Economic Sophisms

Frédéric Bastiat's passionate and witty arguments for free trade and enterprise left a mark upon the fledgling science of economics, with the author stridently dispelling myths and misunderstandings.

Setting out to outline principles of economics for the reader, Bastiat does so with a difference: by fiercely debunking misconceptions and falsehoods about the concepts and discoveries which comprised economic thought. Sometimes venturing to humor in demonstrating his points, it is thus that Economic Sophisms escapes the impenetrable dryness for which contemporaries were famous.

Together with satirical barbs at flawed thinking by both economic scholars and the popular media of his time, Economic Sophisms also contains anecdotes and examples which serve to illustrate the author's points. A supporter of free trade unhindered by regulations, Bastiat was frustrated with emerging trends in society whereby protectionism and socialist policies were increasingly demanded by the populations of Europe.