Economics Questions

Re: Need help with Frederic Bastiat Example

Juan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:37:44 GMT

Okay, what about blowing up half the houses in Paris ? You need to build them again and people who build houses will make money. I'm sure there's no net loss there for 'society' . Why not nuke the whole city too ?

Re: Need help with Frederic Bastiat Example

Rooster — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:23:49 GMT

Because without the broken window, the shopkeeper would have had a window plus something he wanted to buy with $200, and whoever sold it to him has the $200.

Re: Need help with Frederic Bastiat Example

Knight_of_BAAWA — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:23:30 GMT

What could have been done with the $200 had the window not been destroyed? Remember: the $200 is being eaten up having to replace what was destroyed, rather than purchasing something new that one did not have.

Need help with Frederic Bastiat Example

tpcatbp2 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:13:53 GMT

Shopkeeper pays glazier $200 to fix his broken window. So instead of having $200 and a window, the shopkeeping only has a window. The glazier now has $200. It seems to me that the community still has $200 and a window. Why is society less wealthy?