Mercantilism holds that a nation's wealth is primarily measured by which of the following?

• A. Population
• B. Industry
• C. Land
• D. Treasure

Answer: (D)

Under mercantilism, a nation’s wealth is measured by its treasure—specifically the amount of gold and silver it holds. This view treats treasure as the real power behind a country: it lets a government pay for wars, fund its administration, and secure imports by having the means to pay for them. Because resources were seen as finite, the goal was to maximize exports and minimize imports to bring more treasure into the country, often through a favorable balance of trade and through colonies that could supply precious metals and costly goods. While factors like population, land, or industrial output can contribute to a country’s strength, mercantilism centers on accumulating treasure as the clearest indicator of wealth and national power.