Re: Moving Towards a Larger Universe: Trade (Intro)

--- Adam Miller <nghtdrud@??????.net> wrote:
> 	Well, be careful in what you ask for, you might get it:)

Cool, I want my own armada with full and completely loyal crew (in real
life, no less!).

> 	My impression of this system is that, unless populations are
> extremely
> small and the SJ traffic is very high, it won't work.  As far as I
> understand economics, people settle where their necessities are met.
> Thus, any inhabited world will have to have a steady supply of water,
> food, shelter, and metal to support any kind of civilization.  If
> those
> conditions are not met, civilization has a very difficult time
> surviving.  Necessities are traded, in the mideavil world, on a very
> local basis.

Except that life will also have grown up on worlds that lack these
resources and there's always someone moving to the frontier, even
though they can't get the resources they need there.  Trade expands
with these people (selling at extremely high prices).  How are you
going to get 4 billion people to move off that world?  Even if you
could transport them you've got another problem, namely that most won't
want to go.  That's their home and they're not interested in moving.

> 	The remaining 10% of SJ trade is generated to support the "main"
> trade.  This is the trade in bulk necessities, such as food, water,
> lumber, clothing, and metal.  These goods are imported locally from
> nearby worlds (maybe 10 days travel at most).  Such trade goes mostly
> to
> the SJ cities such as Bral.

Don't forget what happens when life spreads over an asteroid field or
sphere (Paul Westermeyer's Bralspace or the canon Astromundi cluster).
Here you'll need extensive trade to maintain any more than the most
barbaric/primitive lifestyle.

=====

Do you really think I'd admit to stealing that much money in my email sig?  Uhh, don't answer that.

The crazier the people are around me the saner I am.  That's why I work
in an asylum.  No, not the rubber room again!  No, but, but, my email...



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