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France’s window tax and its unintended consequences

22 January 2025 · 56 views · 1 likes · 0 reposts · 111 blog views

decision-making economy philosophy

TIL: France once had a "window tax" (impôt sur les fenêtres), introduced in 1798 during the French Revolution. It taxed homeowners based on the number of windows and doors in their property, as these were seen as indicators of wealth.

Many people sealed windows to reduce their tax burden, leading to darker, poorly ventilated homes. The tax was abolished in 1926 due to its outdated and unfair nature.

It's a great example of a second-order outcome. The unintended, indirect consequences that arise as people adapt their behavior to the policy. Homeowners reduced the number of windows to lower their tax burden, which inadvertently led to poorer living conditions.

France’s window tax and its unintended consequences

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