The Unitism® Approach
Creating economic systems that foster shared prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social harmony
What is Unitism?
Unitism® is an economic system that recognizes the interconnectedness of all life and seeks fair, sustainable, and inclusive prosperity for all. At its core, it acknowledges that true prosperity comes not through extraction, but through activities such as cooperation, competition, and stewardship.
We are committed to teaching and applying the principles of political economy through research, advisory work, lectures, seminars, and published materials. Our thinking is grounded primarily in the writings of Adam Smith, David Ricardo, John Stuart Mill, and Henry George. We also draw on the work of contemporary economists, including Dr. Fred Foldvary, Ph.D., Dr. Mason Gaffney, Ph.D., and Fred Harrison.
Our consulting approach applies these principles to economic systems, helping organizations and governments implement policies that:
- Recognize land and all gifts of nature as community wealth
- Capture economic rent for public benefit
- Reduce inequality and increase shared prosperity
- Preserve environmental resources for future generations
- Foster social harmony and community well-being
Tri-Factor Economics
Labor
Human effort and ingenuity applied to productive activities. Labor creates value through work and innovation.
Capital
Tools, machinery, and improvements created by human labor. Capital amplifies our productive capacity.
Land (Nature)
All gifts of nature and opportunities. Unlike labor and capital, land is not created by human effort — its value is generated by the community.
The Key Insight: Economic Rent
Land generates economic rent — income that flows to landowners simply from owning desirable locations, not from their productive efforts. This rent is created by the entire community through population growth, public infrastructure, and economic development. By capturing this community-created value for public benefit rather than private gain, we can fund public services, reduce inequality, and create more equitable economic systems.
Our Consulting Services
Policy Development
We work with governments to design and implement policies that capture economic rent for public benefit, including land value taxation, community land trusts, and resource revenue sharing.
- Land value assessment and taxation systems
- Natural resource revenue policies
- Affordable housing strategies
- Economic development frameworks
Research & Analysis
Drawing on decades of research, including work with Common Wealth Canada, we provide empirical analysis of economic rent and its role in local economies.
- Economic rent quantification
- Distributional impact analysis
- Housing affordability studies
- Fiscal sustainability assessments
Education & Training
We offer workshops, seminars, and training programs to help policymakers, community leaders, and citizens understand the principles of equitable economics.
- Public seminars on economic principles
- Government staff training
- Community engagement programs
- Educational materials and resources
Strategic Planning
We help organizations develop long-term strategies for implementing equitable economic systems that promote prosperity for all while protecting the environment.
- Transition roadmaps and timelines
- Stakeholder engagement strategies
- Implementation support
- Monitoring and evaluation frameworks
The Impact of Our Approach
By capturing economic rent for public benefit, communities can achieve multiple transformative outcomes:
📉 Reduced Inequality
Preventing the concentration of wealth through land speculation and rent extraction
🏘️ Affordable Housing
Removing land speculation reduces housing costs and makes communities more accessible
🌳 Environmental Protection
Incentivizing sustainable use of all gifts of nature and discouraging waste
💰 Public Revenue
Generating sustainable revenue for public services without distorting economic activity
📈 Economic Stability
Reducing boom-bust cycles driven by land speculation and real estate bubbles
🤝 Social Cohesion
Creating communities where everyone has access to opportunity and can thrive
Partner Organizations
Common Wealth Canada
Conducting empirical research on economic rent and its role in society, with a focus on housing affordability and tax policy.
Visit commonwealth.ca →UBI Works
Research and advocacy for guaranteed basic income to alleviate poverty and support vulnerable communities. Over 100K+ supporters nationwide.
Visit ubiworks.ca →Progress.org
Online forum promoting equitable and scientific ideas in economics, society, nature, and technology to affirm a world that works for everyone.
Visit progress.org →Key Concepts
Tri-Factor Economics
Classical economics recognizes three distinct factors of production: land (nature), labor, and capital. Modern economics often conflates land with capital, obscuring the unique role of all gifts of nature in creating wealth. Understanding this distinction is essential for creating equitable economic systems.
Economic Rent
Economic rent is income derived from exclusive access to all gifts of nature and advantageous locations. Unlike wages (earned by labor) and returns on investment (earned by capital), economic rent is created by the community and nature, not by individual effort. Capturing this for public benefit reduces inequality and funds public services.
Land Value Taxation
Also known as site value taxation, this approach taxes the unimproved value of land rather than buildings and improvements. This encourages productive use of land, discourages speculation, and captures community-created value for public benefit without distorting economic incentives.
Community Land Trusts
Community land trusts separate the ownership of land from the ownership of buildings, ensuring long-term affordability and community control. This model allows individuals to own homes while the community retains land ownership, preventing speculation and gentrification.
Economists
Our approach draws on the insights of economists — classical and contemporary — who recognized the unique role of land in creating wealth:
Adam Smith (1723-1790)
Author of "The Wealth of Nations", Smith recognized that rent is determined by the productive power of land and increases with the prosperity of society.
David Ricardo (1772-1823)
Ricardo developed the law of rent, showing how landowners capture increasing value as population and commerce grow, without contributing to production.
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
Mill advocated for taxing the unearned increment in land values, recognizing that increases in land value are created by society, not by landowners.
Henry George (1839-1897)
Author of "Progress and Poverty", George proposed that land value taxation could eliminate poverty and create broadly shared prosperity without distorting economic incentives.
Dr. Fred Foldvary, Ph.D. (1946-2021)
An economist who, reading the 18-year land cycle, forecast the 2008 financial crisis more than a decade in advance. Writing in 1997, he predicted that “the next major bust, 18 years after the 1990 downturn, will be around 2008, if there is no major interruption such as a global war.”
Dr. Mason Gaffney, Ph.D. (1923-2020)
A professor of economics who championed land as a uniquely sound base for public revenue, since it can be neither hidden nor moved: “However high the tax rate, not one square foot of it will put on a track shoe and hop out of town.”
Fred Harrison (b. 1944)
A British economic commentator who traced the recurring boom-and-bust cycle to land speculation. As he put it, “property is the key factor that shapes the business cycle, not the other way around.”
Ready to Transform Your Community?
Let’s discuss how Unitism® can help your organization implement equitable economic systems.
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