mercantile system

mercantile system
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.
[1770-80]

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • mercantile system — noun an economic system (Europe in 18th century) to increase a nation s wealth by government regulation of all of the nation s commercial interests • Syn: ↑mercantilism • Regions: ↑Europe • Hypernyms: ↑managed economy * * * Econ. a system of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • mercantile system — /ˈmɜkəntaɪl sɪstəm/ (say merkuhntuyl sistuhm) noun a system of political and economic policy, devised in the 17th century but evolving with the modern national state, which sought to secure the political supremacy of a state in its rivalry with… …  

  • mercantile system — economic system of commercial trade …   English contemporary dictionary

  • mercantile — (adj.) 1640s, from Fr. mercantile (17c.), from It. mercantile, from M.L. mercantile, from L. mercantem (nom. mercans) a merchant, also trading, prp. of mercari to trade, from merx (see MARKET (Cf. market) (n.)). Mercantile system first appears in …   Etymology dictionary

  • mercantile —   a. pertaining to trading and merchants.    ♦ mercantile system, economic or political system aiming at increase in national strength through trade.    ♦ mercantilism, n. commercial practice; practice of mercantile system.    ♦ mercantility, n …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • mercantile — /merr keuhn teel , tuyl , til/, adj. 1. of or pertaining to merchants or trade; commercial. 2. engaged in trade or commerce: a mercantile nation. 3. Econ. of or pertaining to the mercantile system. [1635 45; < F < It: pertaining to merchants,… …   Universalium

  • mercantile — adjective Etymology: French, from Italian, from mercante merchant, from Latin mercant , mercans, from present participle of mercari to trade more at market Date: 1642 1. of or relating to merchants or trading 2. of, relating to, or having the… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mercantile — /ˈmɜkəntaɪl / (say merkuhntuyl) adjective 1. of or relating to merchants or to trade; commercial. 2. engaged in trade or commerce. 3. Economics of or relating to the mercantile system. {French, from Italian, mercante, from Latin mercans, present… …  

  • Mercantile Trust and Deposit Company — U.S. National Register of Historic Places …   Wikipedia

  • Mercantile agencies — Mercantile (or Commercial) Agencies, is the name given in United States to organizations designed to collect, record and distribute to regular clients information relative to the standing of commercial firms. That is, they act as a sort of… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”