Who was known as the "Father of Economics,” whose ideas of free markets inspired classical economic thinkers?

Adam Smith is widely known as the “Father of Economics.” In The Wealth of Nations, he explained how competition and self-interest in free markets can guide economic activity, influencing classical economic thinkers. John Keynes, Milton Friedman, and Friedrich Hayek were also influential economists, but they are not known by that title.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.