The Economy Is on a Whole New Level | Cities: Skylines II

August 15, 2023

Gaming

This week the focus was on economy which did not disappoint. As always the written version had more information which is summarized below.

Economic Cycle

The economy in the city involves flows of resources between households, businesses, and city services
Agents (households, businesses, city services) track money and resources, aiming to balance income and expenses
Households spend money on resources and rent, businesses turn resources into products, city services consume resources
Economic simulation revolves around zones and their interactions, where households seek homes and workplaces, businesses require resources and customers
Taxes influence business presence; higher taxes reduce excess production, lower taxes attract businesses
Money sinks (rents, import payments) and sources (rents, profits, subsidies) maintain economic balance
Households seek suitable homes near workplaces, schools, and leisure places based on family size and preferences
Industrial companies focus on resources, production, workers, and profits, with transportation costs affecting decisions
Companies adjust production and workforce based on demand, scaling up/down as needed
Warehouses and cargo transportation facilitate resource trading and storage
Commercial companies seek good connections to manufacturers and customers, respond to product demand
Office companies function similarly to industrial companies, producing immaterial goods, prioritizing proximity to workforce
Offices hire suitable employees for production, scaling based on economic conditions
All businesses evaluate profitability; if profit drops, bankruptcy can result due to inability to cover costs

The economy includes a production chain, allowing management from raw materials to specialized industries and influencing various aspects
Raw materials are obtained via specialized industry areas or imports, with good cargo transportation aiding imports
Specialized industry areas are created using a hub building, gathering resources within its range, and generating taxes
Balancing resource production and consumption is crucial; overproduction leads to exporting, causing transportation costs
Zoned industries process resources into material goods, sold to manufacturers or exported
Offices produce immaterial goods, relying on educated workers and imports
Commercial companies turn goods into products for households or exports
Resource prices, weight, and space influence transportation costs and profits
Example: A minerals factory’s costs depend on inputs, transport, labor, water, electricity, sales, and taxes
The player can influence production and subsidies to impact the economy

CS2 enhances the production chain with more specialized industry types and production variations
Specialized industry areas require specific natural resources (Fertile Land, Forest, Ore, Oil) or exceptions (Livestock, Stone quarry)
The game features 9 Specialized Industry Areas including farming, forestry, mining, and oil drilling
Specialized Industries don’t affect zoning demand and can’t go bankrupt, but downsize when profits are low
Specialized industry vehicles gather resources within areas, drop them at main buildings for processing

The economy Panel provides insights into finances, loans, taxes, service budgets, and resource production
Loans are adjustable and can be repaid or increased; interest rate varies based on loan size
Tax rates can be adjusted for different zone types and specific groups, including negative taxes for specialization
Services tab allows adjusting service building efficiency and quality; service fees influence consumption and happiness
Production tab shows resource surplus/deficit; highlights resource details including origin, usage, and trade
Tools allow fine-tuning but are designed for non-micro-management; experienced players can add complexity
Understanding production helps plan city and transportation efficiency for reduced traffic and increased tax income