The author’s claim that the Spanish inhabitants of Manila act as agents for the inhabitants of Mexico is a reference to: The mercantilist trade regulations enforced by Spanish colonial authorities.
What is Mercantilism?
Mercantilism is an economic policy wherein governments seek to increase their exports and reduce imports to improve their economy.
In the Mexican city, there was silver but the lack of productivity made the economy poor.
So, to improve the economy of Mexico, Spanish inhabitants in Manila served as agents for the state.
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