Smith argued that it was impossible for all nations to become rich simultaneously by following mercantilism because the export of one nation is another nation’s import and instead stated that all nations would gain simultaneously if they practiced free trade and specialized in accordance with their absolute advantage.
Smit je tvrdio da je nemoguće da sve zemlje postanu istovremeno bogate prateći merkantilističke ideje, jer je izvoz iz jedne zemlje, uvoz u druge, i umesto toga tvrdio da će sve zemlje istovremeno dobiti ako budu praktikovale slobodnu trgovinu i ako se budu specijalizovale u skladu sa njihovim apsolutnim prednostima.