---
entity_slug: sovereign_parsimony
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T06:23:15.686041'
overall_score: 4.2
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly distinguishes sovereign parsimony as a specific
    practice of rulers accumulating treasure through frugality, contrasted with spending.
    It captures a distinct historical phenomenon 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 observations in Book IV,
    Chapter 1 about how European princes no longer accumulate treasure as their predecessors
    did and his analysis of why this practice has changed in commercial societies.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Accumulation" domain is perfectly appropriate since this concept
    deals specifically with the accumulation of treasure/wealth by sovereigns. This
    is fundamentally about capital formation and saving at the state level.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity has some VSM relevance as it relates to S4 (intelligence/environmental
    adaptation) in how governments prepare for contingencies, and S5 (identity/policy)
    in terms of state financial strategy. However, it's more of a historical practice
    than an active systemic function.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity provides genuine explanatory value by illuminating how state
    financial strategies have evolved with economic development, showing the structural
    relationship between commercial development and government resource management.
    It explains a mechanism of state adaptation to changing economic conditions.
---

# Evaluation: Sovereign Parsimony

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes sovereign parsimony as a specific practice of rulers accumulating treasure through frugality, contrasted with spending. It captures a distinct historical phenomenon rather than being vague or circular.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's observations in Book IV, Chapter 1 about how European princes no longer accumulate treasure as their predecessors did and his analysis of why this practice has changed in commercial societies.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Accumulation" domain is perfectly appropriate since this concept deals specifically with the accumulation of treasure/wealth by sovereigns. This is fundamentally about capital formation and saving at the state level.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity has some VSM relevance as it relates to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) in how governments prepare for contingencies, and S5 (identity/policy) in terms of state financial strategy. However, it's more of a historical practice than an active systemic function.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides genuine explanatory value by illuminating how state financial strategies have evolved with economic development, showing the structural relationship between commercial development and government resource management. It explains a mechanism of state adaptation to changing economic conditions.
