Philipp Wilhelm von Hörnigk (sometimes spelt Hornick or Horneck; 23 January 1640 – 23 October 1714) was a German civil servant, who was one of the founders of Cameralism and a supporter of the economic theory of mercantilism.
From 1673 he worked on trade and inheritance statistics in Vienna, together with Johann Joachim Becher (his brother-in-law, married to his sister Maria Veronika von Hörnigk).
In 1682 he published two tracts on public law, in which he severely criticized any French intentions on German territory In 1690, when his influence at the Viennese court declined, he moved to the Hochstift Passau and entered the service of Johann Philipp von Lamberg, who had since become bishop there, and became his personal advisor and privy councilor.
Since mercenaries at that time formed a large part of the army and the loyalty of the Hungarian nobility in particular depended on cash payments, he advocated a consistently mercantilist policy, the main aim of which was to increase available funds.
[2] This work is considered one of the most important writings of mercantilism and dominated the economic-political discussion for a generation and laid the foundation for absolutist economic policy in the 18th century.