Mercantilism: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 05:09, 8 September 2023

Mercantilism is an economic policy located (debatably) on the far right of the economic axis that strives to increase the exports of a nation but decrease the imports to it. It is usually authoritarian-leaning, as well, since it is an ideology that believes that the state should be the primary recipient of wealth (much like State Capitalism).

Traditionally, mercantilists believed that gold ownership was the main indication of wealth; and gold is NOT manufactured, but rather exists in a finite supply on Earth and is simply divided amongst the nations that have it. The Great Steve Heimler from Heimler's History compared the way mercantilists saw gold to the way hungry people see a pie: There is only one pie, and everyone is trying to get as much as they can!

He emerged out of Feudalism and was the precursor of Capitalism, although they both see wealth as radically different things.
Mercantilism is based on the core assumption that wealth exists in the form of precious metals and is simply distributed, thus it's based on the amount of gold/silver a country had, and that the state/nation should focus on enriching themselves first. Since it believed that the real riches of a nation was a byproduct of the amount of gold and other precious metals that it had, it led to colonialism having a big focus on finding gold and silver mining places, since that would undermine the capacity of other powers to enrich themselves.
And due to seeing wealth as a zero-sum game, it also believes that increasing the national trade surplus will make the nation richer while making the other nations (its rivals and enemies) poorer.

As stated before, Mercantilism and Capitalism see the nature of wealth as completely different. While Capitalism sees wealth as the goods and services produced and consumed, and sees gold simply as a mean of exchange to obtain these goods; Mercantilism sees gold as the goal, not as a mean to an end.
Which also lead to the core difference (in practice), which is trading policy.
While Capitalism sees free trade as a way to increase the nation's wealth, since it lets the nation specialize in what it can do better while letting what it can't do to be handled by others and thus generate more wealth, Mercantilism sees free trade as something that weakens the nation by allowing its rivals (and trading partners in this situation) to stockpile more wealth which could've been kept by the nation, making it poorer.

This resulted in policies that sought to maximise the types of goods produced within the country and minimising things that needed to be imported, as well as the nation's exports, usually translating into policies such as restricting the nations colonies could trade with, if at all. Mercantilism was also generally in support of a strong merchant class, seeing them as on par with the nobility.

Mercantilism in the modern days

Mercantilism is a very old ideology, which stopped being relevant more than 3 centuries ago; but Mercantilist mentality (which isn't the same as Protectionist mentality) can be seen in modern economic policy. The biggest example is US trading policy under the Trump administration.
Trump argued that the U.S. "loses" money spent in importing foreign goods and materials, and that a "strong economy" must run a trade surplus. Furthermore, the rhetoric of the president often suggests that any money spent on imports enriches foreign competitors at the expense of American businesses and workers.

Personality

Mercantilism acts as a stereotypical European Merchant, Banker, Sailor and/or Noble investor in the 16th to 18th centuries.

How to Draw

Draw a ball.
Fill in with blue.
Draw a yellow ship on waves.
Draw in the eyes.

You're done!

Relationships

Friends

Dengism - He's still angry at me for the opium trade but he's a good student.
Roman Republicanism - He taught me what I know about business.
Protectionism - Remember son, exports good imports bad!
Cameralism - Yeah! Wealth to the state!
Imperialism - Good business partner.
Reactionary Socialism - The only left-wing ideology that gets it.
Nazism - You understand it too.

Frenemies

Capitalism - Allowed the merchant class to become richer, but free trade, really?
State Capitalism - Our merchant republics aren't exactly "state capitalist" but you know our ways.
Guild Socialism - We always keep in contact with the merchants guild.
Hydrarchy - He might be a dense bloke but his privateers are useful.
Juche - My commie student. His heart is in the right place.

Enemies

Hayekism - LMAO how am I the communist when you claim to want to enrich the common people?
Libertarianism - Okay you like capitalism, but your "unrestricted international trade" policy is disgusting!
Neoliberalism - Exports good imports bad! Don't break the rules moron!
Anarchism - How can the state be enriched when there is no state!
Classical Liberalism - Free Trade? More like Downgrade! XD
Liberalism - You're even dumber than your dad! LMAO!

