Fit the Fourth.
One of the most persistent is that of the broken window one breaks and this is celebrated as a boon to the economy: the window manufacturer gets an order; the hardware store sells a window; a carpenter is hired to install it; money circulates; jobs are created; the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) goes up. In truth, of course, the economy is no better off at all.
Via Jason Kottke [1], “Ten Recurring Economic Fallacies, 1774–2004 [2]”
And a chronically sick person contributes more to the GDP than a healthy person, but only an economist would tell us to get sick.
And with that (which you should read), today's theme is at an end.
[1] http://www.kottke.org/remainder/08/01/14810.html