---
entity_slug: colonial_economic_autonomy
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T04:44:58.426949'
overall_score: 4.4
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly articulates colonial economic autonomy as self-determination
    in economic affairs with specific examples (trade freedom, local policies, benefit
    retention). It avoids circularity and distinguishes this concept from mere political
    independence by focusing specifically on economic decision-making capacity.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is strongly grounded in Smith's actual arguments in Book
    IV, Chapter 7, where he explicitly discusses how colonial restrictions limit natural
    development and argues for allowing colonies to exploit their natural advantages
    of abundant land and scarce labor. The concept directly reflects Smith's critique
    of monopoly restrictions on colonial trade.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Regulation" domain placement is precisely correct, as this entity
    concerns the regulatory framework governing colonial economic activity. Smith's
    analysis focuses on how regulatory restrictions (monopolies, trade controls) constrain
    colonial autonomy, making this fundamentally a question of regulatory policy.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to VSM System 1 (primary operations) as it concerns
    the operational autonomy of colonial economic units, and also connects to System
    3 (internal regulation) regarding the degree of local versus external control.
    The concept has clear structural implications for organizational autonomy within
    larger economic systems.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: "The entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating the mechanism\
    \ through which regulatory restrictions constrain economic development\u2014specifically\
    \ how limiting autonomy prevents colonies from adapting to their natural factor\
    \ endowments. It explains a key structural relationship between governance arrangements\
    \ and economic outcomes in Smith's colonial theory."
---

# Evaluation: Colonial Economic Autonomy

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly articulates colonial economic autonomy as self-determination in economic affairs with specific examples (trade freedom, local policies, benefit retention). It avoids circularity and distinguishes this concept from mere political independence by focusing specifically on economic decision-making capacity.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is strongly grounded in Smith's actual arguments in Book IV, Chapter 7, where he explicitly discusses how colonial restrictions limit natural development and argues for allowing colonies to exploit their natural advantages of abundant land and scarce labor. The concept directly reflects Smith's critique of monopoly restrictions on colonial trade.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Regulation" domain placement is precisely correct, as this entity concerns the regulatory framework governing colonial economic activity. Smith's analysis focuses on how regulatory restrictions (monopolies, trade controls) constrain colonial autonomy, making this fundamentally a question of regulatory policy.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to VSM System 1 (primary operations) as it concerns the operational autonomy of colonial economic units, and also connects to System 3 (internal regulation) regarding the degree of local versus external control. The concept has clear structural implications for organizational autonomy within larger economic systems.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating the mechanism through which regulatory restrictions constrain economic development—specifically how limiting autonomy prevents colonies from adapting to their natural factor endowments. It explains a key structural relationship between governance arrangements and economic outcomes in Smith's colonial theory.
