Page:Indian Journal of Economics Volume 2.djvu/529

 MODERN MEROANTILISM 1N INDIA 11 and read the figures showing its effects upon national vitality, revealed by the British recruiting statistics. But they are voices crying in the wilderness. Among the methods of simulating industries, those which overshadow all others 'in India to-dky, as in the days of the Mercantilists, are import duties on finished products for protection against foreign corn- petition, and export duties on raw materials and food to enable Indian industries to get them more cheaply. It is one of the most interesting parallels with Mer- cantilism, that while Protectionists have never demand- ed the limitation of food ezports, both the Mercantilists of Europe and of India are The Mercantilists wished it in labor, and idered less because profitable. the export of The Indian agreed on this policy. order to obtain cheap food was cons- writers emphasize the prevention of famine and the increased efficiency of labor. It is .said that Colbert caused the famines to become more and more terrible in France by the prohibition of the export of grain. In India the government always refused to stop grain exports on tened an unheard of limitation of export was cal as on economic economic grounds, rise in adopted grounds. economists ,have generally principal writers duties are crude except where the exporting until the war threa- prices, when the as much on politi- accepted on public finance and obsolete forms country has Outside of the view that all of India of the ezozt taxation, monopoly or fears the exhaustion of natural other rare a few very one of own my that an export duty on but a sort of inverted students who pointed raw materials resources, and in and special cases. ou protection, having same effect in sacrificing agriculture to tries as an i. mport duty on the finished product. It was to me nothing much the help indus- It