Whose idea was mercantilism?

Mercantilism was not the idea of a single individual but rather a prevailing economic theory that developed in Europe from the 16th to the 18th centuries. It emphasized the role of the state in managing the economy, promoting exports, and accumulating precious metals as a measure of wealth. Key figures associated with the development of mercantilist thought include Jean Bodin and Thomas Mun, but it was a collective evolution of ideas rather than the brainchild of one person.