In his 1850 essay, Frédéric Bastiat discusses the notion of “Public Works.” He explains that public works like opening roads, building palaces, and repairing streets create jobs and boost the economy in the short term, but they take away unseen opportunities in the long run.
The “Broken Window” parable by Frédéric Bastiat, from his 1850 essay “That Which Is Seen, and That Which Is Not Seen,” reveals the fallacy of believing destruction boosts the economy.