Editing Unintended consequences (section)

===Adam Smith===
The idea was also discussed by [[Adam Smith]], the [[Scottish Enlightenment]], and [[consequentialism]] (judging by results).<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Adam|title=The Theory of Moral Sentiments|page=93|url=http://metalibri.wikidot.com/title:theory-of-moral-sentiments:smith-a}}</ref>

The [[Invisible hand|invisible hand theorem]] is an example of the unintended consequences of agents acting in their self-interest. As [[Andrew Stewart Skinner|Andrew S. Skinner]] puts it:<blockquote>"The individual undertaker ([[Entrepreneurship|entrepreneur]]), seeking the most efficient allocation of resources, contributes to overall [[economic efficiency]]; the merchant's reaction to price signals helps to ensure that the allocation of resources accurately reflects the structure of consumer preferences; and the drive to better our condition contributes to [[economic growth]]."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stewart Skinner |first=Andrew |title=Handbook of the history of economic thought: insights on the founders of modern economics |date=2012 |publisher=Springer |editor=Jürgen G. Backhaus |isbn=978-1-4419-8336-7 |location=New York |page=171 |oclc=761868679}}</ref></blockquote>