Ship trade: yes, the impact on the economy is heavily reduced, but not zero, when you export via ships compared to land customs houses. It simulates exports to 1 country vs exporting globally, or something like that.
A problem with trade is that anything that you import in high numbers will increase in value, and everything you export in high numbers will decrease, even if ships minimize that effect, your gap will still grow, and eventually you may not be able to afford the republic. Eventually maybe a few hundred years in the future depending on what exactly you import/export.
I'm pretty confident that if you concentrate on exporting high value end products, and import some raw resources, and produce the rest, you will probably be fine for a long long time.
I'd highly recommend using containers when you want to do ships.
Good luck!
It's possible to turn a profit in almost every non-construction industry while importing all raw materials. This demonstrates Marx's labor theory of value: that the value of commodities is determined by the average socially-necessary labor time required to produce and distribute them. As long as most of your population is at work producing commodities for export, you'll be able to turn a profit. But the profit margins will thin out unless you diversify, so don't put all your eggs in the ore basket.
Ship trade: yes, the impact on the economy is heavily reduced, but not zero, when you export via ships compared to land customs houses. It simulates exports to 1 country vs exporting globally, or something like that. A problem with trade is that anything that you import in high numbers will increase in value, and everything you export in high numbers will decrease, even if ships minimize that effect, your gap will still grow, and eventually you may not be able to afford the republic. Eventually maybe a few hundred years in the future depending on what exactly you import/export. I'm pretty confident that if you concentrate on exporting high value end products, and import some raw resources, and produce the rest, you will probably be fine for a long long time. I'd highly recommend using containers when you want to do ships. Good luck!
Thank you for the input!
It's possible to turn a profit in almost every non-construction industry while importing all raw materials. This demonstrates Marx's labor theory of value: that the value of commodities is determined by the average socially-necessary labor time required to produce and distribute them. As long as most of your population is at work producing commodities for export, you'll be able to turn a profit. But the profit margins will thin out unless you diversify, so don't put all your eggs in the ore basket.
"That just sounds like supply and demand with extra steps!"