<P> The invisible hand is a term used by Adam Smith to describe the unintended social benefits of individual self - interested actions . The phrase was employed by Smith with respect to income distribution ( 1759 ) and production ( 1776 ) . The exact phrase is used just three times in Smith 's writings , but has come to capture his notion that individuals ' efforts to pursue their own interest may frequently benefit society more than if their actions were directly intending to benefit society . Smith may have come up with the two meanings of the phrase from Richard Cantillon who developed both economic applications in his model of the isolated estate . </P>
<P> The invisible hand is a term used by Adam Smith to describe the unintended social benefits of individual self - interested actions . The phrase was employed by Smith with respect to income distribution ( 1759 ) and production ( 1776 ) . The exact phrase is used just three times in Smith 's writings , but has come to capture his notion that individuals ' efforts to pursue their own interest may frequently benefit society more than if their actions were directly intending to benefit society . Smith may have come up with the two meanings of the phrase from Richard Cantillon who developed both economic applications in his model of the isolated estate . </P>
the term invisible hand is likely to be found in reference to
the term invisible hand is likely to be found in reference to
notion that individuals ' efforts to pursue their own interest may frequently benefit society more than if their actions were directly intending to benefit society
notion that individuals ' efforts to pursue their own interest may frequently benefit society more than if their actions were directly intending to benefit society