what does increasing science spending do?

[theGhost]

On the taxes advisor screen, it offers to increase science spending and luxuries. I get the luxuries/entertainment, but what does science spending do? The tech advisor recommends science...do you put anything?

 

[elpadrino87]

When you raise the science spending rate, that percentage of the commerce (gold) from your cities goes into research. The more commerce in science spending, the faster you will research a tech (it'll take less turns to research, say iron working, if you put your science rate at 80% than it would at 50%)

 

[elpadrino87]

Oh, and don't worry about what the science advisor says about "Please increase science spending." The only real purpose he serves as is to let you know how far ahead or behind you are in technology compared to other civs.

 

[nihil8r]

also be aware that if you don't make enough money from your cities, increasing the percentage of science spending won't increase your tech advancement. for example if you just have three cities with four people in them, having 100% science won't do anything. but with say, nine cities with two-twelve people, four libraries, and 50% science, you might be researching techs in 30 turns instead of 40 (just an example, not that fast in the real game)