The British economist J.A. Hobson, in his book Imperialism, stated that Western industrialized nations were acquiring colonial empires because O Western laissez-faire principles of free trade drove industrialists to seek cheap colonial labor to cut production costs. Remedy: Raise tariffs. O Overproduction and underconsumption of goods drove industrial nations to seek colonial markets for excess goods. Remedy: Increase workers' pay so they can buy the goods they produce. O High trade barriers (tariffs) in Europe drove nations to seek colonies to create free trade commercial areas. Remedy: Lower tariffs. Overpopulation and underemployment (due to mechanization) created the need for colonial areas to settle excess populations. Remedy: Malthusian social policies to reduce population