Mercurialist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who endorses economic strategies aimed at maximizing national wealth through trade regulations and mercantilist practices
2. A proponent of policies and theories that emphasize governmental control over economic activity to enhance national prosperity through commerce
3. A person who advocates for an economic policy that focuses on increasing a country's wealth by regulating trade and accumulating resources

Etymology: "Mercurialist" is a word built from two familiar pieces: "mercurial" and the suffix "-ist," which marks a person who holds or follows a particular doctrine. Its use in the sense of a supporter of mercantilism comes from the economic meaning of "mercurial," which is tied to the Roman god Mercury, the patron of merchants and trade. The adjective "mercurial" itself has a more complicated history. It was first used to describe people born under the influence of the planet Mercury, who were believed to be quick-witted, changeable, and restless, traits the ancients associated with the messenger god. Over time, the word came to mean lively, volatile, or quick to shift mood, the sense most people know today. The link to Mercury as a god of commerce, rather than as a planet or a moody temperament, is what gives the economic sense its particular flavour.