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Jean-Baptiste Say

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Economist

The Resume

    (January 5, 1767-November 15, 1832)
    Born in Lyon, France
    Businessman and economist
    Wrote 'A Treatise on Political Economy' (1803)
    Best known for Say's Law (Generally summarized as 'Supply creates its own demand')

Why he might be annoying:

    He owned a cotton-spinning factory where most of the workers were women and children.
    Despite the name, he did not originate Say's Law.
    John Kenneth Galbraith called Say's Law 'the most distinguished example of the stability of economic ideas, including when they are wrong.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was named to the French Tribunate during the Revolution, but was forced to leave the post after he refused to rewrite sections of 'A Treatise on Political Economy' that Napoleon disagreed with.
    He popularized the laissez-faire theories of Adam Smith in Europe.
    He wrote, 'Excessive taxation is a kind of suicide.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying