Craig Muldrew

Damaris Coffman, Professor at UCL, Craig Muldrew, a Cambridge economic historian, and Helen Paul from the University of Southampton delve into the ideology of mercantilism that shaped Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. They discuss the drive for exports and the critique by Adam Smith highlighting the flaws in mercantilism. The conversation explores the interplay between mercantilism and colonialism, along with its lasting influence on modern economics and the persistent debates over trade policies and globalization.

D’Maris Coffman, an expert in economics at UCL, Craig Muldrew, a historian at Cambridge, and Helen Paul, an economic lecturer at Southampton, dive into the world of mercantilism. They explore how this economic philosophy dominated Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries, emphasizing export maximization and import minimization. The discussion highlights the conflicts arising from mercantilist trade policies and critiques by thinkers like Adam Smith. They also examine the evolution of these ideas in modern contexts, linking historical practices to today's economic challenges.