re: There's one solution
Take away the state and the merchants will take over. Every time.
Don't let them. Separation of the power of the State from economics works in both directions.
For the record, I can think of a lot more historical abuses from states than I can from merchants. Somehow a monopoly gouging customers on prices or union busting doesn't hit me quite the same way as gulags, wars of conquest, and gas chambers.