Present day Trade on Earth

[phavoc]

We toss around a lot of discussions about what interplanetary trade would look like in Traveller, can it be economically viable, etc.

Here's a cool link that shows you ships travelling the oceans. Each dot is a tanker, container ship, bulk cargo or some other form of cargo transporter. 11 billion tons get moved on our oceans ever year. It gives you some things to think about.

http://www.vox.com/2016/4/25/11503152/shipping-routes-map

 

[-Daniel-]

That was quite the interesting visual. While I knew there had to be a lot of movement, it was great to see it so "obvious".

 

[Condottiere]

One issue would be that it's cheaper to offshore a lot of our production, coupled with really inexpensive shipping costs.

Not really witnessed in Traveller.

 

[phavoc]

That's true. TRavello posits an economy where all labor and prices are the same on every planet. Works well for a game setting, not so much for reality.

 

[-Daniel-]

That's true. TRavello posits an economy where all labor and prices are the same on every planet. Works well for a game setting, not so much for reality.

I will have to look into this Travello setting. Sounds interesting.

Sorry, I just had to. :lol:

But on a more serious side I accept Traveller is not always realistic, but I do not expect that of any of my games. Like you, I just accept that some things are game mechanics and not real life simulations.

 

[Condottiere]

That's when you can only afford casket class, in contrast to Travelhi, and Club Mid.