Agrarian Justice

In Agrarian Justice (1797), Thomas Paine proposed a system of social welfare funded by a tax on land. He argued that land is a common inheritance, and that individuals who dispossess others of this common inheritance owe a debt to society. This debt, he suggested, should be paid through a tax on land, with the proceeds used to provide a basic income for all citizens.1

Paine's work is rooted in the concept of agrarianism, which emphasizes widespread property ownership and political decentralization. Agrarian ideas often stress the moral benefits of farming and a rural lifestyle, promoting tradition, nature, and community. Paine's proposal for a citizen's income can be seen as an early articulation of social justice principles, advocating for fair distribution of resources and opportunities for all individuals.23