Mercantile Policy

Mercantile policy, also known as mercantilism, was an economic theory popular from the 16th to 18th centuries. It emphasized maximizing a nation’s wealth through exports and minimizing imports to build up gold and silver reserves. Governments often imposed tariffs, controlled trade, and supported colonial expansion to achieve these goals. The idea was that a favorable balance of trade would strengthen national power and prosperity. While outdated today, mercantilism influenced early economic policies and helped shape how nations approached trade and economic growth in earlier centuries.