Considered a classic of economic theory on a par with Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, this 19th-century book-by French political libertarian and economist CLAUDE FRÉDÉRIC BASTIAT (1801-1850)-is a masterwork of anti-"big government" philosophies, espousing what are now seen as cardinal doctrines of free trade. In this 1909 English translation, Bastiat explains why tariffs are counterproductive and how obstacles in the way of capital and labor reduce the amount of commodities produced, and he directly addresses workmen and artisans to explain why free trade is to their benefit. Eschewing equations in favor of straight talk, this is a must-read for anyone interested in big about money, trade, and work.