Further Information

Wikipedia

Mercantilism

Videos

Online Communities

r/Mercantilismemes

Gallery

Credit: OzymandiasFR, Mercantilism can be seen at the bottom with all the "Dead" ideologies.
Credit: u/beancakeinatree, Source
u/K-Tech2 Source
Alt design
Old Drawing for Mercantilism

Animations

Mercantilism is one of the main characters in the online video series Voyage by Galileo.

File:Voyage, A PolCompBall Series Episode 1 - Pilot

Navigation

tr:Merkantilizm

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+<!--there used to be a message-box here-->
+<!--there used to be a message-box here-->
 {{Ideology
-|title = [[File: Merc.png]] Mercantilism
+|title = [[File:Merc.png]] Mercantilism
-|image = Merchant.png
+|image = mercantilism_art.png
-|caption = "Let's be honest, you don't know what I am."
+|caption = "I'M NOT BUYING YOUR STUPID PRODUCT!"
 |influences =
-[[File: Feud.png]] [[Feudalism]]
+[[File:Feud.png]] [[Feudalism]]<br>
+[[File:Imp.png]] [[Imperialism]]
 |influenced =
 [[File:Cameralism.png]] [[Cameralism]] <br>
-[[File: Cap.png]] [[Capitalism]] <br>
+[[File:Cap.png]] [[Capitalism]] <br>
-[[File: Tradcon.png]] [[Classical Conservatism]] <br>
+[[File:Tradcon.png]] [[Classical Conservatism]] <br>
-[[File:NeoMerc.png]] [[Corporatocracy#Neo-Mercantilism|Neomercantilism]]<br>
+[[File:NeoMerc.png]] [[Protectionism#Neo-Mercantilism|Neomercantilism]]<br>
-[[File: Protect.png]] [[Protectionism]]<br>
+[[File:Protect.png]] [[Protectionism]]<br>
 [[File:Regulationism.png]] [[Regulationism]]
 |alignments =
-[[File: Rightunity-yellow.png]] [[:Category:Right Unity|RightUnity]]
+[[File:Rightunity-yellow.png]] [[:Category:Right Unity|RightUnity]] (usually)<br>
-|aliases = Proto-Capitalism<br>Merchant Capitalism<br>Ultra-Protectionism<br>Right-Protectionism
+[[File:Authright.png]] [[:Category:Authoritarian Right|AuthRight]] (some)
+|aliases = Proto-Capitalism<br>Merchant Capitalism<br>Ultra-Protectionism<br>Right-Protectionism<br> Feudalism-Capitalism transition (debatably)
 |song = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxmB2DB10Ts Mercantilism Rap]
 |likes= Exports
 |dislikes= Imports
-|examples=Late Renaissance, Coastal Europe
+|examples=Late Renaissance, Coastal Europe<br>The Netherlands
 |themecolor=#ffc90e
 |textcolor=#262626
-}}'''Mercantilism''' is an economic policy (debatably) located on the far right of the economic axis, that strives to increase the exports of a nation but decrease the imports to it, due to its belief that gold is an equivalent of wealth, and it is not created but it exists and is simply divided.
+}}'''Mercantilism''' is an economic policy located (debatably) on the far right of the economic axis that strives to increase the exports of a nation but decrease the imports to it. It is usually authoritarian-leaning, as well, since it is an ideology that believes that the state should be the primary recipient of wealth (much like [[File:Statecap.png]] [[State Capitalism|State Capitalism]]).
-He emerged out of [[File: Feud.png]] [[Feudalism]] and was the precursor of [[File: Cap.png]] [[Capitalism]], although they both see wealth as radically different things.<br>Mercantilism is based on the core assumption that wealth exists in the form of precious metals and is simply distributed, thus it's based on the amount of gold/silver a country had, and that the state/nation should focus on enriching themselves first. Since it believed that the real riches of a nation was a byproduct of the amount of gold and other precious metals that it had, it led to colonialism having a big focus on finding gold and silver mining places, since that would undermine the capacity of other powers to enrich themselves.<br>And due to seeing wealth as a zero-sum game, it also believes that increasing the national trade surplus will make the nation richer while making the other nations (its rivals and enemies) poorer.
+Traditionally, mercantilists believed that gold ownership was the main indication of wealth; and gold is NOT manufactured, but rather exists in a finite supply on Earth and is simply divided amongst the nations that have it. The Great Steve Heimler from Heimler's History compared the way mercantilists saw gold to the way hungry people see a pie: There is only one pie, and everyone is trying to get as much as they can!
