"About good and bad use of colonies": Colonial policy and French economic thought during the XVIIIth century

The first French colonial empire which was formed before the beginning of XVIIIth century was justified by the mercantilists of XVIth and XVIIth centuries. However, during the XVIIIth century, the economic thought is more separated. The first liberals are in favour of the keeping of the empire even if it is in contradiction with their theories. The colonial countries are an exception to the application of theses new ideas. On the contrary, during the second part of the century, the physiocrats are at the origin of a new anti-colonial discourse, up to liberal thought.