Learn game theory. A small group of nations allied as Austrian economic practitioners will surpass Mercantilists provided the group is bigger than the Mercantilist.
From 1780 - 1942 the US was a textbook mercantile nation. During the same period Britain pursued Smithsonian Free Trade.
The result was the largest store of capital stock in the history of mankind in the US, whilst Britain’s empire collapsed.
Now China has copied that model for 40 years and the result is similar.
That’s REAL LIFE, not the mental masturbation of Austrians and Smithsonians.
Justifying the world’s mercantilism should be punishable by death.