First published in 1850 as a pamphlet, The Law by Frederic Bastiat defines the nature of law and the role of government. It is essential reading for law students and anyone interested in jurisprudence.

Bastiat's "Economic Sophisms”, translated by Dr. Patrick James Stirling, were eagerly welcomed by students of political economy who were not really familiar with French. His object in this work was, as he says, "to refute the fallacies of the Protectionist School, then predominant in France, and to clear the way for the establishment of what he maintained to be the true system of economic science, which he desired to find on a new and peculiar theory of value, afterwards fully developed by ...

"The History of Economic Theory" features selected essays from influential economists of the 18th and 19th centuries. Included are the prominent works of T.R. Malthus, David Ricardo, Frédéric Bastiat, and John Stuart Mill. The integrity of the original essays has been carefully preserved, and no attempt has been made to add further commentary, dialogue, or reasoning to these fine compositions. Res ipsa loquitur. The work speaks for itself.Featured Essays Include:By...

My object in this treatise is to examine into the real nature of the Interest of Capital, for the purpose of proving that it is lawful, and explaining why it should be perpetual. This may appear singular, and yet, I confess, I am more afraid of being too plain than too obscure. I am afraid I may weary the reader by a series of mere truisms. But it is no easy matter to avoid this danger, when the facts with which we have to deal are known to every one by personal, familiar, and daily experi...

Bastiat argues that the law should exist to protect individual rights and property, and that any attempt by the state to go beyond this basic function is a violation of individual freedom. He argues that government intervention in the economy, such as through tariffs, subsidies, or regulations, ultimately leads to economic inefficiency and reduces individual welfare.Bastiat is also known for his use of the "broken window fallacy" to illustrate the concept of opportunity cost, which refers ...

The essays in the book cover a wide range of topics related to political economy, including the nature of wealth, the role of government in the economy, and the importance of free trade. Bastiat argues for the importance of individual liberty and free markets, and criticizes the role of government in stifling economic growth and innovation.One of the key concepts explored in the book is the idea of opportunity cost, which refers to the cost of any action in terms of the best alternative fo...

The Law was originally published as a pamphlet in 1850 by Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850). Bastiat wrote most of his work in the few years before and after the French Revolution of 1848. The Law is considered a classic and his ideas are still relevant today. The essay was published in French in 1850. This piece was published in English as part of Essays on Political Economy (G.P. Putnams & Sons, 1874) with authoritative translation by British economist Patrick James Stirling.

Discover the timeless manifesto that ignited a revolution in economic thought.Frederic Bastiat masterfully argues for the preservation of individual liberty and the limitation of government intervention. With piercing clarity, he exposes the inherent dangers of using law as a tool for plunder and coercion, urging readers to champion the principles of justice, freedom, and the rule of law.Bastiat's significance in the realm of economics lies in his unparalle...

Have you ever witnessed the anger of the good shopkeeper, James B., when his careless son happened to break a square of glass? If you have been present at such a scene, you will most assuredly bear witness to the fact, that every one of the spectators, were there even thirty of them, by common consent apparently, offered the unfortunate owner this invariable consolation—“It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. Everybody must live, and what would become of the glaziers if panes of glass w...

A PETITION From the Manufacturers of Candles, Tapers, Lanterns, sticks, Street Lamps, Snuffers, and Extinguishers, and from Producers of Tallow, Oil, Resin, Alcohol, and Generally of Everything Connected with Lighting. To the Honourable Members of the Chamber of Deputies. Gentlemen: You are on the right track. You reject abstract theories and little regard for abundance and low prices. You concern yourselves mainly with the fate of the producer. You wish to free him from foreign competitio...

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.In The Law, Bastiat states th...

The book has an active table of contents for easy access to each chapter of the following titles:Economic Sophisms - Frederic BastiatThe Law - Frederic BastiatFrederic Bastiat was a French political economist, statesman, classical liberal theorist, and the French Assembly. He coined the important economic concept of opportunity cost. His ideas have become the foundation for libertarian and the Austrian schools of thought.Most...