M@ni@c, you do bring up a good point. I have possible theory that could help get this development of the best economial mod under way. But this is going to require some scripting which ery many of us can't do, but someone out there can.
But instead of me taking all day to explain my vision. I found a few good websites that knows more about economics than almost everyone this board:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_of_Economic_Freedom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_agricultural_output
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_economy
I gerrantee that if we read this stuff, in about a week or two someone would bound to have this MOD up and ready to go. And Who knows it might even be me.
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~The Breakdown~ (Here are some breif discriptions that you'll be able to do in the Economy MOD. It was easier to put this in the form of a story.)
The world economy can be evaluated in various ways, depending on the model used, and this valuation can then be represented in various ways (for example, in 2006 US dollars). It is inseparable from the geography and ecology of Earth, and is therefore somewhat of a misnomer, since, while definitions and representations of the "world economy" vary widely, they must at a minimum exclude any consideration of resources or value based outside of the Earth.
For example, while attempts could be made to calculate the value of currently unexploited mining opportunities in unclaimed territory in Antarctica, the same opportunities on Mars would not be considered a part of the world economy -- even if currently exploited in some way -- and could be considered of latent value only in the same way as uncreated intellectual property, such as a previously unconceived invention. Beyond the minimum standard of concerning value in production, use, and exchange on the planet Earth, definitions, representations, models, and valuations of the world economy vary widely.
Now to make the funest and simpeliest up-to-date economics into Civilization IV, we must first look at some statistical indicators such as energy and natural resources.
Now we all know that every country needs energy to survive. But what kind of energy you might add? Well for one thing Oil is the worlds number one source of energy and like it or not, its not all going away. Thats why scientist have always been tring to find an alternative. Can you guesse what it is? Electricity and Solar energy. These two factors will are what stands between us riding horses or cars. Anyway let me tell you guys how this will work.
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~How it will Work~
Just like in the real world if a civilization has a major supply to oil they are the world's number one consumer of that sort. So if a another civilization wanted that oil they would have two options on their hands. And thats to pay for it or go to war with them.
-Oil-
Example 1 : Say for example the American empier (us) needed oil to build an army tank. But doing so they would have to negociate with their arch rivals the Persain empier. Once you've asked the AI fot a fair Oil export into the states and when or if they decide yes, the supplier (or in this case Pesian Empier) Will choose how much money he or she wants for thier exports into the states.
They won't be able to choose a high amount, so don't worry about lossing all of your money or going bankrupt or anything. If the AI is friendly towards you they'll offer a somewhat small amount of money. However if they are cautious towards then you can expect a major hijacking? Why? Because thats how the world works. Thats Why!
-The Two Million Oli Population Rule-
Well i've bet most of you are wondering what is this mean huh? Well I'll tell you. This, The two million oil population rule is every city over a population of 2 million needs over 10 barrels of Oil to keep them going. (Oh did I mention theres a limit to the Oil?) Or if unable to supply the large city then the city will cripple and no more what-cha-ma-call-it.
-The Ups and Downs About Oil-
From the time you connect your first worker on the Oil tile, there is only 50,000 gallons of oil availible. And each civilization with a population over two million deserves 10 gallons. And when the world reaches an Oil Peak (which means running out of Oil) Just about every Civilization will try to get their hands on the Suppliers that holds the oil. Probably only the industrial types will try and fight for it.
-The Warning about Global Warming-
Burning oil cause greenhouse gassess, duh? And Greenhouse gassess causes global warming, so why even burn oil in the first place? Ill tell you why. Because a large city is to crowed to be walking to point a to point b everyday. And thats where automobiles come in. Man loves speed and he'll do what ever he can to get faster.
Now anyway. Just as the oil starts to run out of course people in all cities over the world are gonna panic. Cities populations will start to decrease dramatically all over the world. Hence a great depression in Civ IV! Then building units ect. will start to cost more and more until just about everything is useless.
You'll know when global warming strikes when the temperature becomes arid and you begin to stop producing more hammers because the forest have all stopped growing as well as tiles that were once on the shoreline, from the melting glaciers. Sounds exciting huh?
The world is at war, Oil is running, people are commiting suicide while the cities population decendes, and civilizations crumble like never before. Is there hope? Yes there is.
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-Changing Civics to Enviormentalist-
Yet theres hope, if this MOD actually sees the day of light. Yes my friend im talking about enviormentalist. You must first have have already discovered the tech, "Future Tech." Once discovered you not need oil. You'll have... "Future Tech." What about it? Well for starters you'll have to a Polution free bio dome for each city. Oh, and dont forget your crops. Everything you'll need to survive into the new world you'll need a biodome. Meanwhile all the civilizations are begging for you to help them by letting them have your "Future Tech." But Remember eariler in the game when Asoka just about kick your... butt in three deminsions? Well now you can watch him squrim. Or give him a cow or two. Whatever floats your boat.
-The Start of New Beginings-
Then After a few more turns its all over. Or So you thought. What happend was a Polar shift. Now The South Pole is east. What once was your beauitful
tropical city, is nothing but the Polar Ice caps. You and your men must migrate south away from the cold. After a few turns everything seems cool and going your way. But as your expoler is revealing new territory you guys run into the worest trouble ever. What is it you say? Well its no one in particular... it just Julis Ceasure? The very same man who you asked for your help once in a fight aginst the enemy, but you turned them down. Well The roman empier declares war on you and you see that their technology is 10 times more advance than yours. And just as fast as they came it was as if you didn't even know what happend. Game Over. Julis was able to defeat you for one reason only. And thats because before the polar shift Julis had Oil and ICBM's that Saladin had sneaked into the Romain Empier so the U.N. inspector wouldn't find them. -END
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New Features for Civilization IV
-All Civilizations will be able to make imports and exports.
-Immigrants from poor countries will migrant to wealthy places.
-If a Civilization hasn't a state religion civil wars may occur.
-The most powerful civilization will experience terrorist attacks.
-Epidemics, influenza, and burning forest will cause unhealtiness to nearby cities and lower populations.
-Eathquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, metorites, hurricanes, tornadoes, and heat waves will wreack havoc onto civilizations.
-If a Civilizaiton is crippeled by a disaster every country is required to donate a sum of money but dosen't have to. And doing so will result in a civilization being cautios more towards you.
-New Buildings-
Olympics: World/National Wonder
Red Cross: Need to give and obtain donations from civilizations after disasters.
I have a whole lot more. But Imma go ahead and stop to see what you guys think first about my idea.