The Law

Name: The Law
Author: Frédéric Bastiat

By Frédéric Bastiat

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About This Book

The essay argues that the legitimate purpose of law is to organize the collective right of lawful defense by protecting personality, liberty, and property, and that when law is turned to transfer wealth it becomes legal plunder. The author critiques policies and practices that use legislation to enrich some at others’ expense and examines how that dynamic corrodes justice, incentivizes rent-seeking, politicizes social life, and perverts education and charity. He links these consequences to the enlargement of political power and calls for limits on legislation and for an economic understanding that recognizes the harmony of voluntary exchange.

About the Author

Frédéric Bastiat

Frédéric Bastiat (1801-1850) was a French economist, writer, and political theorist known for his advocacy of classical liberalism and free market principles. His influential works, such as "The Law" and "Economic Sophisms," critique government intervention in the economy and promote individual liberty. Bastiat's writings emphasize the importance of understanding the unseen consequences of economic policies, making him a pivotal figure in the development of economic thought. His ideas continue to resonate in contemporary discussions on economics and political philosophy, highlighting the enduring relevance of his insights into the nature of freedom and the role of government.