Victoria 3 BEGINNER ECONOMICS Guide || MASTERING Buildings

[@dollardrow6097]

This dude knows what his talking about. Look at him! He even became bald because of this game, and he teach us! He saves our hair and time! Honorable man!

[@generalistgaming]

I tear my hair out so you don't have to

[@shopt6933]

This is one of the best beginner guides I have seen for any game. Thank you for realizing that beginner isn't the same as idiot and actually explaining the reason behind all your advice.

[@generalistgaming]

Glad I got this feedback because I was worried about overexplaining stuff at the beginning. It's tough because I've forgotten what it's like to have under 100 hrs so I'm not always sure if I'm overexplaining

[@minaise]

​@@generalistgamingcomes off as objective facts. Also you show all the places where you can see the info on the UI 💪 Gonna be a KZbin sign on your wall soon 🤩

[@Paal2005]

@@generalistgaming An important fact to remember I think when making guides is that a lot of people starting on Vicky3 comes from other Paradox games. If someone from any other game saw this guide, they'd likely be overwhelmed. However, as someone with over 3k hours in EU4 (+ probably ~800 in CK2/3, some in HOI3/4), the complexity isn't something new. We are mostly after a in-depth guide on how to thrive in a game with equally complex mechanics, but in a completely different direction. I just wish you had this level of market- and diplomatic complexity in EU4. That would honestly have been a near perfect game to me! I just love how deep the economic focus is in this game.

[@Fattybryce]

Agreed. This video strikes that perfect balance between explaining how things work without going full "you're a complete idiot, heres how to move the mouse pointer" which a lot of 'beginner' guides do for a lot of games.

[@bena8805]

Guides are BACKKKK 😭😭

[@JB-xl2jc]

LOOKS LIKE GUIDING'S BACK ON THE MENU, BOYS

[@generaliststrength7578]

I SMELL GUIDEFLESH!@@JB-xl2jc

[@its_classy]

Man deserves more subscribers, carrying VIC 3 on his back

[@GorgoPrimus]

This guide is so much better than all the “do what I do as I get millions from this factory, who needs contexts or the basic underlying logic guiding why I’m doing this and not that” guides out there I’ve seen before. Thanks for doing these!

[@LatinxMatt]

You are the greatest guide to Vic 3 by far. As the game gets better and more popular, you will be noticed as much as you deserve to be. Keep up the great work and thanks for making the game more accessible and fun

[@generalistgaming]

Glad you think so!

[@glencocohh]

This legit was so direct, concise, well put together. Really helped me finally start to understand this game

[@generalistgaming]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jackoutjers1923]

1 vote for getting this guy as a minister of finance in The Netherlands IRL. He seems quite witty.

[@jackyheusequin3672]

Belgium too please.....

[@jodinha4225]

i mean you dont want to run a real economy like a vic3 economy. vic3 is about ruthless gdp growing; real life we have politicians who think that way, but obviously public good is the most important thing IRL

[@jellovendigar]

24:55 I love the fact that there's an enjoyable game mechanic that involves stimulating the economy. Like we can actually do it and see the results, while also having fun invading neighbours in the 19th century. Truly amazin times

[@TheGeniziz]

remember when running out of peasant, adding more automation is practically the same as "creating pops", which will once again be available hires for new buildings.

[@funny_s3an915]

Awesome guide, helped me alot and really useful for new vic3 players!

[@generalistgaming]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@JB-xl2jc]

@@generalistgaming Seconded, really helpful guide with some good points I hadn't considered. Would you consider making a guide on the best way post 1.5 (and the local vs market good divergence there) to make a targeted push to increase average SoL and the SoL of the lower strata? I find it easy to pump them to the low double digits but pushing it any higher has been tougher IMO.

[@generalistgaming]

SoL might be a topic that comes up more in the context of politics and migration videos@@JB-xl2jc

[@maxwilliams9523]

Loving the title cards for the chapters, looking really good!

