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National Prejudice and Animosity in Trade
Definition
The emotional and political factors that influence trade policy, where merchants and manufacturers promote restrictions against foreign competitors based on nationalistic sentiments rather than economic reasoning, leading to mutually harmful trade wars.
Source Chapter
Book IV, Chapter 3
Context
Smith identifies this as a primary driver of unreasonable trade restrictions, arguing that merchants exploit national prejudices to secure monopolies and that governments foolishly adopt these policies based on animosity rather than economic self-interest.
Economic Domain
Regulation