27 lines
713 B
Markdown
27 lines
713 B
Markdown
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<!-- generated: provider=openrouter model=arcee-ai/trinity-large-preview:free date=2026-02-19 source=book-4-chapter-05 -->
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# Mercantile System
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## Definition
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An economic doctrine that seeks to enrich the nation by promoting exports
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and restricting imports, based on the belief that national wealth consists
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of accumulated precious metals and that a favourable balance of trade is
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essential for prosperity.
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## Source Chapter
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Book IV, Chapter 5
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## Context
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Smith presents the mercantile system as the intellectual framework that
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justifies bounties and other trade restrictions. He systematically
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criticizes its core assumptions about wealth creation and trade balance.
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## Economic Domain
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General Theory
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---
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