[@generalistgaming]

Glad you like them!

[@MyanRiller]

I just came back with 1.5 from launch. Some things has stayed the same, but a lot has changed. Thanks for the recap!

[@generalistgaming]

Welcome back!

[@zgalexy83]

Great Video. Helps me understand more about the basic functions of Vicky 3. I've heard tips like "raise the sol" and "just keep spending" a lot but this video explains why that actually helps!

[@berkajerk]

This was a great introduction to Vicky 3. Played alot of CK and EU4 but just picked up V3.

[@generalistgaming]

This is basically the demo I was trying to make the video for

[@schnitzelhannes6431]

"You have a whole bunch of manufactories that are suffering or your pops will be suffering, which is like less important" Yeah i begin to get in the right vibes for this game

[@bstahl52]

I just played a game of Vicky 3, thought about a lot of econ stuff I could've done better, and now this guide just solidifies, corrects, and shows me more things I missed. Great video. Thanks for making it.

[@generalistgaming]

Glad I could help!

[@sviatoslavstock]

The man definitely defended PhD work dedicated Vic3! It's like reading economics thoughts of XIX century, great game!

[@generalistgaming]

Thank you!

[@user09397]

Amazing work as always! You are my favorite streamer to watch and I wanted to ask if it is possible to make a guide on how smaller/unluckier (geographically) nations like Greece could become great powers. I would like to see some cheesy tactics and the economic, technologic and warfare tactics that we would need to apply to form lets say Byzantium and Rome (in case of Greece). I know you already played Greece but so many things have changed that it is not comparable anymore. Thank you for your hard work! You are much appreciated!

[@nachtfalter3338]

Thanks for making this for the new influx of players. Really enjoyed!

[@generalistgaming]

My pleasure!

[@juniorpasini9137]

Fast tips for beginners: 1) Always keep you cash flow balance near zero, how? Spending in Construction sites. 2) Always make a buffer balance to change the ways of construction (you will need it WHEN you do it) 3) Import primary goods (food, plants, etc) 4) construct mineral raw materials as needed (try to keep it 0%) 5) always focus on industries 6) An ideal price for a good is 0%, even if it was 75% or better if it war -75%, how to do this? Or export, or create a demand. 7) Always starts with Tools Workshop, it is the TUTORIAL industrie of the game, if you gotta the ideia, you gotta de game. 8) Never TAX products your low strata uses (Grains, Meat, Cloths or even Coal or Wood) because you need them to improve them situation 9) Tax the rich people products and Services (the only thing poor people should be taxed) 10) The most important taxation method is the most new, so move as soon as possible.

[@benji.3002]

Great vid as always! Will there be a military guide later? You're vids inspired me to buy the game and that's the part of the game that has confused me the most so far.

[@generalistgaming]

Probably, I need to test after they fix the subjects pushing problem

[@Jansay34]

Great video! I was that one loyalist btw. 💚

[@generalistgaming]

Legend!

[@rustyshackleford3316]

Thank you for making a good guide, all the search was giving me were bad let's plays.

[@axxshadowzz]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on local prices and strategies related to that in future videos!

[@danieljabonski4705]

Man... I listen this video 5th time in free time. It's helping a lot understanding deeper mechanics of the game. Thank you.

[@ottenheimer8534]

Bro... I just found out about you on reddit looking for guides for beginners and this comes up. Lucky me.

[@generalistgaming]

Glad I could help!

[@DoctorWu23]

brushing up on victoria 3 before the new dlc, you are by far my favorite content creator for victoria 3

[@witcher-86]

awesome, thanks man, please do more guides, tips videos!

[@generalistgaming]

More to come!

[@devonrobinson3889]

I’m a bit disappointed (unless I missed it) there wasn’t a comment about a loud vehicle going by in this vid. Seriously though dude, your vids are top notch. Keep up the great work.

