BharatNotes Mercantilism
noun (uncountable)Usage in a UPSC answer
The government's recent tilt towards import substitution and aggressive export incentives reflects a quiet revival of mercantilism, raising the question of whether a trade-surplus fixation can coexist with the spirit of multilateral cooperation that India professes at the WTO.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
mercantilism (n), mercantilist (n/adj), mercantile (adj), mercantilistic (adj), merchant (n)
Root
Latin merx = merchandise, goods; mercans = buyer, trader; French mercantile; -ism = system/doctrine
Etymology
From French mercantilisme, from the adjective mercantile, from Latin mercans ("buyer, trader"), from merx ("merchandise, goods").
Memory Hook
Hear "MERCHANT" inside MERCANTILism: a nation acting like a profit-hungry merchant, hoarding gold and selling more than it buys.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Mains 2013 · GS1 · 10 marks — World History
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Mercantilism” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
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