Capitulo II. El mercantilismo.

La Producción de Bicicletas: Un Análisis Comparativo

Introducción a la Producción de Bicicletas

• Raúl fabrica bicicletas blanquiceleste en Argentina, mientras que Charly produce bicicletas blanquirrojas en China.

• Las bicicletas chinas son más baratas debido a la producción masiva y salarios más bajos en comparación con Argentina.

Impacto del Arancel sobre las Importaciones

• Se plantea la pregunta sobre el efecto de un impuesto a las importaciones de bicicletas en Argentina.

Evolución del Pensamiento Económico: El Mercantilismo

Orígenes y Características

• El mercantilismo no es una escuela económica formal, sino un conjunto de propuestas económicas que evolucionaron durante tres siglos.

• Surge en Europa durante cambios políticos, económicos y sociales significativos; el Renacimiento coloca al hombre como centro del universo.

Cambios Sociales y Económicos

• La economía se desvincula de la moralidad medieval para centrarse en la política; los mercantilistas buscan aumentar el poderío del reino mediante ganancias comerciales.

Desarrollo Agrícola y Comercialización

Crecimiento Agrícola

• A partir del siglo XI, la actividad agrícola florece gracias a avances técnicos, generando un excedente permanente que supera el consumo poblacional.

Comercio y Riqueza Feudal

• Los señores feudales enriquecidos compran bienes lujosos traídos de Oriente; los mercaderes obtienen grandes ganancias al revender productos.

Transformación Social: La Burguesía y los Gremios

Ascenso de Nuevas Clases Sociales

• Los capitalistas comerciales se constituyen como clase social (la burguesía), debilitando las disposiciones gremiales tradicionales.

Alianzas entre Productores y Mercaderes

• Los agricultores establecen alianzas con mercaderes para comercializar sus excedentes; esto transforma el comercio en una actividad dinámica.

Desafíos Comerciales y Estrategias

Competencia por Recursos

• Se discute la necesidad de llegar a costas antes que competidores (ej. holandeses), resaltando la importancia estratégica del comercio marítimo.

Conclusiones sobre el Mercantilismo

Evolución Histórica

The Rise of Mercantilism and National Power

The Role of Trade and Piracy

• The French and English have focused on foreign trade and piracy, which is a euphemistic term for extracting precious metals from ships.

• King Henry is pleased with the state of his treasury, indicating a prosperous period for England.

Encouragement of Local Production

• In early 17th century France, there was a push to promote local manufacturing of luxury goods like tapestries and porcelain, reducing reliance on imports.

• It is more profitable to export finished products rather than raw materials; thus, laws were enacted to ensure that English goods are transported only by English ships.

Understanding the Balance of Trade

• Mercantilists analyze the balance of trade, defined as the difference between exports and imports over time.

• A positive balance occurs when exports exceed imports, leading to an influx of gold into the kingdom.

Protectionism as Economic Strategy

• Protectionism aims to defend national production by regulating foreign goods' entry; it encourages local manufacturing through import substitution.

• Control over maritime trade equates to control over global wealth; establishing industries is crucial for economic strength.

Transitioning Power Dynamics

• Wealth does not solely come from gold or silver but from acquiring necessary goods for life.

• Factors such as technology and lower wages in countries like China make it difficult for local industries (e.g., bicycle manufacturing in Argentina) to compete effectively.

Government Intervention in Trade

• To protect domestic industries, governments impose tariffs on imported goods, making them less competitive against local products.

• This leads consumers to prefer locally produced items due to price adjustments caused by tariffs.

Emergence of Modern States

• As feudal lords expand their territories, they begin unifying under centralized monarchies that consolidate power.

• Monarchies emerge where kings hold supreme power; commercial capitalists seek alliances with these rulers for mutual benefit.

Strengthening National Economies

• Kings must weaken feudal powers while maintaining strong armies and controlling markets to enhance commerce.

• The agricultural sector plays a vital role alongside artisans and merchants in supporting national economies.

Evolution of Feudal Authority

• Feudal lords lose absolute control over their domains as they adapt to new political structures favoring centralized authority.

• Historical examples include Louis XI in France and the Catholic Monarchs in Spain who exemplify this shift towards modern states.

Economic Intervention and Mercantilism

The Role of the State in the Economy

• The state should intervene in the national economy by regulating the export of raw materials and navigation, ensuring that artisans meet the demands of merchants.

• Labor conditions for farmers are harsh, with long working hours that do not guarantee subsistence, contrasting with their ancestors' easier lives.

• It is crucial to maximize advantages from both natural and artificial resources, as a larger population engaged in trades contributes significantly to national strength and wealth.

Understanding Mercantilism

• Mercantilism is not merely an economic school but a collection of evolving economic proposals over three centuries, breaking away from medieval moral and religious constraints.

• The rise of commercial capitalism allied with monarchies led to strong public intervention aimed at enriching emerging nation-states across Europe.

Development of National Industry

• By 1600, various inventions boosted manufacturing industries; merchants began hiring artisans to produce goods under mercantilist protectionism.

• Mercantilists emphasized accumulating precious metals for states, paralleling modern efforts by countries to build reserves in central banks.

Protectionism and Its Implications