[@generalistgaming]

It was raining so not a lot of cars going over the speed limit and the window was closed xD

[@doppeltpunktd5495]

Really well made guide overall. Really helpful, easy to follow and easy to understand. Well done Sir. :)

[@242Assembly]

Thank you so much for this guide. Finally a guide on this game I can actually understand because you've explained how it works and the reasoning behind it. All the best :)

[@generalistgaming]

Glad I could help!

[@Tom-nj5ie]

This video was exactly what I needed, I already have a pretty decent understanding of how economy works but after watching this I realise I still have a lot to learn in terms of really optimising my economy and investing into that construction loop. Thanks a lot!

[@DJ2Play9]

Man, I literally dreamed of this before 1.5 dropped. Thank you again, Mr! 🎉❤

[@generalistgaming]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@redmars2813]

God sent! Bravo, simply a masterpiece in explaining everything as simply and thoroughly. This is the chefs kiss of economic videos for all of Victoria 3. Thank you!

[@generalistgaming]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@PaganBuffaloes]

If how long it took to learn other paradox games is any indication, your videos have saved me hundreds of hours of trial and error to get the results that I want without leaning on cheats. Definitely agree with other comments saying you deserve more subs

[@generalistgaming]

Glad to save you some time!

[@joelhicks5468]

oh my god I learned SO MUCH from this video - instant sub, thanks for the excellent video!

[@generalistgaming]

Thanks for the sub!

[@timonurcikan8196]

Only 10k subs ??? You have the most helpful tutorials

[@Yggdrazouille]

Was watching your Brazil stream to understand how you were doing all that, perfect timing!

[@bajlozi6873]

Hello! I got a hypothetical question. What if you were playing as Albania, a single state you would have to release from the ottomans, how would you go about developing it?

[@generalistgaming]

It's hard to emphasize how much taking the soft gold spots early game (Brunei/S. Africa) can help these opm runs

[@ArchAngelWC]

Thank you I very much look forward to deploying this knowledge when I get home from work

[@generalistgaming]

Wonderful!

[@werdburb7535]

This might sound silly but this video helped me realize that if I want more production of something (like if I want the #1 spot for that good) then I don’t want to just build that building but also the buildings that buy it so my pops also want it. Example: if I want to be number one in steel production then I’ll also build motor industries and railways to consume those engines

[@dantino1979]

Sir, I double salute you! Fantastic guide. Really comprehensive and on point. The way you show where to look and understand the numbers is a huge help. Thank you!

[@generalistgaming]

Glad it helped!

[@kalakamu1]

I just saw an ad trying to load. And then my adblocker killed it with no mercy. Praise adblock!

[@generalistgaming]

While I appreciate your enthusiasm, I probably wouldn't make tutorials if it weren't for those ads.

[@2912801821]

Very informative, thank you.

[@generalistgaming]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bulldawzer5074]

Amazing video, I've been trying to find guides to playing this game and I was bored out of my mind with every video but yours.

[@generalistgaming]

Glad to hear it!

[@hiromiarash172]

Awesome guide! I wish I just watched your guide instead of spending countless hours figuring out how to manage an economy in my first playthroughs 😂. I swear every time you went “here’s a mistake a beginner might make” you featured something I did in one of my first playthroughs lmaooo

[@generalistgaming]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BrandonGallemore]

You deserve way more than 10,000 subs man. Great stuff.

[@generalistgaming]

I appreciate that!

[@Njordin2010]

by far the best video on vic3 economics out there.

[@bryanfloyd1152]

I have over 500 hours in the game. And this guide really helps lay out every step so cleanly

[@minaise]

Nice guide man, thanks. Starting my 5th run with Brazil

[@generalistgaming]

Have fun!

[@rincasarff5200]

What buildings should ‘reasonably’ be subsidized? I’ve forgotten and I can’t find it in all your videos. Trade centers only?

