A nation practicing mercantilism aims to

a. keep the government out of the economy.

b. establish an excess of exports over imports.

c. balance imports with exports.

d. replace gold and silver with paper money.

e. reduce the size of the military sector.

B) establish an excess of exports over imports.

Explanation:

Mercantilism asserts that countries should simultaneously encourage exports and discourage imports. Therefore, it is in a country's best interest to maintain a trade surplus, i. e. have more exports than imports. Mercantilism believes that governments should intervene the markets in order to achieve a trade surplus.

Mercantilism tries to take advantage of other countries, and it always easier to take advantage on poorer or developing countries, rather than richer developed countries.