Merchant Confederacy is a social policy in Civilization V. It is part of the Patronage tree and requires Scholasticism and Consulates. Another facet of cooperation with independent city-states is the formation of a commercial union between traders of a particular country and various City-States, often referred to as a Merchant Confederacy. This organisation undertakes to protect its members, facilitate agreements with local suppliers, smooth over bureaucratic barriers and even defend merchant caravans and vessels from brigands. As a result, there is a boost in profits from all trade undertakings between entities in the Confederation.