---
entity_slug: extraordinary_restraints_on_importation
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:26:57.025232'
overall_score: 4.2
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: 'The definition clearly distinguishes extraordinary restraints from general
    trade restrictions by emphasizing their selective, politically-motivated nature
    rather than broad economic policy. It precisely identifies the key characteristics:
    selective application, political considerations, and departure from economic efficiency
    principles.'
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Book IV, Chapter 3, where Smith explicitly
    discusses and critiques these selective import restrictions, particularly using
    British-French trade relations as his primary example. The concept of "extraordinary"
    restraints versus ordinary commercial policy is central to Smith's argument in
    this chapter.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Regulation" domain is perfectly appropriate, as these restraints
    represent government regulatory interventions in trade flows. This is clearly
    a regulatory mechanism rather than a market process, production method, or theoretical
    principle.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps primarily to S3 (internal regulation) as a control mechanism,
    but also touches S4 (intelligence/adaptation) regarding how nations respond to
    perceived threats from specific trading partners. However, the mapping is not
    as clean as more operationally-focused entities.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity illuminates an important structural mechanism in Smith's critique
    of mercantilism - how political considerations distort trade policy beyond even
    mercantilist logic. It explains why some trade restrictions are "unreasonable"
    even within the commercial system's own framework, adding genuine analytical insight.
---

# Evaluation: Extraordinary Restraints On Importation

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes extraordinary restraints from general trade restrictions by emphasizing their selective, politically-motivated nature rather than broad economic policy. It precisely identifies the key characteristics: selective application, political considerations, and departure from economic efficiency principles.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Book IV, Chapter 3, where Smith explicitly discusses and critiques these selective import restrictions, particularly using British-French trade relations as his primary example. The concept of "extraordinary" restraints versus ordinary commercial policy is central to Smith's argument in this chapter.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Regulation" domain is perfectly appropriate, as these restraints represent government regulatory interventions in trade flows. This is clearly a regulatory mechanism rather than a market process, production method, or theoretical principle.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity maps primarily to S3 (internal regulation) as a control mechanism, but also touches S4 (intelligence/adaptation) regarding how nations respond to perceived threats from specific trading partners. However, the mapping is not as clean as more operationally-focused entities.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity illuminates an important structural mechanism in Smith's critique of mercantilism - how political considerations distort trade policy beyond even mercantilist logic. It explains why some trade restrictions are "unreasonable" even within the commercial system's own framework, adding genuine analytical insight.
