ABSTRACT
A generation-or to be more precise, thirty-three years-has elapsed since the flurry of discussion generated by the publication of a revised English edition of Eli Heckscher’s monumental and controversial study of Mercantilism, which originally appeared in Swedish (1931), German (1932) and English (1935). But the occasion would not, of itself, justify yet another reappraisal of the concept of mercantilist economic thought and policy were it not for the fact that a series of relevant articles and books on this subject has materialized within the past few years. It therefore seems an appropriate time to ask whether there have been any significant new findings, any discernible trends of scholarly opinion or any new areas of investigation opened up for students of economic thought and policy. What are the implications, if any, for parallel studies of later periods? And if the answer to any of these questions is positive, what are the implications, if any, for scholars concerned with economic thought and policy in later periods?
