Mercantilism
Etymology
From "mercantile" (of trade), via Italian "mercante" (merchant) from Latin "mercari" (to trade), rooted in "merx" (goods) — the same source as "market." The "-ism" was applied later, largely by critics like Adam Smith, to the trade policies of early modern Europe.
noun · /MUR-kun-tee-liz-um/
An economic doctrine holding that a nation grows rich by maximizing exports, minimizing imports, and hoarding precious metals.
What it names
The zero-sum, protectionist mindset that treats trade as a contest one country wins at another’s expense.
Example
Slapping tariffs on every import while chasing a permanent trade surplus is mercantilism in modern dress.
Related idea
Mercantilism sees trade as zero-sum wealth-hoarding; free-trade theory counters that voluntary exchange can enrich both parties at once.