should see their investment in better services reflected in higher land prices.

dllthomas 13y ago
Interestingly, it would be a huge blow to cars in cities, as parking would need to get substantially more expensive.