Progress and Poverty, Volumes I and II An Inquiry into the Cause of Industrial Depressions and of Increase of Want with Increase of Wealth

In an age of expanding factories and growing fortunes, the persistent rise of poverty remains a puzzling paradox. The author begins by presenting clear, observable facts—more production yet wages that barely cover basic needs. He invites listeners, whether or not they have an economics background, to follow a straightforward inquiry.

The work challenges the accepted wage doctrine, claiming that wages stem directly from the labour that creates value rather than from abstract market forces. It also debunks the Malthusian notion that population inevitably outstrips food supply, using simple logic to show its failure. Central to the argument is the idea that land ownership and rent determine how wealth is divided, linking rent, interest, and wages in a single chain.

By tracing these links, the book offers a fresh lens on economic fairness and suggests that rethinking land policy could ease the boom‑and‑bust cycle. Listeners are left with a thought‑provoking framework for imagining a more equitable society.