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{{Economics sidebar}}
{{Economic systems sidebar|expanded=by ideology}}
'''Mercantilism''' is a national economic policy that is designed to maximise the trade of a nation {{Citation needed span|and, historically, to maximize the accumulation of gold and silver|reason=mercantilism is not the same as bullionism|date=February 2018}} (as well as crops). Mercantilism was dominant in modernized parts of Europe from the 16th to the 18th centuries<ref>"Mercantilism," Laura LaHaye ''[[The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics]]'' (2008)</ref> before falling into decline, although some commentators argue<ref>{{Harvnb|Samuelson|2007}}.</ref> that it is still
It promotes government regulation of a nation's economy for the purpose of augmenting state power at the expense of rival national powers. Mercantilism includes a national [[economic policy]] aimed at accumulating [[Foreign-exchange reserves|monetary reserves]] through a positive [[balance of trade]], especially of [[finished goods]]. Historically, such policies frequently led to war and also motivated [[Colonialism|colonial expansion]].<ref>Johnson et al. ''History of domestic and foreign commerce of the United States'' p. 37.</ref>
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