<P> The second school , supported by scholars such as Robert B. Ekelund , portrays mercantilism not as a mistake , but rather as the best possible system for those who developed it . This school argues that rent - seeking merchants and governments developed and enforced mercantilist policies . Merchants benefited greatly from the enforced monopolies , bans on foreign competition , and poverty of the workers . Governments benefited from the high tariffs and payments from the merchants . Whereas later economic ideas were often developed by academics and philosophers , almost all mercantilist writers were merchants or government officials . </P>
<P> The second school , supported by scholars such as Robert B. Ekelund , portrays mercantilism not as a mistake , but rather as the best possible system for those who developed it . This school argues that rent - seeking merchants and governments developed and enforced mercantilist policies . Merchants benefited greatly from the enforced monopolies , bans on foreign competition , and poverty of the workers . Governments benefited from the high tariffs and payments from the merchants . Whereas later economic ideas were often developed by academics and philosophers , almost all mercantilist writers were merchants or government officials . </P>
who benefits most in the economic system of mercantilism
who benefits most in the economic system of mercantilism
Merchants Governments
Merchants Governments