Transformer economics

2008-06-06T01:37:42Z

163.178.144.6:

Economics is the management, distribution, and consumption of resources. You would think that [[Transformer]]s would have other things to worry about (such as the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|unending warfare]]) but as they say, the [[energon]] must flow.

==Fiction==

===Generation 1===

====Marvel Comics continuity====

====Generation 1 cartoon====
Millions of years ago, the Transformers themselves began their existence as goods and services created by the [[Quintesson]]s, in what would be described as "market capitalism" (usually with an aggressive attitude). However, the Transformers got fed up with slavery and rebelled. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

Here, the [[Autobot]]s appeared mostly unconcerned with economic matters, what with the war and all. However, the [[Decepticon]]s appeared to engage in what one might call "capitalism" (after all, it's what [[Primus|God]] wanted in the 1980s). [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] in particular engaged in business deals all the time. In one of his more infamous deals, he sold his fellow [[Combaticon]]s to [[El Presidente|a human arms dealer]]. What exactly the arms dealer paid Swindle is unknown. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

====Dreamwave continuity====
Before the [[Great War]], the Autobot [[Bluestreak]] mentioned that he was once a Cybertronian merchant. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1}} Additionally, the [[Neutral Territories]] were formed out of a former free trading zone {{storylink|Revelation (Dreamwave issue)|Revelation}} These statements seem to indicate that pre-war [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] was something along the lines of a barter/trade economy.

====IDW comics====
Pre-war Cybertron would also qualify as capitalist, with stock markets, investments, and a wealthy, corrupt [[Senate]] with its hands into most of the financial dealings. However, Cybertron was also a class-based society with a large underclass working for the small, wealthy elite. Yeah, that's not going to end badly. {{storylink|Megatron Origin}}

===Transformers Animated===
While there is very little evidence of a unified Cybertronian currency, individuals such as [[Lockdown]] appear more than willing to indulge their mercenary tendencies in exchange for systems upgrades and new technologies. Such rampant greed has been known to disgust [[Ratchet (Animated)|some Autobots]]. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

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Transformer economics