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The '''invisible hand''' is the theorized [[economic]] force towards productivity and efficiency that results when [[government]] gets out of the way and allows individuals and companies to reap the full rewards of their own hard work and innovation.  

The '''invisible hand''' is [[Adam Smith]]'s name for the [[economic]] trend towards productivity and efficiency that results when [[government]] stops interfering in markets trying to steer them and allows individuals and corporations to fend for themselves and reap the benefits of their own hard work and innovation.

[[Economist]] [[Adam Smith]] is credited with discovering and promoting the concept of the '''invisible hand''', and it propelled the [[British Empire]] to become the greatest power in the history of the world in the 19th century.  

Smith's promotion and popularization of the concept in his 1776 book [[The Wealth of Nations]], and it propelled the [[British Empire]] to become the greatest power in the history of the world in the 19th century.  

He theorized that the self-interest of individuals acting independently will lead to a socially optimal outcome:<ref>[http://www.econlib.org/LIBRARY/Smith/smWN13.html ''Wealth of Nations'', Book IV, Chapter 2]</ref>

He theorized that the self-interest of individuals acting independently will lead to a socially optimal outcome:<ref>[http://www.econlib.org/LIBRARY/Smith/smWN13.html ''Wealth of Nations'', Book IV, Chapter 2]</ref>