[@dingus6317]

Railways too

[@mathew4430]

Only railways, not trade center

[@rincasarff5200]

@@mathew4430 thank you. Do you know the specific point in the video where he mentions that? Maybe I’ll just watch it again to find it. Edit add: what happens if I don’t subsidize tc, does it just take longer to fill jobs when trades come up?

[@mathew4430]

@ he doesn’t, I just know from experience and wiki research

[@mathew4430]

If you don’t subsidize, people won’t be forced to work in the trade center and will work more profitable jobs, if you have good trade routes, that won’t be a problem

[@theinquisitor8112]

So to make the line go up, you build and trade... I do that and my economy crashes and I suffer a revolution. I'm just struggling so much with this game.

[@nathancatalano2480]

Really good thumbnail and timing 👍I hope to see your channel grow

[@generalistgaming]

I appreciate it!

[@macrosss]

Thank you for this guide, i just got in Victoria and this helps a lot. Not gonna lie I hope for more tutorials for this new update cheers

[@generalistgaming]

Just dropped the second one!

[@jincooz1095]

16:03 technically not profitable buildings can too add money to the economy(while productivity > 0), because when a building pays workers wages it add money into economy.(ofc will a building fire someone is another question)) Love your content. Wait for new tutorials.

[@generalistgaming]

Ah, yes, I think the logic on this checks out. Value is probably getting nuked somewhere else though if your building is breakeven.

[@tom-u8k6y]

Yeah this is easily the best beginner guides. I've watch a fair few others with way more views and they got into far too much detail too soon.

[@elicoole5028]

just so you know homeboy.. your the guy we come too for this victoria 3 video crap and we love you for it thank you sensei

[@generalistgaming]

Thank you!

[@zachnar0125]

You are sooooo underrated it bothers me.

[@generalistgaming]

Thank you!

[@yarknergin4424]

"Shout out to 1 Loyalist" "Shout out to drugs" i'm dying and you say it so quick too

[@chandlerspencer7335]

Great video man, I’d love to see more videos like this one. Subbed

[@generalistgaming]

Thanks for the sub!

[@ethaneryk]

Loved the vid, very helpful as usual! Have there been any changes to qualifications in 1.5? That's one area of the game that I still don't quite understand

[@generalistgaming]

Overall depressed SoL and economy hurts qualifications a bit. They feel a lot more important, and now I think building a single uni around places if you can't access education is going to be more reasonable than before.

[@ethaneryk]

@@generalistgaming oh nice, that makes them make more sense. Especially in the context of MAPI and local prices. Before it always felt like universities had such a random effect on it. That's such a great change!

[@gdbalck]

Awesome content as usual. Top tier.

[@generalistgaming]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@simonerho]

Best vic 3 creator, awesome guide!

[@alexgmcm]

Haha, I was hoping you would make a video about this since the 1.5 changes. You heard my prayers. 🙏

[@generalistgaming]

Of course!

[@Anchem13]

Thanks for this video! I will definitely use your advice in my next game, and I have a small but incredibly important remark. Your vision is applicable to countries with already implemented Interventionalism when capitalists are kings but there are tons of countries with Traditionalism and Agrarianism.

[@generalistgaming]

I mean w/ the traditionalist/agrarian countries you want to be doing much the same thing.

[@Anchem13]

@@generalistgaming yes, but the investor's pool will pay only for agrarian enterprises. The strategy is indeed the same but requires being more careful with the balance until you get rid of traditionalism/agrarianism

[@PasOdMater]

Thanks, m8! Would be cool to get a full military guide too. Pretty please.

[@generalistgaming]

I think I have to wait for 1.5.10 and then get a feel for it before doing a mil one

[@PasOdMater]

@@generalistgaming Aw, I've installed the new patch, played for half an hour, and gave up so I decided to search for videos about it. Guess I'll have to brute force the learning when I get enough motivation to try again.

[@generalistgaming]

I'm probably going to start recording a mil tutorial tomorrow because it's pretty in demand@@PasOdMater

[@PasOdMater]

@@generalistgaming Great, tnx!

