If barter had remained the only form of payment up until the present day, the world would be vastly different from what it is today. The lack of a standardized medium of exchange would make economic transactions much more complicated and less efficient. People would need to find individuals who have the exact goods or services they want and who also want the exact goods or services that they have to offer. This type of direct exchange is called barter, and it was the earliest form of payment.

In such a world, money would not exist as we know it today. Instead, people would have to resort to bartering goods and services with each other. This would make trade more difficult, as people would need to find someone who has what they want and wants what they have. This could lead to a lack of specialization, as people would have to produce all the goods and services they need, rather than just producing what they are good at and trading with others for the rest.

The lack of money would also make it difficult to store wealth, making it difficult for people to accumulate assets over time. This would in turn make it difficult for people to invest in things like education, training, or new business ventures, which would hold back economic progress.

Furthermore, the absence of money would also make it difficult for governments to tax their citizens, making it challenging to fund public goods and services such as roads, schools, and hospitals. In turn, this would impact the overall quality of life and standard of living for people.

Overall, if barter remained the only form of payment, the world would look vastly different than it does today. The complexity of barter would have greatly slowed the development of trade and commerce, leading to a much less advanced and less prosperous world.
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