Frédéric Bastiat Books

This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program.

Originally published in 1873, this reprint preserves the historical significance and charm of the classic work. It offers readers a glimpse into the themes and societal norms of its time, showcasing the author's unique perspective and literary style. The text reflects the cultural context of the era, making it a valuable addition for those interested in historical literature and the evolution of storytelling.

The book explores Frédéric Bastiat's critique of conventional economic thinking through his famous 'broken window' parable. It challenges the notion that destruction or public spending can stimulate the economy by highlighting the unseen consequences of such actions. While the visible damage of the broken window is clear, the text emphasizes the hidden costs and lost opportunities resulting from redirecting resources. Bastiat's insights encourage readers to consider the broader implications of economic decisions beyond immediate effects.

This volume, the third in our Collected Works of Frederic Bastiat, includes two of Bastiats best-known works, Economic Sophisms and the pamphlet What is Seen & What is Not Seen. Both Economic Sophisms and What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen share similar stylistic features and were written with much the same purpose in mind, namely, to disabuse people of misperceptions they might have had about the benefits of free trade and free markets. Economic Sophisms and the other writings in this volume show Bastiat at his creative journalistic best: his skill at mixing serious and amusing ways of making his arguments is unsurpassed; the quality of his insights into profound economic issues is often exceptional and sometimes well ahead of his time; his ability to combine his political lobbying for the Free Trade Movement, his journalism, his political activities during the 1848 Revolution, and his scholarly activities is most unusual; and the humour, wit and literary knowledge that he scatters throughout his writings demonstrate that he deserves his reputation as a most gifted writer on economic matters, one who still deserves our attention today.

The Law, original French title La Loi, is a 1849 book by Frédéric Bastiat. It was published one year after the third French Revolution of 1848 and one year before his death of tuberculosis at age 49. The essay was influenced by John Locke's Second Treatise on Government and in turn influenced Henry Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson. It is the work for which Bastiat is most famous along with The candlemaker's petition and the Parable of the broken window.

An inspiring exposition of the natural harmony that results when people are free to pursue their individual interests.

Focusing on political economy, this book presents a collection of essays that delve into economic theories and their implications. Originally published in 1877, it offers insights that remain relevant today, exploring the relationship between politics and economics. The reprint maintains the integrity of the original text, making it a valuable resource for those interested in historical economic thought and its evolution over time.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1882.