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As previously stated, French economists say "laisser faire" as well as "laissez faire"
(the formula is sometimes extended to "laissez faire, laissez passer" (the second part is
a further plea for free trade).
 
I read a paper on the origin of the formula (may be by Oncken beginning of the 90's (I
mean 1890), in a German review : probably the Jahrbuch für Nationalökonomie und Statistik
(the only German review at this time in the
Toulouse University library). 
 
The author tracked the origin to Colbert : Colbert has visited the Chamber of Commerce of
Reims after a natural disaster and he should have asked what kind of measure they expected
from the government. The merchants should have answered "Laissez nous faire". I don't know
if the anecdote is true, but clearly it opposes the paragon of interventionism to the
"spontaneous" liberal reaction of businessmen.
 
 
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