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

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

youdao

Local elites have also played a vital role in spreading land deals.

在土地交易的扩张中，地方精英也起到了重要的作用。

youdao

The process often seems driven by the local elites’ hopes of enriching themselves at the central government’s expense.

增设新区常由地区精英推动，他们的算盘是钱由中央出，实惠自己捞。

youdao

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

Local elites have also played a vital role in spreading land deals.

ECONOMIST: The surge in land deals

This often means that local elites usurp a disproportionate share of those resources, and that individuals have little incentive to maintain and upgrade forests or agricultural land.

ECONOMIST: Local difficulties

But ironically, these regulations are undermined by corruption as the trade is organised by members of local elites who ensure that "their" bush meat sellers are not targeted by the eco guards - and instead, the eco guards have been accused of victimising the Ba'aka.

BBC: Concern over Congo logging