What triggers an economic boom?

from Stardock Forums
A recent game said I was entering increased prosperity - my planets economies exploded! Like a sucker I increased spending, and 50 turns later or so it cools - or rather freezes. I had to quit because I was suddenly in a -300 deficit I couldn't get out of unless I razed buildings!!! :sniff!:

What causes this boom, and what do other players do when it happens? Do you try and keep a large surplus so you don't get burned when it ends?
185 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Its just an event that has a random chance of happening.

As for what I do when it happens is just increase spending as much as I can while still maintaing a positive income. And when it ends I just drop spending down to pre-boom levels again.

~SDC~
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
"What causes this boom, and what do other players do when it happens?"
Well, if you find out, tell it to all the economists around, cause they have no idea even in the real world! ;)

Seriously, it must be a random event. Some sort of cyclic thing where an economic expansion period is followed sooner or later by a depression.

What to do?
Adjust your economic slider as soon as they say the boom has stopped or a depression has come. Better never let your treasury go red. Check it turn after turn.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Problem is I can't be sure on when it will end, or what "post boom" economics will look like. I had so many buildings that I went into heavy deficit. Adjusting the slider only did so much.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
It might be nice if the game would show the "boom" income separately so that you could be sure not to use the extra income to build buildings and ships that would have to be disbanded once the boom was over.

As a general rule, during normal economic times, I think you might want to make sure your ship/building maintenance is less than half your spending--possibly less than one-third.

I'm just a beginner. Does that sound like a good general rule, you folks playing the 'smart' AI?