Union Financial Strategy Question - Money

[johnnycai]

I am well into my Union campaign (Dec 62), and have noticed that even with the usual War bonds, Money printing and exceptional taxes injection. I still always have way more War materials and conscription available than money.

You need money for everything and from what I see there are several ways of obtaining cash:

A) Basic taxation from each state - each turn
B) War Bonds - Once a half-year
C) Exception Taxes/Money Printing -Once a half-year (with negative economic effects)
D) Blocade (50,000) -Once a half-year (potential to aggravate foreign powers)
E) Merchant Shipping in Shipping Box - each turn

B,C,D you can order occasionally and provide an immediate cash injection but some economic or political penalties may occur.

My question are re. A, E:

Can you increase the basic taxation from each state?

I have tried putting industries in the states that currently show the money generation(NY and Penn) as part of their output, but I have noticed I only get new factories increasing my war materials or general supply amounts(not needed usually by the Union). Of course these industry investments cost mucho-denaro so (except for my testing I have not done too much) are very revenue-negative overall. I have not found what if anything is effective in raising state income generation.

What about increasing transports to Shipping box??

I have noticed increased money coming in from merchant activities and we all know that this is a requirement to increase supply to coastal harbours/regions/forts. I havent noted the numbers yet but I will do so upcoming, cost of transports vs. revenue increase over time. Seems like this is somewhat revenue neutral but the amounts and ROI (return on investment) will need investigating.

My final question is what are the best strategies to increase income for either sides. I have only played Union so far in the 2theatre campaigns.
Is it possible to even tweak the state production to increase money generation or somehow trade war materials for cash?

Ideas??

thanks,
John

[swang]

A. I've never seen something that generated more money in the investment results.
E. The amount of money/material retrieved from the shipping box depends on the number of transports you stick in there.

There's also an income tax event that happens every year.

Jeff

[Spharv2]

Your option A isn't taxation of the states, it's the simple expedient of printing unbacked fiat currency by the federal government. That's why you can do it all the time and why it has the largest inflationary hit.

The only way to increase you income from taxes or bonds is to increase you VP and NM. The happier the people are, the more willing they are to pay those taxes and buy those bonds. Same answer works for both sides, though the South benefits more from Blockade runners proportionally than the North does from shipping.

[johnnycai]

There is an income amount each turn that doesnt involve the currency printing financial option. I believe it is money "output" as shown from the economic screen. I am implying its some kind of state-related tax income.
Perhaps I dont understand your response. Are you saying that this turn income is related to the printing money financial option selection?

[Feralkoala]

No, the currency printing is an option--it does not increase your per turn income. As far as I know, nothing other than perhaps the income tax events do. Investing in infrastructure gives returns in war supplies, general supplies, and ammo, but not money.

If you want more money on a regular basis, you'll need to do what both sides did historically--print it.

[jimwinsor]

Or buy Transports for the Shipping Box.

[swang]

There's a difference between printing money vs the base money from each state. (and I have no idea what that represents) There is also no way to increase the latter.

Buying transport is definitely not worth the investment. The amount you get per turn is so low that it's pretty ridiculous.

[johnnycai]

Ok thanks all for the input.
From my viewpoint playing as the Union, it appears making any investments in industry or buying transports beyond what you need for supply and coastal transport are not necessary. The Union seems to get as much supply, ammo, war materials and conscripts as they need once into late '62. It appears there are few Union economic/financial choices to really change.

[Wilhammer]

Umm, IIRC, New York and another State do crank out money...

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I played against the AI in a Campaign that is going rather well, and I've found this to work pretty good;

1. Keep the Transports at Sea and protected - you can get a steady flow of cash - dependent on the number of transports.

Of course, build transports as you can.

2. I always take the options for the one time tax and the war bond that comes up every 6 months.

3. During the Winter, I go ahead and Print Money, and one year I printed Money twice.

If you find yourself in excess of War Supplies and Men, the war is going pretty good casualty and weapons wise, so a little inflation won't hurt. I try to keep it under 20%; never made it over 17%.

I have also found that after the spike in inflation, it dies down and lessens.

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The case soon arouse where I could never have enough cash to buy enough to dwindle down the excess levies on men and war material - economy wise, things were out of balance, and a market was missing to get rid of the excess in Men - certainly sending the excess recruits home would be welcome, and the extra war material could of found a ready market in Europe.

[johnnycai]

Ok, am a little to conservative on the money-printing.
Didnt realized the inflation brings itself under control...very leniant of her. That should be looked at for replayability...why give the Union a tolerant money printing effect, or do we need to examine the numbers for inflation to see if the inflation penalty is truly penal ??
Another branch to explore...Bravo AGEOD!

[Spharv2]

Ok, am a little to conservative on the money-printing.
Didnt realized the inflation brings itself under control...very leniant of her. That should be looked at for replayability...why give the Union a tolerant money printing effect, or do we need to examine the numbers for inflation to see if the inflation penalty is truly penal ??
Another branch to explore...Bravo AGEOD!

It doesn't come down quickly, so if you do get the inflation up, it'll be there for a while. I usually try to keep it around 20% or lower, but I've had times where I needed the cash, and can go up to around 30% if I have to. It can be tough, but might also be the difference between a big victory or loss in an important battle.

[jimwinsor]

The CSA in the 1864 scenario starts with the inflation at 40%, IIRC.

Obviously printing money is supposed to be a big part of the CSA strategy. And perhaps to a lesser extent the USA strategy too. The trick I guess is to not go too overboard with it.

But the moral of the story is...don't be afraid and/or guilty to resort to it if need be! Especially as CSA. And it IS historical.