Final answer:
A leader who supported the theory of mercantilism would want to export more goods than it imported, as mercantilism aimed for a favorable balance of trade to increase a nation's wealth and power.
Step-by-step explanation:
A leader who supported the theory of mercantilism would want his country to export more goods than it imported. Mercantilism was an economic policy popular in the 16th to 18th centuries that promoted government regulation of a nation's economy for the purpose of augmenting state power at the expense of rival national powers. It posited that the world's wealth was finite and therefore one nation's gain was another's loss.
Under mercantilist theory, nations sought to increase their wealth by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by establishing a favorable balance of trade. This involved maximizing exports and minimizing imports to ensure that more money was coming into the country than was leaving. Additionally, mercantilism led to the establishment of colonies to not only supply natural resources but also serve as markets for the home country's goods. Tariffs, monopolies, and subsidies were common mercantilist strategies to protect and enhance national economies. So, the correct option would be to export more goods than it imported since a favorable balance of trade was a key feature of mercantilist theory, increasing a nation's wealth in precious metals and thereby its power.