Strange economy in 1880 campaign

[vaalen]

As the US in 1880, I have a huge number of factories, mines, and food producing facilities. Yet demand is so low that I have to turn about two thirds of them off, or I lose money. In half a year, I have been able to turn a few more on , as I have been able to expand trade. Yet most remain idle, money is very tight, and government money is even tighter. The entire US population has all its non luxury needs met, yet spends less than a thousand a month on purchasing these goods.

The cost of accelerating research has doubled, and this means that I can at most afford to accelerate research on one tech, when combined with low government money. Which means that most techs have made no progress in the first half year.

I have managed to build two luxury factories, and hope to build two more before the year is over. That may make a difference, but it is two early to tell. If anyone has tips on how else to improve things, I would be happy to read them.

This does not feel right, or realistic. I am a very experienced player, yet the economic system is demanding my full attention. I am spending a lot of time each turn reviewing demand, so I can adjust supply for particular commodities. Normally I prefer to focus on other aspects of the game, though I am fine with this kind of concentrated effort for a few game years. Hard to see how a newbie would deal with this. Does anyone know if this situation improves over time? If not, it needs fixing.

[wosung]

Same experience with USA in 1880 here.

Best regards

[vaalen]

Same experience with USA in 1880 here.

Best regards

Thank you for sharing your experience, wosung. Now I know it is not just me.

Best regards

[loki100]

may not be the answer but don't forget that 1880 was the middle of a major economic depression

[veut]

For me the economy works well after 2 years and indeed luxury goods were a key for me in my game. There is no surplus production of them in any country, so you will be able to sell a lot of them.
The main question for me is: Is the AI able to handle its economy under such circumstances???

[Wilsh8517]

I am new to this and I am playing as France in 1880 campaign and its now been 5 year and my private capital hasn't been out of the red but my national happiness is in the 60's I'm struggling to grip the game but do still enjoy just need some help on the economy part of the game.

[vaalen]

I am new to this and I am playing as France in 1880 campaign and its now been 5 year and my private capital hasn't been out of the red but my national happiness is in the 60's I'm struggling to grip the game but do still enjoy just need some help on the economy part of the game.

I would suggest that you try building some luxury factories. The demand from your own population will give some serious money, and you should be able to sell all the surplus on the world market for a handsome profit. This did work for me and I am getting a good supply of private capital. Tropical fruit and gold are also good sellers, if you can develop these resources.

[Sir Garnet]

I started 1880 Italy. Besides going after Tunisia, I pushed the standard economic plan of adding merchantmen and importing and re-exporting aggressively to build world trade and economies, particularly those with what I need - and of course closing Italian facilities that use precious capital and resources to only pile up inventory rather than meet demand. Italy is a rather low horsepower moped-like motor of the world, but I think it can still be done though without the robustness achievable with multiple human participants. With attention to economics at least every other turn for the first decade, it should not be hard to develop some markets, leaving the others for direct colonial action.

[Kensai]

That seems the right approach. 1880 would be cutthroat regarding colonial expansion though.