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Capitalism is the defacto state of any economy where people are not forced to do things, beyond the bare essentials
It requires no government for someone to trade their surplus wheat for someones surplus lumber
A government can however make such transactions more efficient by creating and maintaining the transportation system to get the wheat to the people with the lumber and the lumber to the people with the wheat. It can also make trading more efficient, as bartering is quite inefficient. Money is a very efficient means of trading, as people can use it to buy the actual things they need rather then haggle with multiple groups in order to get what they want or need
A government can also ensure an effective dispute resolution system (civil law) which encourages longer term contracts to be signed and honoured. Without which it would be harder and generally more wastefull to resolve contract disputes.
Overall while capitalism does not require a government to exist and function, it certainly will be better off with a government to provide a fair number of services
It requires no government for someone to trade their surplus wheat for someones surplus lumber
A government can however make such transactions more efficient by creating and maintaining the transportation system to get the wheat to the people with the lumber and the lumber to the people with the wheat. It can also make trading more efficient, as bartering is quite inefficient. Money is a very efficient means of trading, as people can use it to buy the actual things they need rather then haggle with multiple groups in order to get what they want or need
A government can also ensure an effective dispute resolution system (civil law) which encourages longer term contracts to be signed and honoured. Without which it would be harder and generally more wastefull to resolve contract disputes.
Overall while capitalism does not require a government to exist and function, it certainly will be better off with a government to provide a fair number of services