From: Mark Ayers (n2s@qwest.net)
Subject: Realistic Income Model Proposal
Date: Fri, 4 Oct 1996 06:29:55 -0700

Request for Comment:

Realistic Income Model: a Traveller House Rules Expansion

The following is a proposed house rule for adding realism, and thus complexity, to economics of the Traveller universe. I am indebted to the work previously done by the creators of the Trillion Credit Squadron and I am sure others whose contributions I do not remember. 

Base Income:	CR10,000

Tech Level / Port Mod (%)                   	Trade Mod (%)
	  A	    B		C	 D	   X
E      170     150     130     98      65        Ag      120
D      160     140     120     90      60        In      140
C      150     130     110     82      55        Na       80
B      140     120     100     75      50        Ni       80
A      130     110      90     68      45        Po       80
9      120     100      80     60      40        Ri      160
8	 110	    90	70	 52	   35
7	 100	    80	60	 45	   30

Social Class Modifier (%)
C       2169     7       100
B       1171     6        85
A        633     5        72
9        342     4        61
8        185     3        52
Usage: Base Income * Tech Port Mod * all Trade Mods * Social Mod

Comments:

  1. Base income of CR10,000 comes from T4 retirement pay after 8 terms.
  2. Class C port at tech level 11 (average imperial) is the start point.
  3. Ports class C or better, a step in tech level equals a 10% gain income.
  4. Ports class B and A equal a 20% gain in income over the lower port.
  5. Class D ports equal 75% of a class C port of the same tech level.
  6. No port equals 50% of a class C port of the same tech level.
  7. Trade modifications are directly from Trillion Credit Squadron.
  8. Social levels below 7 are 15% lower than the next higher social level.
  9. Social levels above 7 are 85% greater than the next lower social level.
  10. Anything not included on the chart is the realm of the referee.

Examples:

John Normal is an average citizen (SS 7)
Lord Bern is a Baron (SS C)
Bill Labor is a minimum wage worker (SS 3)

1. On a totally average imperial planet with a class C port and an average imperial technology level; John Normal makes Cr10,000, Lord Bern makes MCr21.96 and Bill Labor makes Cr5200.

2. On a rich, agricultural planet with a class A port and a high imperial technology level of 14; John Normal makes Cr32,640, Lord Bern makes MCr70.79 and Bill Labor make Cr16,973.

3. On a non-agricultural, non-industrial planet with no port and 1970s technology level; John Normal makes Cr1920, Lord Bern makes MCr4.16 and Bill Labor makes Cr998.

Notes on other uses:
1. Income for social level 7 can be used as per capita GDP.
2. General tax burden can be 10% + government level.

Traveller is a registered trademark of Far Future Enterprises.
Portions of this material are Copyright ©1977-1996 Far Future Enterprises.
Joseph Heck (joe@mu.org) 21 August 2000
http://traveller.mu.org/house/hr.income.model.html