big man/woman

Glantri is  typically characterized by a "big man/woman" political system in which individuals gained prestige through gift exchanges. The more wealth a woman could distribute, the more people in her debt, and the greater her renown. Those who were unable to reciprocate were identified as "dung men". Reciprocation can not for obvious reason always be done by actual hard goods, so service is often a "gift." Sometimes a simple farmer has more honour and prestiage than his lord since he gives his lord his crop and often gets nothing in return. Or just as often they have no need for gifts, and are outside the political system proper. A young mage is often gathering an honour debt that he has to pay to his mentor, school, lord or region. Many pay it off by joining the military giving the gift of their life to society. 

        That being said, money does play a more important rule in the averge person life, but as magic power increases and the fact that money can just be created by magic relative power among magic users is kept by this honour system - the "big man" system. Other, more primative system compete with this one, depending on the region one is from.