As per Mercantilism's definition, a nation can generate wealth through increased trade and fewer imports. The positive difference between imports and exports results in acquiring wealth from other nations. It involves the adoption of policies that protect local industries. As a concept, Mercantilism is a form of economic nationalism that seeks to grow the prosperity and power of a nation via restrictive alternative practices.
Did you know? In the 1700s, the dominance of Mercantilism came to an end and it was replaced by democracy and free trade.
What is Mercantilism?
It is an economic concept that emphasises generating a country’s wealth by supporting and protecting domestic industries and trade. It focuses on increasing exports.
It is a form of economic nationalism wherein the government focuses on strengthening wealth and power by promoting exports and reducing imports. Mercantilism asserts that the world’s wealth is fixed and countries can prosper only by limiting imports and exporting more. It works on the principle of acquiring wealth from other nations and accumulating it.
The Ideology of a Mercantilist
The primary goal of mercantilism is to increase exports and reduce imports to increase a nation's wealth and power. The government intervenes by making regulations for international trade and domestic commerce. Here the government exercises complete control over trade.
Mercantilism is an economic theory that is against the free trade policy. There are two major segments in the mercantilist policies: one is protecting domestic industries, and the other is regulating international trade.
A mercantilist policy follows a protectionism policy on the domestic level. To support domestic industries, rules and regulations are set up to establish monopolies and subsequently provide subsidies to expand their work.
Also Read: List Of India's Top Exported Products
History of Mercantilism
Mercantilism was the dominant economic system in Europe. It was prominent from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The origin of the concept of nation-states led to the development of mercantilism.
Theoretically, global wealth was considered to be static, and nations were supposed to accumulate as much as they could. It was the era when the wealth of a nation was measured by the amount of gold and silver held by it.
European countries like Britain, which had low natural resources focused on maximising wealth by increasing exports. Thus, they enacted laws that discouraged the import of foreign goods and provided support and incentives for buyers of British goods. This imbalance in import-export led to a favourable trade balance.
What are the Characteristics of Mercantilism?
For international trade, the government imposes tariffs and different taxes on imports and provides subsidies on exports to maintain a favourable trade balance.
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Relationship of Principle and Global Wealth
Earlier, rare metals were a measure of wealth. As these metals are limited in quantity, the theory of static wealth was introduced. A country that had large reserves of precious metals was considered wealthy.
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Government Controls the Trade
The government plays a major role in making rules and laws to regulate trade. It promotes policies that protect domestic commerce. It provides military assistance to merchants to expand and establish industries.
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Great Importance of Gold and Silver
Under Mercantilism, gold and silver played a very crucial role. They were an indicator of the country's strength and power. Both these precious metals were used for major motives and activities. These would pay for the maintenance of the military, expansion of country boundaries, and procuring of raw materials from colonies.
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Maintaining a Positive Trade Balance
The trade balance is the difference between the exports and imports of a nation. In a positive or favourable situation, exports exceed imports. The countries focused on promoting the sale of their goods and reducing their spending on imports.
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Large Population Resource
In the context of mercantilism, a large population could potentially be seen as a resource in that it provides a large market for domestic goods and a source of labour for the production of exports. However, it is not accurate to say that mercantilism is specifically focused on the exploitation of a country's population as a resource.
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Prioritising Domestic Industries
Mercantilism prioritises domestic industries and trade. To maintain a positive balance of trade, colonies were restricted from purchasing goods from other nations. These restrictions made imports expensive and thus created a monopoly for the particular nation.
Also Read: How To Make An Import-Export Business Plan : Tips And Tricks
Examples of Mercantilism
Mercantilist policies are designed to promote exports and restrict imports in order to build up a country's supply of gold and other precious metals. Let's look into some historical examples of Mercantilism for a better understanding
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The Sugar Act of 1764
The British government enacted the Sugar Act and imposed heavy taxes on sugar and molasses imported by colonies from foreign nations. The taxes made foreign sugar costly, which boosted the sale of British sugar and molasses, thus establishing a monopoly of British sugar growers in the West Indies.
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The Navigation Act of 1651
By this law, Britain restricted the activities of foreign vessels on the British coast. Exporters were required to pass through British control before trading in Europe.
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The British East India Company
Mercantilism involves a partnership between merchants and the government. Merchants helped in expanding the British empire.
For example, The British east India company defeated Indian kings. This colonisation provided raw materials and labour and a huge British goods market. This helped strengthen the nation's power and wealth. In return, the government supported the company and made laws that supported export and trade.
Mercantilism in Present Scenario
There are many downsides to the Mercantilism theory that scholars have criticised.
In 1776 Adam Smith criticised Mercantilism in his publication "the Wealth of Nations".
Also Read: List Of Import-Export Business Ideas To Carry Out In India
Shortcomings of the Theory of Mercantilism
- First, the world's wealth is not fixed. Wealth can be generated through various activities.
- Fails to consider the benefits of large-scale production.
- When a company specialises in producing a particular product, trade between such countries benefits both.
- Special restrictions on imports were not healthy for international trade.
- The nationalist approach will not serve the long-term interests of the country.
- Due to import restrictions, buyers can access limited goods at higher prices.
- Accumulation of wealth by one nation at the expense of another.
Eventually, a revised economic policy emerged, driven by demand and supply. This policy is known as the market economy. It supports free trade between nations and does not discriminate between imports and exports. Consumers can access many superior quality goods from different nations at competitive prices.
Countries still apply certain tariffs on their imports to protect domestic manufacturers. This form of mercantilist policies currently in use is referred to as protectionism.
Conclusion
Mercantilism is considered an outdated theory, but it is nearly impossible to eradicate it. Recent political and economic policies are modified forms of Mercantilism.
Subsidies to domestic industries and tariffs on imports are forms of protectionism. It is also known as Neomercantilism.
Mercantilist countries frequently engaged in warfare to control resources. Countries operating under a free-trade system prosper through engaging in mutually beneficial trade relations.
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