José Luis Sampedro Sáez was a renowned Spanish economist and writer. Born in Barcelona on 1st February 1917, and passing away in Madrid on 8th April 2013, he was a staunch advocate for an economy that was "more humane, more caring, able to help develop the dignity of peoples".

He was an academician of the Real Academia Española since 1990 and was awarded the Order of Arts and Letters of Spain, the Menéndez Pelayo International Prize in 2010, and the Spanish Literature National Prize in 2011. Sampedro became an inspiration for the anti-austerity movement in Spain, influencing many through both his economic thoughts and literary contributions.