I've heard a lot of theories about war within the pokemon universe, but I think this is a slightly unique one.

The pokemon world isn't a world where people use these creatures productively and lovingly, but rather one where they are the cause of political instability and violence. Pokemon offer power to people far exceeding that of weapons in the modern day. People in the pokemon universe collect pokemon not for companionship and sport but for self defense. Every region has a large organization that uses pokemon violence to achieve it's end. In response to this, we mostly see little government intervention. We see little govt at all. The government can not maintain order or control when the citizenry can easily match it's fire power. Any power they or anyone else has is based on force. The world of pokemon is one where organized crime and state violence are the norm. We see little agriculture as well, which would make sense. Who would want to ambitiously farm when any surplus would attract criminals? And that's why, in each game, you are a 10 year old out to make his destiny. B/c your family can no longer manage to sustain you. That's the age at which families have to let go. Battles are just muggings as well.