How could you go about retaining a wealthy realm, but also making sure nobody holds too much money and uses it to sway policy? If Carthage was run by the warriors and generals and not the (((merchants))) like Hanno II, they could've owned the world instead of their nemesis who eventually did. Pacifist backstabbers broke the Carthaginian mandate for destiny (where have I heard that before)?
It's my understanding that modern China is rather good at this, but I don't know enough for sure.