Kautilya on international trade policies

摘要

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present Kautilya's ideas on international trade. Design/methodology/approach – A non-technical descriptive approach is followed. Findings – Kautilya implicitly proposes a theory of gains from trade and recommends imports promotion rather than export promotion. Research limitations/implications – It is indicated that our current understanding regarding international trade during ancient times is quite inadequate. Practical implications – There will be no need for current endless negotiations if countries commit themselves to Kautilya's policy of import promotion. Originality/value – The paper provides insights into trade patterns during the ancient times.