Currently, there are only certain "types" of economies. In some stations, it is a blend of a couple of types. I believe that the basic "types" are: Agriculture, Extraction, Industrial, Military, Refinery, Service, Terraforming, Tourism and Colony.
This is a proposal for another "type" of economy, which can be primary or secondary. In other words, they would have another "type" of economy as well. There would always be a secondary economy type, whether it was the "Mercantile," or another type.
"Mercantile" is based only upon trade. As I conceive it, it would have to be in a High Security System that is Wealthy, and at a port that has large landing pads.
In order to further qualify it, the station would have to be less than 20 ly from some port that sells any commodity at a significantly lower price than is normal in the area, and another that buys that same commodity at a significantly higher price than is normal in the area, (also within 20 ly of the "Mercantile" port) that is more than 20 ly away from the first port. This "Mercantile" port would buy that commodity at about 1/4 of the profit that would be normally obtained by trading between the other two planets directly. It would also sell it at a price point where you would expect to get only a 1/4 of the profit if you took the commodity directly to the buying planet. In a port where "Mercantile" were only a secondary or tertiary "type," (or even lower) the only way to determine this, (and therefore know that there is a more profitable direct trade route at least one way between these other two economies that you still have to find) is by an unusual combination of having both a supply and a demand. Basically, this market is working as a middleman to get products to market more effectively.
For "Mercantile" to become the primary economy type, (listed as such when you go into the market screen) it would have to have multiple instances of ports that it acts as a go between for. Maybe it should have to be diversified by having products in a certain number of the commodity groups. (Chemicals, Commodity Items, Food, etc.) Maybe the more there are, the smaller the margins and the greater the profits for the traders.
It would still function as the other type that it inherently has, with potential modifications. If it were an Extraction economy, and it was acting as a Mercantile port for some ore to be traded between two other ports, then its prices to sell the ores in question would be lower than if it were not an Extraction economy as well. (it might be higher than what it would be if it were an Extraction economy only) If it were a Refinery economy, and it was acting as a Mercantile port for some ore to be traded between two other ports, then its prices to buy those same ores would be higher than if it were not a Refinery economy as well. (it might be lower than what it would be if it were a Refinery economy only)
Since the ports that qualify the "Mercantile" economy could be ones that do not have large landing pads, this is potentially a great advantage for beginning players or players that otherwise decide to trade in small ships.
Mercantile Economies would serve as major hubs for trade. Because of the inherently increased traffic, they would also serve as major hubs for passenger traffic as well.
;'{P~~~
This is a proposal for another "type" of economy, which can be primary or secondary. In other words, they would have another "type" of economy as well. There would always be a secondary economy type, whether it was the "Mercantile," or another type.
"Mercantile" is based only upon trade. As I conceive it, it would have to be in a High Security System that is Wealthy, and at a port that has large landing pads.
In order to further qualify it, the station would have to be less than 20 ly from some port that sells any commodity at a significantly lower price than is normal in the area, and another that buys that same commodity at a significantly higher price than is normal in the area, (also within 20 ly of the "Mercantile" port) that is more than 20 ly away from the first port. This "Mercantile" port would buy that commodity at about 1/4 of the profit that would be normally obtained by trading between the other two planets directly. It would also sell it at a price point where you would expect to get only a 1/4 of the profit if you took the commodity directly to the buying planet. In a port where "Mercantile" were only a secondary or tertiary "type," (or even lower) the only way to determine this, (and therefore know that there is a more profitable direct trade route at least one way between these other two economies that you still have to find) is by an unusual combination of having both a supply and a demand. Basically, this market is working as a middleman to get products to market more effectively.
For "Mercantile" to become the primary economy type, (listed as such when you go into the market screen) it would have to have multiple instances of ports that it acts as a go between for. Maybe it should have to be diversified by having products in a certain number of the commodity groups. (Chemicals, Commodity Items, Food, etc.) Maybe the more there are, the smaller the margins and the greater the profits for the traders.
It would still function as the other type that it inherently has, with potential modifications. If it were an Extraction economy, and it was acting as a Mercantile port for some ore to be traded between two other ports, then its prices to sell the ores in question would be lower than if it were not an Extraction economy as well. (it might be higher than what it would be if it were an Extraction economy only) If it were a Refinery economy, and it was acting as a Mercantile port for some ore to be traded between two other ports, then its prices to buy those same ores would be higher than if it were not a Refinery economy as well. (it might be lower than what it would be if it were a Refinery economy only)
Since the ports that qualify the "Mercantile" economy could be ones that do not have large landing pads, this is potentially a great advantage for beginning players or players that otherwise decide to trade in small ships.
Mercantile Economies would serve as major hubs for trade. Because of the inherently increased traffic, they would also serve as major hubs for passenger traffic as well.
;'{P~~~
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