[@charleslynn3937]

Great video my guy

[@generalistgaming]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@bluechili3674]

Always enjoyable to watch your videos!

[@generalistgaming]

Glad you like them!

[@gonshi9]

9:20 pokemon reference

[@generalistgaming]

Huh?

[@gonshi9]

@@generalistgaming pikachu

[@togrid4816]

Did you have any advice MAPI regarding autonomous private construction ? Do you notice they build in "bad province" despit if you try to centralize in order to boost mapi ?

[@TheKillingPerfection]

can someone tell me why a lot of times my iron mines dont hire anyone but im in need of a lot of iron for construction? its not a qualification issue or lack of pops...

[@snelhestarna]

This was an excellent guide, will you be going into more detail on SoL in a future video? It's different effects and how to think about raising it?

[@generalistgaming]

I'd not planned on a SoL video specifically, but my tax video talks quite a bit about SoL as it relates to taxes, and I am putting together notes for a migration video that will talk about SoL to some degree

[@generalistgaming]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqe7hJugl7eSd8U

[@sayst1913]

I'm currently on my USA playthrough in 1884 and im running into the problem, that a lot of my factories are running low on workforces and/or are unable of hiring new pops because the wages are too low...despite the factories are profitable and there is a high demand of the products.. Plus there is plenty of workforce available in that state. So probably it is just me, but I'm unable to figure out to raise the average wages so they will accept to work in the factories again...kinda bugs me. Any ideas?

[@donaldpetersen2382]

Can I tax my excess cloth when starting as the USA without hurting my building sector?

[@michaelhovhannisyan2189]

I think we all would appreciate more of this kind of content 😜

[@josjackson266]

This was excellent, thank you for making it

[@generalistgaming]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brianpereira7757]

Great guide, I feel like I finally understand it!

[@bumblebeetunayoutube3711]

In an early game economy should i still be focusing on one provence for industrializing and growing tall? Will all my peasents in my other provences move there because of better jobs/higher sol? Im just not completely sure because they added local prices and im scared peasents wont move and ill still have to build in other areas.

[@generalistgaming]

Kind of, but you're not chasing throughput like you are in 1.4 as a consequence of the local prices change. Instead you're trying to create local buy/sell loops

[@martiancolonist]

Fantastic video, very informative.

[@generalistgaming]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kieftalman]

Does this also work nations that start isolationist? I keep getting stuck as sokoto but i think im not focused enough on construction . I also either switch far too early or too late to iron construction . One game my deficit went straight to -45k and i never recovered even closong over half my construction buildings.

[@generalistgaming]

It does, but I'd recommend not learning the game on Sokoto. Notably you don't want to go into debt on a unrecognized country (like Sokoto)

[@kieftalman]

@@generalistgaming certainly fair . I think I feel overwhelmed controlling a major power like France, the Netherlands, or any of the other big players. But it's certainly much harder to take a minor/ regional power in this game compared to eu4 and make them something better. Next game I'll try a major power and take more of these points into consideration. Thanks for the videos ! These have been very helpful

[@DS-ze7yc]

This is a great series! How much did PDX pay?

[@generalistgaming]

I paid them xD

[@floflo1645]

I just started the game and I learned that some people hate the autonomous investment pool. Do you turn it off too ? If yes, is the AI that bad or it is because you are a control freak ? From what I understand it also makes the landowners 10X harder to beat because they keep building stuff that help them.

[@JDW045]

Thanks for these tutorials, both this one and your other videos. Quick question - what do you do when other countries import large majority of your input goods? For example if you are generating 500 iron, need 300 for yourself but 400 is getting exported away? And when you build even more, more just gets exported.

[@generalistgaming]

This is probably a good thing for you, as it makes the industries more profitable and the prices were likely depressed somewhat. If you build more construction and drive up the price of the inputs then they will stop anyway.

