# Parable of the broken window - Bastiat The **parable of the broken window** was introduced by French economist [Frédéric Bastiat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Bastiat) in his 1850 essay "[That Which We See and That Which We Do Not See](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_broken_window#CITEREFBastiat1850)" ("_Ce qu'on voit et ce qu'on ne voit pas_") to illustrate why destruction, and the money spent to recover from destruction, is not actually a net benefit to society. The [parable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable) seeks to show how [opportunity costs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_cost), as well as the law of [unintended consequences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences), affect economic activity in ways that are unseen or ignored. The belief that destruction is good for the economy is consequently known as the **broken window fallacy** or **glazier's fallacy**. Clipped from [Parable of the broken window - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_broken_window) at 2023-08-08. ![[Parable of Broken Window.pdf]] # References / Links