---
entity_slug: private_interest_monopoly_spirit
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T06:09:04.849718'
overall_score: 4.4
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly identifies a specific behavioral tendency of merchants
    and manufacturers to use government power for monopolistic advantage. It avoids
    circularity and distinguishes this concept from general profit-seeking by focusing
    on the specific mechanism of securing government-backed exclusive privileges.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This concept is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book IV, Chapter
    3, where he explicitly discusses how private commercial interests invented mercantilist
    doctrines to secure monopolies and protection. Smith clearly identifies this as
    the driving force behind much mercantilist policy advocacy.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Regulation" domain is perfectly appropriate since this entity specifically
    concerns how private interests manipulate government regulatory power to create
    monopolies. This is fundamentally about the intersection of private commercial
    behavior and regulatory capture.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity has some VSM relevance as it represents a pathological relationship
    between S1 (commercial operations) and S5 (policy/identity), where private interests
    corrupt the policy-making function. However, it's more of a dysfunction pattern
    than a clear structural component of any single VSM system.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: "This entity provides excellent explanatory power by identifying the\
    \ causal mechanism behind mercantilist policies\u2014showing how private interests\
    \ drive seemingly public policy doctrines. It illuminates the structural relationship\
    \ between commercial self-interest and regulatory capture that Smith saw as fundamental\
    \ to understanding mercantilism."
---

# Evaluation: Private Interest Monopoly Spirit

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly identifies a specific behavioral tendency of merchants and manufacturers to use government power for monopolistic advantage. It avoids circularity and distinguishes this concept from general profit-seeking by focusing on the specific mechanism of securing government-backed exclusive privileges.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This concept is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book IV, Chapter 3, where he explicitly discusses how private commercial interests invented mercantilist doctrines to secure monopolies and protection. Smith clearly identifies this as the driving force behind much mercantilist policy advocacy.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Regulation" domain is perfectly appropriate since this entity specifically concerns how private interests manipulate government regulatory power to create monopolies. This is fundamentally about the intersection of private commercial behavior and regulatory capture.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity has some VSM relevance as it represents a pathological relationship between S1 (commercial operations) and S5 (policy/identity), where private interests corrupt the policy-making function. However, it's more of a dysfunction pattern than a clear structural component of any single VSM system.

## explanatory_value — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity provides excellent explanatory power by identifying the causal mechanism behind mercantilist policies—showing how private interests drive seemingly public policy doctrines. It illuminates the structural relationship between commercial self-interest and regulatory capture that Smith saw as fundamental to understanding mercantilism.
