Paul Krugman | King George's Crumbling Monarchy

TAX FARMERS, MERCENARIES AND VICEROYS

EXCERPT: "In the bad old days, government was a haphazard affair. There was no bureaucracy to collect taxes, so the king subcontracted the job to private 'tax farmers,' who often engaged in extortion. There was no regular army, so the king hired mercenaries, who tended to wander off and pillage the nearest village. There was no regular system of administration, so the king assigned the task to favored courtiers, who tended to be corrupt, incompetent or both."

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Paul Krugman King George's Crumbling Monarchy