Aleksa Spasić

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Aleksa Spasić (1831–1920) was a Serbian economist and government official.

Overview
Spasić was an influential economist and public servant who helped shape financial policy in Serbia during the late 19th century.

Biography
- He served as Serbia’s Minister of Finance from 1883 to 1884.
- He was deputy minister of the national economy.
- In 1884, he became the first governor of the National Bank of Serbia.
- He was director of the Board of Funds, a member of the Serbian Learned Society, and an honorary member of the Serbian Royal Academy.
- Spasić studied financial techniques and shared his knowledge in various civil service roles. He wrote mainly between 1867 and 1876.
- He belonged to the Classical economics tradition, a liberal school admired by John Stuart Mill and Adam Smith.
- He believed in the importance of strong institutions—constitutional government, freedom, protection of property, open political life, and democracy—along with fiscal prudence, austerity, and moderate taxes. He was a critic of despotism.

Works
- States and Finance (1867)
- Institutions and National Treasure (1868)
- Banks and Bankers (1870)
- Finances and Nations (1871)
- Municipal Finances in France and England (1874)
- The Most Important Issues in Political Economy (1875–1876)

See also
- Vladimir Matijević
- Lazar Bačić

References
- Marjanović, Gavro. An advocate of classical civic political economy in 19th century Serbia: Aleksa N. Spasić. Belgrade: Culture, 1978.
- Spasić Aleksa. Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) profile.