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Georgism for Domain Names

https://astralcodexten.substack.com/p/model-city-monday-11821/comment/3555263

It’s not much, but if you submit a grant proposal that Scott accepts, and it has to do with anything related to what I brought up in the linked comment chain , or any research that could either validate or falsify practical predictions of various Georgist policies, I’ll contribute $1,000 of my book review winnings to your grant.

As well as my attention, personal network of wonks, and anything else I can do for you.

  • Ethereum Name Service, DNS fosters land grab mechanics
    • https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/digital-real-estate-and-the-digital-housing-crisis
    • Q: How to fair-ly assess benefits (improvements) from a domain name, vs speculation?
      • How can assessment of domains be done?
        • What separates twitter.com from moo.com? The company that put in a ton of work into twitter. But twitter & moo are both basically the same worth, starting out
        • Assessments seem to be a sticking point in real-world implementations of LVT too?
        • Proposal 1: Anyone can submit a bid for a particular parcel of land; if the owners don't accept, then that becomes the new basis for tax rate.
          • Subpoint: When you "buy" a piece of land, eg get an URL from the registrar, you're actually renting it for a fixed amount of time.
          • Benefit of fixed amount of time: stability, predictability, low costs, incentivized to work on that land, optionality (capturing the upside) ⇒ this is also a speculation cost
          • Another model: holding funds inside the parcel, so that it can be paid out for "land tax" later. A high bid can shorten your remaining ownership time?
        • Proposal 2: Use dictionaries to generate popularity mappings of certain words, or Google search results, etc.
          • Thinking: Trademark allows you to carve out a niche, prevents consumer confusion. Don't want a lot of churn, in general, for things that are popular in use but not fundamentally expensive
  • Motive: austin.eth is taken by some speculator

    • Also: austin.io is completely unused...

  • Q: How much of high house prices is speculation, vs restrictive supply policies from govt relative to high demand?
    • Is there a difference? Assuming restrictive supply policies are voted in by "speculators" aka homeowners and homebuyers?
      • What is the value of speculative work? The value of "investment" work is in efficiently allocating capital (hypothetically), is there value in speculating on land?

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