"When you compare the purchasing power the foreign purchasing power would be much higher than the middle-class or upper-class purchasing power in Thailand.

VOA: standard.2009.12.23

So they would have local, sort of higher class, local elites, would bid for the right to collect local taxes, and so the Romans would take the highest bid.

所以他们安排当地人，算是上层阶级，本地精英，竞拍当地收税权，这样罗马总是能获得最高竞价。

耶鲁公开课 - 新约课程节选