-As stated before, Mercantilism and [[File: Cap.png]] [[Capitalism]] see the nature of wealth as completely different. While Capitalism sees wealth as the goods and services produced and consumed, and sees gold simply as a mean of exchange to obtain these goods; Mercantilism sees gold as the goal, not as a mean to an end.<br>Which also lead to the core difference (in practice), which is trading policy.<br>While [[File: Cap.png]] [[Capitalism]] sees free trade as a way to increase the nation's wealth, since it lets the nation specialize in what it can do better while letting what it can't do to be handled by others and thus generate more wealth, Mercantilism sees free trade as something that weakens the nation by allowing its rivals (and trading partners in this situation) to stockpile more wealth which could've been kept by the nation, making it poorer.
+He emerged out of [[File:Feud.png]] [[Feudalism]] and was the precursor of [[File:Cap.png]] [[Capitalism]], although they both see wealth as radically different things.<br>Mercantilism is based on the core assumption that wealth exists in the form of precious metals and is simply distributed, thus it's based on the amount of gold/silver a country had, and that the state/nation should focus on enriching themselves first. Since it believed that the real riches of a nation was a byproduct of the amount of gold and other precious metals that it had, it led to colonialism having a big focus on finding gold and silver mining places, since that would undermine the capacity of other powers to enrich themselves.<br>And due to seeing wealth as a zero-sum game, it also believes that increasing the national trade surplus will make the nation richer while making the other nations (its rivals and enemies) poorer.
+As stated before, Mercantilism and [[File:Cap.png]] [[Capitalism]] see the nature of wealth as completely different. While Capitalism sees wealth as the goods and services produced and consumed, and sees gold simply as a mean of exchange to obtain these goods; Mercantilism sees gold as the goal, not as a mean to an end.<br>Which also lead to the core difference (in practice), which is trading policy.<br>While [[File:Cap.png]] [[Capitalism]] sees free trade as a way to increase the nation's wealth, since it lets the nation specialize in what it can do better while letting what it can't do to be handled by others and thus generate more wealth, Mercantilism sees free trade as something that weakens the nation by allowing its rivals (and trading partners in this situation) to stockpile more wealth which could've been kept by the nation, making it poorer.
 This resulted in policies that sought to maximise the types of goods produced within the country and minimising things that needed to be imported, as well as the nation's exports, usually translating into policies such as restricting the nations colonies could trade with, if at all. Mercantilism was also generally in support of a strong merchant class, seeing them as on par with the nobility.
 ===Mercantilism in the modern days===
-Mercantilism is a very old ideology, which stopped being relevant more than 3 centuries ago; but Mercantilist mentality (which isn't the same as [[File:Protect.png]] [[Protectionism|Protectionist mentality]]) can be seen in modern economic policy. The biggest example is US trading policy under the [[File:Trumpism.png]] [[Trumpism|Trump administration]]. <br>Trump argued that the U.S. "loses" money spent in importing foreign goods and materials, and that a "strong economy" must run a trade surplus. Furthermore, the rhetoric of the president often suggests that any money spent on imports enriches foreign competitors at the expense of American businesses and workers.
