Cologne Economic History Paper 01-2007 - Universität zu Köln

Toni Pierenkemper
Friderizianischer Merkantilismus und preußische Industriepolitik in Oberschlesien 1740-1786
Inhalt
1. Ideen und Erfolge staatlicher Merkantilpolitik im Deutschland des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts 3
2. Wirtschaft und Wirtschaftspolitik in Schlesien 1740-1786 11
3. Preußische Industriepolitik in Oberschlesien 1740-1786 20
Zitierte Literatur 29
Mercantilism in the Reign of Frederick II and Prussian Industrial Politics in Upper Silesia 1740-1786
In late 18 th century Prussia, the conditions were laied down that were to form the basis of the economic upturn
of the 19 th century. This period of transition was marked by a break with the former “mercantilist” or
“camerialist” system as it is termed in its specific German form of promotion of trade and industry by the state
in the 18 th century. It was not mercantilist policy but its avoidance that contributed considerably to the success
of industrialisation beginning the late 18 th century.
The Prussian political economy in the middle of the 18 th century, labelled ‘Friederician Mercantilism’ according
to Frederick II (1740-1786), is addressed in the context of the international mercantilist system (France
and England). The traditional view of German economic history is that “Friederician Mercantilism” laied down
the conditions for industrial development in the 19 th century. The results of this paper are different: The mercantilist
sytem impeded development and, combined with the King’s obstinacy in adhering to the system, did
nothing to help pave the way for development into a modern industrial nation.
This is demonstrated using the example of the newly acquired Silesian province (1740), which was in no
good economic state in the mid-18 th century; and the first decades subsequent to Prussia’s acquisition were
marked by the belligerent circumstances associated with its takeover. Later, “Friederician Mercantilism” only
made a limited contribution to the transformation of Silesia into a modern industrial region. In spite of an active
trade policy, the measures implemented by the Prussians in order to boost industry proved to be misdirected:
financial, trade, and industrial policies emerged as irrelevant or even disadavantageous to the Silesian
province. This was even more so the case for the Upper Silesian coal mining district, which was, over
the course of the 19 th century, to grow into a powerful industrial centre. The new Prussian administration
completely underestimated this area’s potential for development. In the 1770s there was a broad discussion
of the economic situation in Upper Silesia that resulted in state activity in the domain of the Upper Silesian
iron industry. However, it was shaped by the state’s military and fiscal interests. “Friederician Mercantilism”
had no perspective for economic development and it was only with the death of Frederick II in 1786 that the
potentiality of Prussia’s and Upper Silesia’s development into a modern economiy characacterised by free
enterprise emerged.