Collective Capitalism: An Examination of Clan Economics

North Timistania

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'We Work Together, We Produce Together, We Profit Together!'

-Volkmann Clan Slogan

It would be a grave mistake to assume that the clans do not understand capitalism, trade with outsiders has been ongoing for millennia, one need only look at the insane urban sprawl of Kimbria to see how the clans have utilized the free market. Where the clans differ from the rest of Eras is in their interpretation of capitalism, the clans approach it from the perspective of the collective rather than the individual.

One potential reason that Collective Capitalism has emerged in Essalanea rather than anywhere else is largely due to the fact that the clans have never been colonized, their traditional systems of subsistence and collective living have remained largely unchanged for millennia. The fact that they chose to embrace relations with the rest of Eras on their own terms has meant that modernity in Essalanea has followed a path unique to the clans.

The Bondsmen

The primary economic producers in every clan are the bondsmen, these multi-skilled citizen workers are a testament to the resilience of the steppe peoples in all aspects of life. A bondsman represents an eclectic mix of skills and roles, from masons, to hunters every role is fulfilled by the bondsmen.

Jobs in the clans are based upon Merit, a bondsman skilled in hunting will hunt whilst a bondsman who can speak foreign languages might be trained to sell wares to outsiders. There is no set pathway within clan society, a person finds their way in life based upon their talents rather than any formal corporate or state assigned employment.

While this might seem strange to outsiders it works well for the steppe clans, bondsmen will divide into trained units and provide whatever work the clan needs based upon social directives from the chieftain and wider clan.

The Commons

The commons represent the total resources and material culture of any given clan territory, this shared economic environment is the source of all wealth and production within clan society. Each Clan possesses a commons and each commons is worked by Bondsmen.

Work on the commons can range from subsistence economies such as herding, farming or hunting to more modern forms of labor such as mining, gas extraction or refining of minerals. Each clan is responsible for the maintenance and exploitation of their economic assets, the Karg, for example, have begun to develop a sophisticated weapons industry based around steel extraction on their clan territory.

The Clan

unlike outsider societies, the clans do not have financial individuality, the individual currency is a foreign concept and the clan bond is strictly used by the clan when dealing with international and inter-clan trade. Simply put the Clan as a whole is the primary site of financial activity, when a transaction is initiated it is not done by entrepreneurs or corporations but rather the entire clan.

The Clan rather then the individual citizen is the primary economic unit that engages in trade and fiscal accumulation, any business deals either with other clans or foreign nations occur at the clan level. If a foreign business conglomerate wants to build a facility on clan territory or to purchase mineral resources they must deal with the Clan as an entity rather then any corporation or individual.

Trade

Trade is the lifeblood of any capitalist system and this is no different in Essalanea, the clan sells and purchases goods and services on the international free market and its profits are largely the result of success on the global free market. However, this also opens each clan to the potential pitfalls of global economics, namely consumer demand, stagnation, and recession.

The Role of the Grand Moot and High Chief

The Centralization of Authority under the High Chief and the Grand Moot has essentially changed the political relation between individual clans and their nominal leader immensely. Now acting as a financial guarantor the high chief levies a percentage of all profits earned by a clan and invests it into a state fund to be used both for development of the nation, dealings with foreign countries and the protection of the clan economy.

High Chief and Moot now act in a way similar to a central bank, able to provide financial relief to struggling clans during times of crisis or economic hardship. The levying of funds also allows the High Chief to exert political control over the previously autonomous clans by forcing them to accept his authority in exchange for financial protections.

Levy Fees are also used to fund national projects such as overall investments in infrastructure, technology and the equipping and training of the National Clan Army. Clans that cannot ensure financial stability or profitable management of their commons run the risk of being stripped of their status as a clan and being absorbed into a more successful clan unit if the grand moot deems them to be a poor choice for financial assistance.

Competition

The risk of losing one's status as a clan presents each economic unit within Essalanea with far greater incentive to work hard than any monetary gain. Each clan seeks to produce thriving industries and enterprises within their commons in order to ensure they are able to maintain their independent identity as a clan.

Another reason for economic competition is its use as a political tool by High chief Gaiseric Volkmann as a means of re-focusing the age-old clan tendencies towards feuding and disunity into enterprises that will actually benefit the nation. Now instead of raiding and honor duels, the new forum for clan struggles is in outpacing and outproducing one another on the economic stage, this aggressive production benefits the clans as a whole since more wealth means greater investment and greater prosperity.


Re-Investment

Clan profits are Re-invested back into the commons by the chieftains, this might take the form of amenities such as housing, Medical centers or entertainment centers. Since Clan's exist in a collective society there is a great incentive to work hard amongst bondsmen, greater profits mean better access to food and technologies and greater health and prosperity for the clan as a whole.
 
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