Timocracy

A timocracy (Ancient Greek: τιμοκρατία; from Greek τιμή timē, "honor, worth" and -κρατία -kratia, "rule") in Aristotle's Politics referred to a type of government in which citizens were equal in most respects, but their political participation was determined by a hierarchy based on property. Those whose wealth required them to contribute more to public expenses enjoyed greater political privileges in proportion to their means. More advanced forms of timocracy, where power derives entirely from wealth with no regard for social or civic responsibility, may shift in their form and become a plutocracy where the wealthy rule.