The economy seems to be stabilizing, but almost everyone agrees the patient is still sick.  I’ve been encouraged by several economic ideas that are popping up around the internet.

My favorite is the return to a single “unimproved property” tax that would promote the most efficient use of land.  Rather than taxing people who don’t even own property and are still getting their feet under them, a single property tax would shift the burden to the wealthy while also giving prime land a churn rate so that new ideas and ventures get their day in the sun.
A second idea is a re-thinking and democratization of the banking system itself.  Basically, we would lower the bar for individuals or corporations to start a bank and lend money.  Then, instead of using an arbitrary “credit score” between entities that don’t really know each other, these new (smaller) banks would lend to those within their social network–in other words, if you know that your friend Simon is credit worthy, then you will lend to him, but not to your friend Bob who is more likely to live it up on your tab.
Because of the massive improvements to our communication backbone, and the fundamental shifts in the economy, new ideas are bound to make a difference right now.  Does anyone else have some worthy ideas to share?

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