13:17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the MARK,
The MARK will be necessary to do trade. Consider that at this time, the world may have very little food. Previously there was drought (Revelation 11:3,6), famine (Revelation 6:5-6), and total disruption of food production (Revelation 6:12). NO SUN, NO FOOD!
So it is likely that the official economies of the world have broken down (see lament in Revelation 18:11), and the only thing left is the "underground market" controlled by the "earth beast". How appropriate that he should come "out of the earth" (verse 11).
Probably the "godfathers" of the Black Market are privileged to carry the "name" of the BEAST.
The rest of the population will just get THE NUMBER of his NAME.
Don't think it is unusal that the population will so readily accept the MARK. When one is hungry, you will do almost anything. Taking the MARK is a matter of survival.
Remember what was said of the tribulation saints, "They shall HUNGER no more," (Revelation 7:16).