unearned increment


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Unearned Increment

Appreciation in the value of real estate without any improvement undertaken by the owner. For example, a parcel of land may become more valuable if a university is built nearby and the parcel becomes desirable for developers. The term originated in the 18th century as part of a proposal to tax the added value. See also: Unearned Income, Property Tax.
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unearned increment

The amount by which land increases in value because of generally improving conditions in the area,not because of any particular efforts by the property owner.The concept is important to a social theory made popular in the late 1800s by American journalist Henry George, but which still maintains broad appeal.Proponents,often called “Georgists”support the return of the unearned increment to society,in the form of large taxes on that portion of the increase in value of real estate.The concept is diametrically opposed to the current system of long-term capital gains tax breaks,which allow a property owner to retain more of the unearned increment,not less.

The Complete Real Estate Encyclopedia by Denise L. Evans, JD & O. William Evans, JD. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
The insight shared by Thomas Paine, Henry George, John Stuart Mill and others about unearned increment and the benefits from a common fund had merit long before our age of cybernetics and robots made the displacements from "non-labor-intensive" technology so critical.
Two more American authors calling for a 'Basic Income Guarantee'
Hurst approved of a tax on the unearned increment of land--a tax he described as most equitable and expedient--but argued that if land had been purchased from the state, its value at the time of purchase included its prospective increase in value.
It is incumbent upon all who are concerned for the well-being of their fellows to give close attention to this question of taxing away the unearned increment of land.
Garran argued that one cause of the agitation for land nationalisation--in which he included land-value taxation--was 'jealousy of the "unearned increment"' in town allotments.
According to Forsyth, Garran's most important fallacy consisted of mixing up improvements on land with the unearned increment of land.
He said that if the taxation of the unearned increment was adopted as a principle, then it would be logically inconsistent to argue for exemptions: 'there is obviously no justification on principle for any exemption at all', and any argument for exempting small properties would be a 'political dodge' to bribe the small holders into acquiescence (IV.11.456).
But George was not prepared to adjust his policy to deal with the situation where government had already received at least some of the expected unearned increment in the purchase price paid by private individuals.
Farrell's concession that the unearned increment is only part, and not the strongest part, of the argument for land-value tax raises another important question.
Henry George and the Australian Economic Association: on land ownership and land taxation
However, although the ownership of land and the enjoyment of its 'unearned increments' have become more widespread than in George's day, at least in Westernised countries, there are signs that the trend is now reversing.
The ups and downs of Henry George
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