Today I learned +

[Bohandas]

And to be clear, this isn’t about political/economic system types. There is no kind of government that can function without tax revenues, and there can’t be tax revenue if the population is facing inexorable rising unemployment.

I think the Inca empire had periodic mandatory stints of government service instead of taxes. Or at least that's what they said on Extra History (although they also stipulated that there were some inconsistencies in the historical records that have come down to us)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I think the Inca empire had periodic mandatory stints of government service instead of taxes. Or at least that's what they said on Extra History (although they also stipulated that there were some inconsistencies in the historical records that have come down to us)

Even with that, government service by taxpayers doesn’t necessarily pave roads, repair bridges, arm & feed soldiers. Barter on massive scales is kinda self-limiting, especially as you start talking about higher tech goods.

 

[dragoner]

I have written about some of this.