Post Hoc Econ

Post hoc ergo propter hoc: Latin, "after this therefore because of this," used to refer to a type of false cause fallacy.

In politics, this is a popular explanation for progress. For example, we are told that we had child labor, and then legislators outlawed it, and now we have a prosperous society without child labor. Short and sweet, right? It's not quite that simple though, and this pattern is common when legislators want to claim credit for anything.

Child labor and sweat shops are not good things. However, there is a cartoonish villain stereotype in everything from Dickensian literature to modern social studies that ignores the reality. Malice was far from the primary motivating factor. Individual productivity was low and mechanization was still rudimentary. Far more human labor was needed for even minimal productivity. Productivity is what creates real wealth, not monetary policies or legislative mandates. That's not to paint the "robber baron" industrialists as shining heroes bringing salvation to the masses, but it should add some nuance to the situation that is often overlooked even if we still criticize their actions.

As a result of the increased production from mechanization multiplying productivity further over time, less labor input was required for a given productive output. Hours could be reduced. Pay could be increased. Child labor was no longer necessary to feed families. Legislators just jumped in and mandated what was already occurring without their intervention.

However, making such mandates before the economy can fully support such an ideal adversely affects those whose industries are not so advanced yet, and it punishes youngsters willing and able to choose to earn money even today. "Sorry son, can't hire ya. The law says you're not old enough." Good intentions imposed by force don't have any virtue in the real world.

Isn't it odd how my "smart"phone will pre-emptively autocorrect "propter" to "proper," but not "ezample" to "example"? I hate trying to type on a tiny touchscreen, and it doesn't help in the least when the drunk editor elf in the workings is incompetent.