---
entity_slug: foreign_commodities
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:29:16.267357'
overall_score: 4.4
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly distinguishes foreign commodities as goods produced
    in other countries and imported for domestic consumption, with the key distinction
    being their competition with local products. This is precise and non-circular,
    though it could be slightly more specific about what constitutes "competition."
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity is directly grounded in Smith's text from Book IV, Chapter
    5, where he explicitly discusses foreign commodities in relation to bounties and
    their effects on silver degradation. The context provided accurately reflects
    Smith's actual argument about bounties' differential effects on foreign versus
    domestic goods.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: Placement in the "Exchange" domain is highly appropriate since foreign
    commodities are fundamentally about trade relationships and market exchanges between
    nations. This concept sits at the heart of international commerce and domestic
    market dynamics.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: Foreign commodities map well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation)
    as they represent external environmental factors that domestic systems must monitor
    and respond to. They also relate to S1 (primary operations) as inputs to domestic
    economic processes.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity illuminates important structural mechanisms in Smith's analysis
    of how international trade affects domestic markets and pricing. It helps explain
    the differential impacts of economic policies like bounties on various types of
    goods, providing genuine insight into trade dynamics.
---

# Evaluation: Foreign Commodities

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes foreign commodities as goods produced in other countries and imported for domestic consumption, with the key distinction being their competition with local products. This is precise and non-circular, though it could be slightly more specific about what constitutes "competition."

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

The entity is directly grounded in Smith's text from Book IV, Chapter 5, where he explicitly discusses foreign commodities in relation to bounties and their effects on silver degradation. The context provided accurately reflects Smith's actual argument about bounties' differential effects on foreign versus domestic goods.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

Placement in the "Exchange" domain is highly appropriate since foreign commodities are fundamentally about trade relationships and market exchanges between nations. This concept sits at the heart of international commerce and domestic market dynamics.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

Foreign commodities map well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as they represent external environmental factors that domestic systems must monitor and respond to. They also relate to S1 (primary operations) as inputs to domestic economic processes.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity illuminates important structural mechanisms in Smith's analysis of how international trade affects domestic markets and pricing. It helps explain the differential impacts of economic policies like bounties on various types of goods, providing genuine insight into trade dynamics.
