The Bastiat Institute

Laissez faire, free markets, individual liberty, and peace
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Money, Greed, Equality, Envy, and Charity Nov 23, 2015

Preface Liberty is the central element of human nature. It is the essence of will, the source of creativity, and a prerequisite of virtue. As such, it is also the driving force of civilization and the foundation of any working society. And yet, being an abstract concept, its precise nature is often inadequately understood. This is unfortunate, since, while liberty can work its miracles when used by those who understand it only on an intuitive level, it remains fragile until it is comprehended on a deeper, philosophical level as well. Luckily, there exists a substantial literature whose aim is to...

By Jakub Bozydar Wisniewski Vote6 0

Liberty, Authority, and Power Nov 11, 2015

Preface Liberty is the central element of human nature. It is the essence of will, the source of creativity, and a prerequisite of virtue. As such, it is also the driving force of civilization and the foundation of any working society. And yet, being an abstract concept, its precise nature is often inadequately understood. This is unfortunate, since, while liberty can work its miracles when used by those who understand it only on an intuitive level, it remains fragile until it is comprehended on a deeper, philosophical level as well. Luckily, there exists a substantial literature whose aim is to...

By Jakub Bozydar Wisniewski Vote6 0

Entrepreneurship, Business, Economics, and Politics Oct 16, 2015

Preface Liberty is the central element of human nature. It is the essence of will, the source of creativity, and a prerequisite of virtue. As such, it is also the driving force of civilization and the foundation of any working society. And yet, being an abstract concept, its precise nature is often inadequately understood. This is unfortunate, since, while liberty can work its miracles when used by those who understand it only on an intuitive level, it remains fragile until it is comprehended on a deeper, philosophical level as well. Luckily, there exists a substantial literature whose aim is to...

By Jakub Bozydar Wisniewski Vote6 0

Economic Sophisms: II.10, The Tax Collector Feb 28, 2015

JAMES GOODFELLOW, a Vineyardist. CLODPATE, a Tax Collector. CLODPATE: You have laid in twenty tuns of wine? JAMES GOODFELLOW: Yes, by dint of much toil and sweat. C.: Be so kind as to give me six of the best. J.G.: Six tuns out of twenty! Good heavens! You're trying to ruin me. And, if you please, what do you intend to do with them? C.: The first will be given to the creditors of the state. When one has debts, the very least one can do is to pay the interest on them. J.G.: And what has become of the...

By Bastiat Institute Vote5 2

Economic Sophisms: II.9, Robbery by Subsidy Jan 21, 2015

People are finding my little book of Sophisms too theoretical, scientific, and metaphysical. Very well. Let us try the effect of a trivial, banal, and, if need be, a ruder style of writing. Convinced that the public has been duped into accepting the policy of protectionism, I have tried to prove it by an appeal to reason.

By Bastiat Institute Vote7 0

Economic Sophisms: II.8, Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc Jan 14, 2015

This is the most common and the most deceptive of all fallacies. Real suffering is taking place in England. It comes in the train of two other events: 1. The tariff reform. 2. Two bad harvests in succession. To which of these last two circumstances is the first to be attributed? The protectionists have not failed to cry out: "It is this accursed free trade that is causing all the trouble. It promised us no end of blessings, we accepted it, and here the factories have closed, and the people are suffering: Cum hoc, ergo propter hoc." Free trade distributes...

By Bastiat Institute Vote11 0

Economic Sophisms: II.7, A Chinese Tale Jan 10, 2015

People bewail the greed and selfishness of our age! I, for my part, find the world, especially Paris, peopled with Deciuses. Open the thousand books, the thousand newspapers, the thousand pamphlets, that the Parisian presses spew forth every day over the country. Are they not all the work of little saints? What animation in the painting of the vices of our day! What moving concern for the masses! With what liberality the rich are invited to share with the poor, if not the poor with the rich! What a host of plans for social reforms, social improvements, social organizations! Is...

By Bastiat Institute Vote13 0

Economic Sophisms: II.6, To Artisans and Laborers Jan 7, 2015

Several newspapers have attacked me in your presence. Won't you please read my defense? I am not a distrustful person. When a man writes or speaks, I take it for granted that he believes what he is saying. And yet, as I read and reread the newspapers that have attacked me, I seem to find in them unfortunate evidence to the contrary. What is the question at issue? It is that of determining which is more advantageous for you, protectionism or free trade.

By Bastiat Institute Vote11 0

Economic Sophisms: II.5, High Prices and Low Prices Dec 17, 2014

I feel it my duty to present to the reader certain—alas, theoretical—comments on the illusions to which the expressions high prices and low prices give rise. At first glance, I know, people may be inclined to consider these comments a little abstruse; but the question is, not whether they are abstruse, but whether they are true. Now, I believe that they are not only perfectly true but particularly well suited to raise some doubts in the minds of those—by no means few in number—who have a sincere faith in the efficacy of protectionism.

By Bastiat Institute Vote4 0

Economic Sophisms: II.4, Subordinate Labor Council Nov 10, 2014

"What! You have the effrontery to demand for all citizens the right to buy, sell, barter, and exchange, to render and receive service for service, and settle on the price among themselves, on the sole condition that they carry on these transactions honestly and pay their taxes? What are you trying to do—deprive workingmen of their jobs, their wages, and their bread?"

By Bastiat Institute Vote5 0

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