The Montreal Economic Institute launches Frédéric Bastiat, Defender of Sound Economics in New York

Montreal, October 23, 2003 – The Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) launched the English translation of Frédéric Bastiat, défenseur du bon sens économique at a special gala evening in New York yesterday.

Frédéric Bastiat, Defender of Sound Economics is a collection of the 19th-century French economist, journalist and politician’s best work. The French version has enjoyed considerable success since its publication by the Montreal Economic Institute in the spring of 2002.

At the New York ceremony, winners of the 2003 Frédéric Bastiat Prize for Journalism were announced, and 200 distinguished guests were offered copies of the MEI publication. The Frédéric Bastiat Prize is awarded to journalists whose writings promote institutions that are vital in a free society. The International Policy Network, a non-governmental organization based in London and Washington, created the prize in 2002. Steve Forbes, President and CEO of Forbes Inc., chaired the gala evening.

MEI Executive Director Michel Kelly-Gagnon attended the New York launch, and is thrilled by the publication’s success: “Frédéric Bastiat was without a doubt the best French author ever to explain basic economic principles. He used instructional fables to attack economic myths that still exist today, and it’s a shame that his work has fallen into obscurity amongst the French. The Montreal Economic Institute is proud to help promote his work, which is just as valid today as it was a century and a half ago!”

Frédéric Bastiat, Defender of Sound Economics and its original French version, both published by the Montreal Economic Institute, can be ordered from the MEI Web site or downloaded for free.

– 30 –

For more information: Patrick Leblanc, Director of Events and Communications, MEI, Tel. (514) 273-0969 / E-mail: pleblanc@iedm.org