Nature's Gifts

Pullen’s day-by-day chronicle and thoughtful appraisal of Henry George’s fourteen week Australian tour in 1890 provides much-needed further insight into a formative period in Australian political history. In his 1879 classic, Progress and Poverty, George argued: “The ownership of land is the great fundamental fact which ultimately determines the social, the political and consequently the intellectual and moral condition of a people”. While George’s messianic crusade in support of shared equity in land via a tax on its incremental value may have been misplaced, his writings were highly influential over several decades. Pullen argues that George’s visit was unparalleled in Australian history. It occupies 120 pages of the 200-page text, covering a succession of public welcomes, testimonials and presentations given by premiers, parliamentarians, mayors, clergymen and other dignitaries, together with the (not quite unanimous) enthusiastic responses of receptive audiences. … Of particular value is Pullen’s informed scrutiny of the foundational principles and of the common misunderstandings and misrepresentations of Georgism… Read full review… - John Holmes, Australian Journal of Politics and History, December 2015

John Pullen studied at the University of Sydney (B.Ec.), University of Liverpool (England) (M.A.), and University of Newcastle (NSW) (Ph.D.).

He taught Economics at the University of New England for 33 years, with special research and teaching interests in Urban Economics and the History of Economic Thought. Publications in these areas include 10 monographs as either author, co-author, or editor, and 67 articles and book chapters. Eight of the published articles deal with the theories and policies of Henry George, and have led to this current research into the extraordinary, but hitherto largely undocumented lecture tour of Australia by Henry George in 1890.

John retired from teaching in 2006, and is currently engaged in research and publication as an Adjunct Associate Professor of the University of New England.