This book presents a fullscale account of the development of mercantilism as a trend of economic thought during the 17th and 18th centuries. Mercantilism download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Mercantilism is one of the most influential economic doctrines in the history of economics. History of mercantilismaustria, italy, scandinavian countries.
Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. An overview of the history and significance of mercantilism. In general, mercantilism is the belief in the idea that a nations wealth can be increased by the control of trade. Themes also existed in writers from the german historical school from list, as well as followers of the american system and british free trade. A short history of mercantilism by john wesley horrocks, 1925, methuen edition, in.
Mercantilism developed at a time of transition for the european economy. Mercantilism influences war and politics france, spain, the netherlands, and england went to war over territory and trade routes. Mercantilism project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. It argues that the sharp distinction between mercantilism and 19th century laissezfaire economics has obscured the meaning, content and contribution of the former. Ever since the physiocrats and adam smith, mercantilism or the mercantile system have been described as the opposite of classical political. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Mercantilism was an economic theory and practice, dominant in europe from the 16th to the 18th century, 1 that promoted governmental regulation of a nations economy for the purpose of augmenting state power at the expense of rival national powers.
In narrating the history of commerce, the book progresses through the delian league, the silk roads, marco polo, black death, the boston tea party and gatt, among other stops. Dec 15, 2009 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. In the context of the european colonization of north america, mercantilism refers to the idea that colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country. The purpose of this volume, first published in 1925, is to provide the historical account of the regime whereby the state, in different countries. History of mercantilism the concept mercantilism designates a system of economic policy as well as an epoch in the development of economic doctrines during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries before the publication of adam smiths pathbreaking the wealth of nations. History is very clear on the symptoms of this belief.
Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. This view is very much brought into question by the current book. It focuses on exploration, trade and the origins of globalization. Mercantilism political cartoon analysis is an excellent resource to illustrate mercantilisms benefits to europes mother countries. At that time, absolutism was the main form of government in europe. Gross domestic productgdp, an indicator of a countrys economic health. Mercantilism is a national economic policy that is designed to maximize the exports, and minimize the imports, of a nation. This book presents a comprehensive history of theoretical economics from the mercantilist period to roughly the middle of the 20th century. Mercantilism is a policy that is designed to maximize the exports and minimize the imports for. Mercantilism was the term he used to designate the policy of unity and centralization pursued by especially the prussian government during the. It became the unchallenged assumption that government had the right and responsibility to regulate economic activities in the interest of the common good. A pioneer in both economic history and trade theory, heckscher brought a unique breadth to this study. Adam smith, the father of economics had first used the word mercantilism in his famous book wealth of nations.
Most students of the history of arabjewish relations have come to take for granted the stubborn resistance of the continuing dispute to any form of lasting and. Nevertheless, all of early modern europe recognized and conformed, in various degrees, to the doctrines of mercantilism. In 1846 repeal of the corn laws symbolised a shift in policy from mercantilism to free trade. Part of the recent economic thought series book series reth, volume 33. Historical materialism, also known as the materialist conception of history, is a methodology used by some communist and marxist historiographers that focuses on human societies and their development through history, arguing that history is the result of material conditions rather than ideals. Adam smiths 1776 classic the wealth of nations may have had the largest global impact on economic thought. Covering all of the major european countries, the book explores the content and significance. Conceptions of history and society in mercantilism, 16501730. Heckschers book, mercantilism heckscher 1955, first published in 1935, cited under general overviews, which first brought mercantilism to the attention of a wider modern audience. List of books and articles about mercantilism online. Before the book countries declared their wealth based on the value of their gold and silver deposits. List of books and articles about mercantilism online research. The book challenged the idea that the government should control the economy and instead proposed the idea of free trade and competition with a lesser role of the government. Eli filip heckscher 18791952 obviously wrote one of the seminal books of twentiethcentury economic history.
Mercantilism focused on how this trade could best aid the states. The theory of mercantilism states that there is a certain amount of wealth and riches in the world and that it is in a nations best interest to accumulate it. Covering all of the major european countries, the book explores the content and significance of mercantilist ideas over nearly two centuries. The ideas of this book would eventually lay the foundation for the principles of capitalism, which is an economic system that supports the idea of free trade and choice as. The rise of mercantilism began in the early 1400s in europe, with the end of feudalism. Part of the recent economic thought series book series reth, volume 10. A short history of mercantilism routledge library editions.
