Inflation and the spawning of civs

First off, how exactly is inflation in RFC computed? I have noticed that as my civ ages (whichever one I am playing) my income per turn eventually succumbs to the beast that is inflation. Eventually I notice younger AI civs being able to research at a much faster rate than I am, which I have always figured was due to inflation.

I know it is a game mechanic, but at times seems to really bring my economy to a halt. Some times while playing as the Greek, Romans, Arabs, India or other ancient civ i find that my economy is already #1, my inflation is astronomical, and my economic stability rating is 2 star and going down.

What can be done?

Bump in hope of getting Rhye's attention.

To copy my post from the spaceship thread,

One challenge I see in my current Ethiopia game is inflation. In 1856 inflation is 182%, so that my total expenses are 139 * 282% = 391, which is a lot for my empire. I pulled up a save as India and saw that inflation was something like 190% in 1880. In a non-RFC save inflation is 96% in 1908. I wonder if the player has any control over inflation in the current RFC...

Is that kind of inflation (182%) intended, and can the player affect it?

It's a game concept, I don't think RFC has a different approach to it. In BtS inflation has been increased even more.
Since it grows with time, I find it normal that you'll experience more inflation with the earliest civs.

I heard a lot of people say that anything that lowers city maintainence dampens inflation. I don't know if it's true, but since reading that, I've whipped a courthouse in every new city and I actually managed to have a huge 15 city empire in RFC when playing Spain in Europe, Central America, and South America. No crippling inflation in sight.

IRL, African civs are well-known for excessive inflation, so I can't say

I always build courthouses anyways, lower maintenance, early espionage points, stability boost it is almost always one of the first things I build in a city and quite often the very first.

Muz said:

I heard a lot of people say that anything that lowers city maintainence dampens inflation.

Click to expand...

Inflation is just an expense added in percentage to you spending. Hence, the lower is your spending, the lower is inflation. Anything that reduces your spending helps, not just courthouses.