Commercial state

The commercial state concept is sometimes associated with Adam Ferguson's concept of civil society and refers to a political state devoted primarily to the promotion and advancement of commercial interests.

Several lines of thought and action (e.g. Mercantilism ) run from ancient Greek and Roman philosophy through Ferguson and Adam Smith to the Federalist party of Alexander Hamilton and the Austrian economists such as Ludwig von Mises, Frederick Hayek down to modern theorists including Milton Friedman and Murray Rothbard.

Practical commercial state activities include governmental economic development efforts including encouraging plant relocations, tax rebates, zoning easements and assorted other incentives and concessions.