---
entity_slug: civil_government_expense_in_colonies
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T04:43:21.247249'
overall_score: 4.4
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly distinguishes civil government expenses from military
    costs and specifies what it includes (governors, judges, public works) and how
    it's funded (local taxation vs. imperial subsidies). It could be slightly more
    precise about what constitutes "moderate" taxation levels.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This concept is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book IV, Chapter
    7, where he explicitly discusses colonial administrative costs and contrasts them
    with defense expenses. The entity accurately reflects Smith's argument about the
    affordability of colonial civil administration.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"Regulation" is the correct domain placement since this concerns the
    administrative and governance structures needed to maintain order and basic public
    services in colonial territories. This is fundamentally about regulatory mechanisms
    rather than production or trade.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to S3 (internal regulation/audit) as it represents
    the basic administrative control functions needed to maintain colonial operations.
    It also has some S1 relevance as these are operational necessities for colonial
    functioning.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating the cost
    structure of colonial administration and its role in Smith's argument about colonial
    contributions to imperial expenses. It reveals an important mechanism in the economics
    of empire that supports broader theoretical claims about colonial policy.
---

# Evaluation: Civil Government Expense In Colonies

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes civil government expenses from military costs and specifies what it includes (governors, judges, public works) and how it's funded (local taxation vs. imperial subsidies). It could be slightly more precise about what constitutes "moderate" taxation levels.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This concept is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book IV, Chapter 7, where he explicitly discusses colonial administrative costs and contrasts them with defense expenses. The entity accurately reflects Smith's argument about the affordability of colonial civil administration.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

"Regulation" is the correct domain placement since this concerns the administrative and governance structures needed to maintain order and basic public services in colonial territories. This is fundamentally about regulatory mechanisms rather than production or trade.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to S3 (internal regulation/audit) as it represents the basic administrative control functions needed to maintain colonial operations. It also has some S1 relevance as these are operational necessities for colonial functioning.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating the cost structure of colonial administration and its role in Smith's argument about colonial contributions to imperial expenses. It reveals an important mechanism in the economics of empire that supports broader theoretical claims about colonial policy.
