From Todd Crowell in New Geography:
Hay fever is thought to have a measurable impact on Japan’s economy, both in a negative and a positive way. The Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Research Institute estimates that the economy lost about $3 billion due to absenteeism in the memorable hay fever year of 2005. On the other hand, Dai-Ichi Life also estimates that Japanese spend more than $6 billion a year on hay fever prevention products, such as eye drops and face masks.
Maybe the Japanese government should store up irritating pollen and blow it around year round!
It is amazing how often people indulge this fallacy. A little Bastiat goes a long way!