---
entity_slug: colonial_market_access_costs
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T04:51:07.718729'
overall_score: 4.6
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly identifies specific cost components (transportation,
    middleman profits, trade restrictions) and distinguishes between natural costs
    and artificially inflated ones due to monopoly policies. It captures a distinct
    economic concept rather than being vague or circular.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's extensive analysis in Book
    IV, Chapter 7, where he systematically examines how colonial monopoly systems
    create artificial barriers and increase costs for colonial trade. Smith explicitly
    discusses these cost components and their artificial inflation through policy
    restrictions.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Exchange" domain is perfectly appropriate since this entity deals
    with the costs and mechanisms of trade between colonies and markets. It fundamentally
    concerns how goods and services are exchanged across geographic and political
    boundaries.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as
    it represents how colonial economies must navigate and adapt to external market
    conditions and policy constraints. It also has relevance to S1 (operations) as
    these costs directly affect primary economic activities.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating the
    specific mechanisms through which monopoly policies distort colonial economies
    and reduce efficiency. It helps explain the structural relationship between policy
    design and economic outcomes that Smith emphasizes throughout his colonial analysis.
---

# Evaluation: Colonial Market Access Costs

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly identifies specific cost components (transportation, middleman profits, trade restrictions) and distinguishes between natural costs and artificially inflated ones due to monopoly policies. It captures a distinct economic concept rather than being vague or circular.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's extensive analysis in Book IV, Chapter 7, where he systematically examines how colonial monopoly systems create artificial barriers and increase costs for colonial trade. Smith explicitly discusses these cost components and their artificial inflation through policy restrictions.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Exchange" domain is perfectly appropriate since this entity deals with the costs and mechanisms of trade between colonies and markets. It fundamentally concerns how goods and services are exchanged across geographic and political boundaries.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as it represents how colonial economies must navigate and adapt to external market conditions and policy constraints. It also has relevance to S1 (operations) as these costs directly affect primary economic activities.

## explanatory_value — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating the specific mechanisms through which monopoly policies distort colonial economies and reduce efficiency. It helps explain the structural relationship between policy design and economic outcomes that Smith emphasizes throughout his colonial analysis.