[@chuis2101]

To clarify, should you start with constructing the buildings that make construction goods like iron/tools/wood etc to bring the prices down. or should you start with upgrading the construction sectors themselves?

[@generalistgaming]

Unless you're extremely small you start by building more centers

[@loudradialem5233]

I usually bankrupt from excessive construction sector. How much of the GDP should be spent on the construction sector?

[@generalistgaming]

Yes

[@Mr.Prince_Tunmise]

Why is chain saw a bad production method?

[@mathew4430]

In short, they are Inefficient you use oil (a very valuable resource and in short supply) in order to make the building hire more workers that are more expensive and fire ones that are cheap.

[@CaptainWoahable]

You should do a late era economics guide right when rubber and electricity start to matter

[@Nermit693]

Great overview! I played my first game on the new patch as Ethiopia, and noticed that after a certain point my buildings stagnated in terms of hiring. I had a paper mill with the basic PMs, wood was cheap and paper expensive, two universities in the state, as well as promote social mobility, but the building was stuck at 55 employees for years. I had lots of peasants in the state. I noticed it was happening to other factories as well. They stated "laborers aren't willing to work for a wage of x, they are willing to work for a wage of y", but the gold reserves of the building were full! Is this a bug? Anyone have any thoughts on what might have caused this?

[@vaporschutz]

did you have serfdom?

[@Nermit693]

Yes. I suspected that might be why. The peasants are not permitted to leave the farms?

[@rabidfurify]

​@@Nermit693 I don't think it's related directly to serfdom, but the problem you're running into here is that due to the "job satisfaction" mechanic in 1.5 pops actually somewhat like being subsistence farmers (there are complex reasons why this is which I don't want to explain). To make pops want to change to other jobs, you need to educate them enough, or make their living conditions worse, so that they become dissatisfied with their jobs and seek alternate employment. This is why you get this message about laborers being unwilling to change job, because the factory can't attract peasants to work due to their job satisfaction, so it's trying to draw away laborers from another building which already exists in that state. You can solve this by: 1. Educating pops more (though under serfdom you won't be able to use institutions which will make this difficult) 2. Making the subsistence farmers poorer (by producing surpluses of the goods they produce - under serfdom this is mostly grain, so build some grain-producing farms in that state) 3. Using up all of the arable land in that state so that there's no room for subsistence farms

[@Nermit693]

Thanks@@rabidfurify for the in-depth explanation! When I finally got rid of serfdom, things started improving. How strange that they "like" being serfs. I guess it would make sense from a historical perspective if the landlords prevented them from leaving though.

[@danprototype51]

is there any screen which shows which pop contributes how many percent to the investment pool? like you mentioned shopkeepers 5%, aristocrats 10%, capitalists 20%? thank you!

[@generalistgaming]

I don't think so, but if you hover the tooltip under profits you can do the math

[@nashiffuadkhan9817]

Can you do a guide for SPQR achievement? I am trying the italy reunification and its hard

[@ATS_i_piss_on_G00gle]

Question:I was in the Otoman market,playing with Vallahia,and iron was the most expensive building input.At the same time my iron mines were on 0 or losing money.Why is that?!

[@generalistgaming]

You might've run out of labor, not had condensing engine pump, and also had steel tools w/ labor saving PMs. This combination of factors would make tools (for example) more profitable on a per pop (not per construction) basis, leading to those buildings being employed over the mines, despite high iron prices.

[@ATS_i_piss_on_G00gle]

Could be...i forgot to check the pop/employee stats.Thank you.

