Final answer:
Adam Smith first argued in favor of a laissez-faire economic system, where the government should play a minimal role and allow the free market to dictate the flow of goods and services.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adam Smith, a Scottish economist and philosopher, first argued in favor of a laissez-faire economic system. In his book The Wealth of Nations, Smith introduced capitalist ideas such as the importance of division of labor and worker productivity. He believed in the concept of laissez-faire, which suggests that the government should play a minimal role in the economy and instead allow the invisible hand of the free market to dictate the flow of goods and services.