The economic model characterized mainly by its pursuit of a favorable balance of trade is mercantilism (D). It was the dominant economic system adopted by European powers during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries in relation to their colonies.
The main objective of this economic system was to support the growing structure of the States: it was in this period that the formation of national monarchies (Spain, for example) took place.
According to mercantilism states’ exports should value more than their imports. It was also characterized by the collection of precious metals, whose main examples are the silver extracted from America by the Spanish (XVI-XVIII) and the gold extracted from Brazil by the Portuguese (XVIII).