This was first articulated by karl marx 18181883 as the materialist conception of history. These regimes needed money to finance a large military, the many people who worked in the. Feb 06, 2020 adam smiths 1776 classic the wealth of nations may have had the largest global impact on economic thought. British mercantilist policies and the american colonies.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Ever since the physiocrats and adam smith, mercantilism or the mercantile system have been described as the opposite of classical political economy. A splendid exchange is a wellwritten, captivating, narrative history, from sumer to the present. A country achieves wealth by producing and exporting more goods. Chapter 4 british mercantilism and the cost of empire t. Mercantilism was the primary economic system of trade used from the 16th to 18th century.
A short history of mercantilism by john wesley horrocks, 1925, methuen edition, in english. Describe and analyze how overseas expansion by european states affected global trade and international relations from 16001715. From mercantilism to maastricht and beyond 9788763000178. It is the economic counterpart of political absolutism. Jul 24, 2016 the historical context of mercantilism, republicanism, liberalism and neoliberalism. It argues that the sharp distinction between mercantilism and 19th century laissezfaire economics has obscured the meaning, content. Through smiths influence, countries began to think about their wealth in terms of their levels of production and commerce. Mercantilism, economic theory and practice common in 16th18thcentury europe that promoted governmental regulation of a nations economy for the purpose of augmenting state power at the expense of rival national powers. Mercantilism simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This book outlines the basics of what is today known as classical economics. A short history of mercantilism 1925 edition open library. Mercantilism became popular in europe in the 1500s and was the primary reason behind europes desire to colonize new lands. Within this context a language and vocabulary of economics was developed that was an essential precondition for the subsequent growth of economic thought and knowledge.
This common core analysis is introduced with a summary of mercantilism and is followed by a fill in the blank of a diagram of mercantilism. This study explores the history of the mercantile system, or mercantilism, in different nations. Adam smith made it known to a wider audience in 1776. The various chapters were written by different authors and include specific chapters on heckscher and mercantilism in germany.
This era marked the end of the barter system, where goods were exchanged for one another, and saw the rise of currencies in the form of precious metals like gold and silver. Jan 27, 2017 the purpose of this volume, first published in 1925, is to provide the historical account of the regime whereby the state, in different countries, has sought to control economic life in the interests of political and national strength and independence. A simple interpretation of the economic history suggests that. Mercantilism is thought to have begun its intellectual eclipse with the publication of adam smiths wealth of nations in 1776. Describe and analyze how overseas expansion by european states affected. Analyze the influence of the theory of mercantilism on the domestic and foreign policies of france, england, spain, and the dutch republic bewteen 16001715. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Eli heckschers mercantilism is a classic work in the history of economic thought, economic history and international economics. British mercantilism and the cost of empire hree hundred years ago, nations wanted colonies in order to increase their power.
It shows that from a broad standpoint, much of the history of monetary theory reduces to a struggle between opposing mercantilist and classical camps. According to the economic thinkers of those days, colonies would help the mother country become selfsufficient and wealthy. It superseded the medieval feudal organization in western europe, especially in holland, france, and england. James ii and james were trying to increase their power over the colonies so they created the dominion of new england. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Later in the nineteenth century, a new phase of multilateral globalisation occurred, driven primarily by technology that dramatically lowered transportation costs, reinforced by liberal economic policy and population growth. The definition of mercantilism consequently became a hotly contested topic in political and economic theory. Themes also existed in writers from the german historical school from list, as well as followers of the american system and british freetrade. Mercantilism and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Mercantilism includes a national economic policy aimed at accumulating monetary reserves through a positive balance of trade, especially of finished goods. Mercantilism atlantic history oxford bibliographies. Mercantilism meansgovernmental regulation of economic affairs, especially, trade and industry.
The historical context of mercantilism, republicanism. Technological changes in shipping and the growth of urban centers led to a rapid increase in international trade. Isolated feudal estates were being replaced by centralized nationstates as the focus of power. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The historical context of mercantilism, republicanism, liberalism and neoliberalism. The purpose of this volume, first published in 1925, is to provide the historical account of the regime whereby the state, in different countries, has sought to control economic life in the interests of political and national strength and independence. The treatment of the material is thorough, well organized, clear and rigorous. After this debate faded, there were few new books on mercantilism until lars magnussons study mercantilism. Mercantilism was then conceived of as a phase in the history of economic policy. Mercantilists, with their fears of hoarding and scarcity of money together with their prescription of cheap low.
These policies aim to reduce a possible current account deficit or reach a current account surplus. Jun 03, 2014 mercantilism is a statist economic policy. Discover librarianselected research resources on mercantilism from the questia online library, including fulltext online books. Economic history of europe by shepard bancroft clough. A historical economic policy mercantilism stmu history. Prime members enjoy free twoday delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, tv shows, original audio series, and kindle books. Mercantilist theorists believed that the amount of wealth in the world was static. Aug, 2019 in general, mercantilism is the belief in the idea that a nations wealth can be increased by the control of trade.