mercantile system

American  

[mur-kuhn-teel sis-tuhm, -tahyl] / ˈmɜr kənˌtil ˌsɪs təm, -ˌtaɪl /

noun

Economics.

1. a system of political and economic policy, evolving with the modern national state and seeking to secure a nation's political and economic supremacy in its rivalry with other states. According to this system, money was regarded as a store of wealth, and the goal of a state was the accumulation of precious metals, by exporting the largest possible quantity of its products and importing as little as possible, thus establishing a favorable balance of trade.

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Etymology

Origin of mercantile system

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

He also thought that these free trade deals would essentially be corrupted by the people who make the deal, which he called the mercantile system.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2025

The store was on its feet within one year, expanding in two, opening branches in three, and its descendants, a great mercantile system, now dominate a large part of the area.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Hence it is that, in recent text-books, so many are now called adherents and now opponents of the mercantile system.

From Principles of Political Economy, Vol. II by Roscher, Wilhelm

Even the violent opponent of the mercantile system, Boisguillebert, could not entirely escape this view.

From Principles of Political Economy, Vol. II by Roscher, Wilhelm

The principle of the "commercial system" or "mercantile system" is, that wealth consists in money, or in gold and silver.

From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 14 — Philosophy and Economics by Hammerton, John Alexander, Sir