President Javier Milei has published a featured opinion column paying tribute to Adam Smith, whom he describes as the undisputed father of modern economics. In his analysis, the President emphasized that the Scottish thinker’s work, particularly The Wealth of Nations, remains a fundamental cornerstone for understanding economic growth and social prosperity. Milei compared Smith’s historical impact to that of Carl Gauss in mathematics or Isaac Newton in physics, asserting that Smith’s ideas were at least two centuries ahead of their time.

A central point of the President’s column is the enduring relevance of the division of labor, famously illustrated by Smith’s pin factory example. Milei updated this classic concept for the modern era, stating that Artificial Intelligence represents the “pin factory of the 21st century” by exponentially multiplying human productivity. Furthermore, he defended the notion of the “invisible hand,” explaining that when individuals pursue their own interests within a framework of liberty, they spontaneously contribute to the general welfare of the entire community.

The column also delves into Smith’s rigorous critique of mercantilism and protectionism. Milei highlighted that Smith provided not only economic arguments but also a solid moral foundation for economic freedom. He noted that Smith considered it “inhumane” to condemn the population to poverty simply to protect the businesses of “friends of power.” In this sense, the Argentine leader reinforced his own stance that the State should be limited to core functions—security, justice, and the protection of life, liberty, and property.

Finally, the President reiterated that taxes must be as low and simple as possible to avoid suffocating private initiative. By placing economic growth at the center of the national debate, Milei reaffirmed that Argentina’s path out of crisis involves embracing the ideas of liberty that Smith systemized over 250 years ago. According to the President, the recovery of human well-being is a direct consequence of allowing the spontaneous order of the market to function without harmful state interference.