Final answer:
Adam Smith and Rousseau highlighted the distinction between the economy and government intervention, with Smith advocating for minimal state interference in his laissez-faire principle.
Step-by-step explanation:
A main distinction made by economists like Adam Smith and political scientists like Rousseau is the separation between the economy and state intervention. Adam Smith is renowned for his principle of laissez-faire, which advocates for minimal government interference in economic affairs, believing that the invisible hand of the market would lead to wealth creation and societal progress. In contrast, mercantilism, which was prevalent before Smith's time, supported more government control through trade barriers with the aim of achieving a balance of trade surplus. Smith's ideas laid the groundwork for the liberal economic system of capitalism that is foundational to political economy today.