CFP: George and Georgism: New Directions

George and Georgism: New Directions

Wharton School

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

May 8, 2026

Call For Papers

Henry George was arguably the most important American political economist of the nineteenth century. At the time of his death in 1898, his works could be found in hundreds of thousands of middle-class American households, and even mid-sized American cities could boast a range of associations devoted to his ideas, especially including his proposal for a single tax on the value of land. Today, however, his works and ideas are little studied and even less understood. This conference is part of a multi-pronged effort, funded by the Progress and Poverty Institute, to revive research on George and Georgism among political philosophers, political theorists, and scholars in adjacent disciplines.  

The conference will feature Billy Christmas (West Virginia) and Michael Otsuka (Rutgers) as invited speakers alongside three or four presenters chosen through this call. We invite contributions that explore George’s texts (or those of related authors), develop or critique Georgist ideas, or both. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Exegesis and analysis of the works of Henry George or related authors (e.g., Herbert Spencer, the American “labour republicans,” J.S. Mill (on political economy), John Francis Bray);

Comparative study of George and related authors, including major figures in nineteenth-century political economy (e.g., Ricardo, James Mill, Marx);

Development or critique of Georgist ideas as potential contributions to contemporary political philosophy or political theory;

Applications (supportive or critical) of Georgist ideas to contemporary economic problems policy questions.

Call for Abstracts

If you are interested in presenting your paper (forty-five minute presentation followed by fifteen minutes of discussion), please send an abstract of no more than 1,000 words to Daniel Layman at [email protected]  by February 1, 2026. Selected papers will be announced by March 1, 2026. 

Funding

Travel and lodging costs for selected presenters, as well as food during the event, will be paid for by the Progress and Poverty Institute. 

Organizers

Paul Forrester

Legal Studies and Business Ethics

Wharton School

University of Pennsylvania

[email protected]

Daniel Layman

Department of Philosophy and Program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

Davidson College

[email protected]

Otto Lehto

Classical Liberal Institute

NYU School of Law

[email protected]

Acknowledgement

This symposium is supported by a grant from the Progress and Poverty Institute.