Re: Economics figures - not just prices...

From: Carter Apps <capps@Toronto.BCSC.ON.Bell.CA>

Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000

Mattias [remove spamguard] Fagerlund wrote:
>
> Hi!
>
> In the process of making a PBeM, I'm stuck trying to figure out my
> economics model. I've found long lists of prices for different items,
> but that's not sufficient in my game - since manufacturing will be
> an intricate part of the it the prices must be emergent of the
> resources
> used and work needed...
>
> What I'd really need to know is stuff like how much wood does
> an acre of forrest give? How much planks can be made from
> that? How many planks are used for a boat or a house?
> Also - how much work is required cutting the trees, making the
> planks, building the house? How much energy?

First of all a  northern forest like  Canada,U.S. and most of Europe
only have seasonal growth making wood per acre much lower than say a
rain forest.
Do you want variable levels of production which would allow players the
choice to deforest an area or practice sound forestry practices that
could be maintained?
Time is a major factor as to the energy required to harvest as this is
the area of forestry which has evolved the most over time.
Wood required for any project also depends a great deal on other
factors. Size, building methods ect.

Agriculture is really dependant on time period. Inovations such as the
heavy plow/ crop rotation techniques/ improvements in tac and harnesses
allowing horse draw plows as well as improvements in the crops
themselves will all distort estimates of yield unless you specify your
time period.
I would think that deciding on a time period is your first order of
business.

Any university library would have books detailing English manor
ecconomics which should give you an idea of yields from the 13 century
on, they kept pretty good records.  I would suspect that forestry stats
would be far more modern but since technology has changed the actual
growing cycle less than in agriculture they should be relatively
accurate for any time period as long as climate and sustainability are
factored in.

I would call your State's/Provincial/Federal or whatever, goverment
agriculture and forestry departments.  These people live to keep stats
and might even have historical comparisions to measure current
production against.  These organizations would also have contact #'s for
various profession trade associations which could give you at least some
end product values.

If you approach University History/agriculture/forestry departments,
they may have  some production models already documented detailing these
areas.
Both these options should get you much of what you need without having
to track down an individual member of each of these industries.  In fact
most of these people would likely only have a very narrow outlook on
their industry whereas the goverment agencies and trade associations
would have the big picture.

> That's just the start - how much wheat does an acre produce?
> How much would renting an acre of land be? How much work
> is it harvesting this wheat - and how much flour would the
> harvested wheat produce?
>
> [btw - if you have the answers to any of these questions, please
> send!]
>
> I realize that I'm neck deep in research here - something I don't
> have the time to do...[lazy too ;) ]
>
> Does anyone in PBM land know *where* I could obtain these
> figures, short of asking a farmer/woodcutter/factory worker/ so on?
>
> Another problem is that the game will probably take place in eihter
> the 13th centure (there's a lot of pricelists from that era) or the
> early centuries of industrialization - which seems more apropriate
> for a economics game.
>
> Any help would be apreceated!
>
> Mattias

References

Economics figures - not just prices...
"Mattias [remove spamguard] Fagerlund" <matfa@spamguardacacia.se>
Tue, 02 Dec 1997 00:00:00 +0000