Astiat

Frédéric Bastiat (1801–1850) was a French economist, writer, and advocate of classical liberalism. He is best known for defending free markets, limited government, and the rule of law, and for presenting economic ideas in accessible essays and pamphlets.

Bastiat produced a prolific body of work that challenged protectionism, state subsidy programs, and socialist proposals. His writings often used short allegories and parables to illustrate economic principles and the unintended consequences of policy. Among his most cited works are That Which Is Seen, and That Which Is Not Seen, where he argued that the visible effects of a policy are only a part of its impact, while the unseen consequences reformulate the overall outcome; The Law, a compact tract arguing that law should protect natural rights and private property without becoming a tool of confiscation or redistribution; and the collection Les Sophismes économiques (Economic Sophisms), which critiques common fallacies about trade and wealth. He also produced Harmonies économiques (Economic Harmonies), which he presented as an accessible synthesis of economic thinking.

Bastiat argued against tariffs and other interventionist measures, emphasizing the spontaneous order of voluntary exchange and the dangers of government privilege. His method combined moral philosophy with practical examples, including the famous broken-window parable used to illustrate the misallocation of resources under protectionist or redistributive policies.

Influence and legacy: Bastiat's writings helped shape 19th‑century and later liberal thought, influencing debates on property rights, the role of the state, and the limits of government power. His emphasis on liberty of contract, economic liberty, and the critique of artificial authorities remains a staple reference in discussions of classical liberalism and free-market economics.