Mercantilism vs capitalism differences and similarities

What are the differences between mercantilism vs capitalism?

Mercantilism and capitalism are two economic systems practiced by nations throughout history. Though they share some similarities, there are also several essential ways in which they differ. So, what’s the difference between capitalism and mercantilism? Mercantilism was an early form of capitalism that emerged in the 16th and 17th centuries. Unlike modern capitalism, mercantilism was focused on accumulating wealth and power for governments, rather than individuals or businesses. Mercantilist policies often included things like trade barriers and restrictions on colonies, in order to keep money and resources flowing into the home country.

Rise of mercantilism and capitalism

The mercantile theory arose during the early modern period when nations were competing for resources and markets. It was a response to the feudal system, which placed limits on trade and commerce. Mercantilism held that the key to economic success was to increase one’s own exports while restricting imports from other nations. The goal was to amass more wealth, which would in turn lead to more political power. The theory was influential in shaping government policy during the 16th-19th centuries. It began to decline in importance with the rise of laissez-faire economics in the late 18th century, and it was largely discredited by the mid-19th century.

The earliest form of capitalism can be traced back to the medieval era when merchants and traders began to accumulate wealth through trade. The rise of capitalism as an economic system took place during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries when new technologies and production methods made it possible to produce goods on a large scale. During the 20th century, capitalism spread throughout the world, becoming the dominant economic system in most countries. However, it has also come under criticism from those who argue that it leads to inequality and exploitation.

In the mercantilist system, the government intervenes heavily in the economy in order to promote economic growth. This intervention takes many forms, including tariffs, subsidies, and regulations. The goal of mercantilism is to increase the amount of wealth and power that a nation has relative to other nations.

In capitalism, the economy is mostly free from government intervention. This allows businesses to compete freely in the marketplace, and it gives individuals the freedom to pursue their own economic goals. The goal of capitalism is to create wealth and efficiency through competition and innovation.

On the plus side, capitalism encourages competition and innovation as businesses try to outdo each other to attract customers and make more money. This can lead to better products and services for consumers, as well as new jobs and economic growth. On the downside, capitalism can also lead to income inequality and exploitation, as businesses strive to maximize profits at all costs.

Some key differences between mercantilism and capitalism

1. Mercantilism is an economic theory that holds that the wealth of a nation is best increased through a favorable balance of trade. In other words, a country should export more than it imports, and it should avoid importing goods that can be produced domestically. Whereas, capitalism is an economic system in which private individuals or businesses own the means of production and operate for profit. The government plays a limited role in the economy under capitalism.
2. Mercantilism relies heavily on government intervention in the economy, while capitalism relies on the free market.
3. Mercantilist policies are often protectionist, while capitalist policies are typically free trade.
4. The mercantilist theory believes wealth is fixed and finite; hence the country with the most gold and other precious metals would have more economic power and wealth. Capitalism believes wealth can be increased by productivity and innovation, hence it is not fixed.
5. Under the capitalist system, an individual can buy whatever he or she wants, whether it is luxury or a need; but in the mercantile system, there was a restriction on luxury items and the government preferred people to amass wealth for their nation instead of luxury to themselves.

There are other key differences between mercantilism and capitalism, which can be summarized in the table below:

Main differences between mercantilism vs capitalism

Differences	Mercantilism	Capitalism
Government intervention	Relies on government for enforcement	Minimal government intervention
Method of wealth accumulation	Development of colonies to increase wealth	Development of innovations and competitive advantage to increase wealth
Common occurrences	War was common during mercantilism in order to form colonies	It is driven by competition to increase market share
Players	Occurs between countries	Occurs between private individuals, businesses, and countries
Controlling factors	Relies on the military to sustain it by guarding borders and developing colonies	Relies on market forces of demand and supply
Practice	Mercantilism has failed	Capitalism is still being practiced today, though not pure capitalism.
Ideas promoted	Promotes absolutism and may hurt consumers	Promotes mutual benefits between consumers and producers
Market	Controlled	Open market
Tariffs	Very high	Low
Trade favorability	Favors exports	Favors free trade

Key similarities between mercantilism vs capitalism

• There are a few key similarities between mercantilism and capitalism. Both systems emphasize the importance of private property and the accumulation of wealth.
• Both systems also encourage trade and the pursuit of profit.
• Mercantilism and capitalism can both lead to monopoly. A mercantilist country may want to accumulate wealth such as gold and silver so that other countries depend on it whereas the monopoly in capitalism may lead to wealth accumulation to an individual, business, or even a certain country having an absolute advantage.
• Both have tariffs in trade; even though that of the mercantile system is very high while the capitalist system is low.

So, while there are some similarities between mercantilism and capitalism, there are also some important differences.

Mercantilism vs capitalism venn diagram

FAQs

Conclusion

There are several key differences between mercantilism and capitalism. Mercantilism is an economic system in which the government intervenes heavily in the economy to promote exports and discourage imports; while capitalism is an economic system in which businesses operate independently of government intervention. Additionally, mercantilist economies tend to be more focused on accumulating wealth, while capitalist economies are more focused on innovation and growth. However, both systems share some similarities, such as the importance of private property rights and the role of competition in driving economic activity.

Last Updated on October 6, 2022 by Nansel Nanzip Bongdap