+Mercantilism is a very old ideology, which stopped being relevant more than 3 centuries ago; but Mercantilist mentality (which isn't the same as [[File:Protect.png]] [[Protectionism|Protectionist mentality]]) can be seen in modern economic policy. The biggest example is US trading policy under the [[File:Trumpism.png]] [[Right-Wing Populism|Trump administration]]. <br>Trump argued that the U.S. "loses" money spent in importing foreign goods and materials, and that a "strong economy" must run a trade surplus. Furthermore, the rhetoric of the president often suggests that any money spent on imports enriches foreign competitors at the expense of American businesses and workers.
-== Personality ==
+==Personality==
 Mercantilism acts as a stereotypical European Merchant, Banker, Sailor and/or Noble investor in the 16th to 18th centuries.
-== How to Draw ==
+==How to Draw==
 {{Flag|Mercantilism_flag2.svg}}
 # Draw a ball.
@@ Line 43: / Line 49: @@
 You're done!
-== Relationships ==
+==Relationships==
 ===Friends===
-*[[File: Dengf.png]] [[Dengism]] - He's still angry at me for the opium trade but he's a good student.
+*[[File:Dengf.png]] [[Dengism]] - He's still angry at me for the opium trade but he's a good student.
-*[[File: Res_Publica.png]] [[Roman Republicanism]] - He taught me what I know about business.
+*[[File:Res_Publica.png]] [[Roman Republicanism]] - He taught me what I know about business.
-*[[File:Thalassocracy.png]] [[Thalassocracy]] - I too am a great lover of boats and colonialism.
 *[[File:Protect.png]] [[Protectionism]] - Remember son, exports good imports bad!
 *[[File:Cameralism.png]] [[Cameralism]] - Yeah! Wealth to the state!
 *[[File:Imp.png]] [[Imperialism]] - Good business partner.
 *[[File:Reactsoc.png]] [[Reactionary Socialism]] - The only left-wing ideology that gets it.
-=== Frenemies ===
+*[[File:Nazi.png]] [[Nazism]] - You understand it too.
+===Frenemies===
 *[[File:Cap.png]] [[Capitalism]] - Allowed the merchant class to become richer, but free trade, really?
 *[[File:Statecap.png]] [[State Capitalism]] - Our merchant republics aren't exactly "state capitalist" but you know our ways.
@@ Line 67: / Line 74: @@
 *[[File:lib.png]] [[Liberalism]] - You're even dumber than your dad! LMAO!
-== Further Information ==
+==Further Information==
-=== Wikipedia ===
+===Wikipedia===
-* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism Mercantilism]
+* [[w:Mercantilism|Mercantilism]]
-=== Videos ===
+===Videos===
 *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlOdf_o7yu8 Mercantilism: The Economics of Absolutism]
 *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMYo07DESRs Mercantilism explained]
-=== Online Communities ===
+===Online Communities===
 * [https://www.reddit.com/r/mercantilismemes/ r/Mercantilismemes]
-== Gallery ==
+==Gallery==
 <gallery widths="185">
-ThePosadist-Mercantilism.png
+File:ThePosadist-Mercantilism.png
-Hozrotter-Ressurection.png
+File:Hozrotter-Ressurection.png
-OzymandiasFR-WorldMap.jpg|Credit: OzymandiasFR, Mercantilism can be seen at the bottom with all the "Dead" ideologies.
+File:OzymandiasFR-WorldMap.jpg|Credit: [[File:World Federalism2.png]] [[Community:OzymandiasFR|OzymandiasFR]], Mercantilism can be seen at the bottom with all the "Dead" ideologies.
-Beancakeinatree-WorstFear.png|Credit: u/beancakeinatree, [https://www.reddit.com/r/Polcompball/comments/ji15ea/imperialisms_worst_fear/ Source]
+File:Beancakeinatree-WorstFear.png|Credit: u/beancakeinatree, [https://www.reddit.com/r/Polcompball/comments/ji15ea/imperialisms_worst_fear/ Source]
-Xl6u4z7djsw41.png|u/K-Tech2 [https://www.reddit.com/r/Polcompball/comments/gdh11f/family_tree_of_all_ideologies_i_managed_to/ Source]
+File:Xl6u4z7djsw41.png|u/K-Tech2 [https://www.reddit.com/r/Polcompball/comments/gdh11f/family_tree_of_all_ideologies_i_managed_to/ Source]
+File:Pcb merchantilism.png|Alt design
+File:Merchant.png|Old Drawing for Mercantilism
 </gallery>
-=== Animations ===
+===Animations===
 Mercantilism is one of the main characters in the online video series ''Voyage'' by [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrG9UOkgx-m5hFvpEWPqlcA/featured ''Galileo''].
 [[File:Voyage, A PolCompBall Series Episode 1 - Pilot|left|320x320px]]
-{{Rightunity}}
+==Navigation==
+{{Navbox/Authright}}
 [[Category:Economic Systems]]
-[[Category:Canon ideologies]]
 [[Category:Pre-Enlightenment Ideologies]]
 [[tr:Merkantilizm]]

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