mercantilism

English

Etymology

mercantile +‎ -ism

Noun

mercantilism (countable and uncountable, plural mercantilisms)

1. (historical, economics) The theory that a nation must always have a positive balance of trade, in the manner that a merchant would operate a shop. Typically this model presupposes protectionism.
2. (economics) The theory that holds that the prosperity of a nation depends upon its supply of capital, and that the global volume of trade is unchangeable.

Derived terms

• neomercantilism

Related terms

• mercantilist
• mercantilistic
• merchant

Translations

the historical economic theory that a nation must always have a positive balance of trade

• Portuguese: mercantilismo (pt) m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

the economic theory that holds that the prosperity of a nation depends upon its supply of capital

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}