Bastiat's "Petition of the Candlemakers," a classic reading in economics, presents a powerful argument in favor of protectionism.

Bastiat's "Petition of the Candlemakers" is actually a satire mocking protectionism and the idea of government intervention in free trade. The petition is written from the perspective of French candlemakers who demand protectionist measures against the sun, which they argue is an unfair competitor that provides free light to all. Bastiat uses this absurd argument to highlight the fallacy of protectionism and its potential negative impacts on domestic economies and consumers.