[@jwestin6178]

I figured you might know, but did they remove the puppeting mechanic? I dont see it in the actions you can take anymore just make protectorate

[@generalistgaming]

Yes, you protectorate and then reduce autonomy

[@markytwain6026]

great videos, learned a lot so far, thanks for that. i still have a question or problem, maybe you know a way around or some advice: currently i am playing with Prussia, formed the German Empire and i am already at 1900. Economy is at 400B(top 1) and i am attracting all the Migrants, so my states like Schlesien have over 2Mill unemployed working force while the economy is build strong in there. But for 30yrs or so, i have a problem which becomes more and more severe, my buildings simply dont hire anyone anymore, the explanation of the tooltip is that the wages are too low for the unemployed people to work there whilest my buildings are still profitable. So it seems i need to get the wages higher for the pops in the buildings but how can i do that? i already have a law which gives higher minimum wages but so far it doesnt solve the problem. Also my education is about 80% so its unlikely that my pops are too uneducated to work there(btw where can i look it up if pops cant be hired because of missing education?). so how can i get the wages higher, so that the unemployed pops become willing to work in my buildings again? Also i have heard, that i might "overbuild" in the states, since i simply put lots of profitable buildings on auto increase and maybe the problem comes from that. would be very helpful if you can give me an answer about it. Or maybe there is even a video about this problem in particular. Thanks again for your work!

[@pandarzzz]

Brilliant explanation!! 👏 🎉 Thank you very much!!

[@generalistgaming]

Glad it was helpful!

[@arkamitra29]

Awesome!! I would like a Sikh Empire run once more & empire under the pun, with the new mechanics..

[@maxwell7470]

Hey dude! aweasom guide, tarifs next? so can people learn to take advantage on being a good exporter of a product? I have been enjoying a lot 1.5, the changes to the economy, specialization of building and the changes to the military are just chef kiss. IDK what they did or it was just me that learned the market, eco and the political system all in one gameplay setting but now im enjoying vic 3 more than ever, i guess if you play a paradox game and just autopilot the game is gonna be boring... now i can confortably recommend vic 3 to anyone that likes deep strategy and i do mean deep, still salty about the egalaterian changes but thats okay ill grow out if it eventually.

[@generalistgaming]

The short answer to tariffs is that they're bad - you'd rather have increased trade volume than extract money through tariffs for the most part.

[@jimuicker4731]

Of the construction inputs, fabric seems to be the exception. Is it generally better to set up import trade routes for fabric, and thereby avoid empowering the landholders and slavers? Or, is it better to allow a little extra clout for those guys to keep the construction cost reliably low?

[@generalistgaming]

I think you import, but also start building after pumpjacks or 800m GDP

[@shadowbliss5589]

THX Buddy! Keep it up. 1.5 many changes

[@cagedglobe2139]

Generally do you want prices at 0%? Or do you want finished goods to be a bit higher to boost productivity?

[@generalistgaming]

It's a lot to unpack, but theoretically speaking (economics only, as there are other considerations too, such as clout of IG's associated w/ ownership and IPT), you'd want prices that are going to be inversely correlated w/ how efficient the PM is in terms of (output goods)/(input goods)//construction cost such that you reach an equilibrium that you'd be indifferent as to what you construct, which would mean stuff like slightly expensive steel (inefficient) and cheap agricultural goods (highly efficient). This would change though if you were say running out of labor and started to care more about productivity than efficiency per construction. This is w/o considering the fact that one of the things you're trying to avoid is when you have more buy orders than sell orders in your own economy high prices kills value - if you trade, exporting, you create the buy orders in someone else's economy. Raising prices in this way is attractive. The simple answer is that 0% is better than either +/-75%

[@jasonreed7522]

The short answer is that when most of your goods are around 0% that all of your buildings will stay profitable. Extreme abnormalities can be exploited but are generally bad. +75% means a shortage and anything that consumes that good is suffering (either throughput penalties or lowered SoL). -75% means whatever is producing that good is definitely not profitable and is probably firing its employees making angry pops. One way to help maintain this balance is to build up "mass" of goods. If you bring a new lumber mill online that consumes 5 tools the inpact on the price of tools is very different if your economy has a balance of 0 tools vs 100 tools versus 100,000 tools. (It can be useful to distribute your buildings across multiple states so you can phase in new production methods while you are introducing a brand new good to your economy without major shocks to prices)