[GZG official Universe] Interstellar economics

Well, in the GZG universe, obviously space travel & vehicles are relatively
cheap.  Look at the Fleet Book - this does not cover all classes or
powers,
and there are...1206 ships in the NAC Fleet - I included lost,
decommissioned and sold, as they still had to be paid for. That's a LOT of
ships. And these ships make no money. They are holes in space into which money
is poured, to steal a phrase. There are going to be a LOT more commercial
ships. Think of it this way: Exxon sends out a probe, finds a
neato semi-habitable world.  A survey team finds a decent amount of
potential resources. Exxon calls up the NAC, and says: You annex this nice new
world, and we'll both profit. NAC annexes the world, Exxon's credit rating
jumps, they send out a corporate fleet, start harvesting, NAC collects the
taxes. Everybody is happy. There's going to be plenty of money for exploration
when FTL is cheap, because you're making the jump from everybody having slices
of one system, to everybody having multiple

systems to exploit! Even the percieved benefit will be enough to spur growth.
And as far as resources go, demand will always outstrip supply.

As soon as we start mining the belts, and get used to all the nice, cheap
metals, we're going to want more. Especially the rare stuff.

> Think of it this way: Exxon sends out a probe, finds a

More likely:
Exxon Explorer Team discovers neto semi-inhabitable word. A survey team
finds a decent amount of potential resources. Exxon exploits the planet for
all its worth (to hell with ecology) using the cheepest labor possible (to
hell with human rights). Exxon hides the profit. When the world is stumbled
over. Exxon files claims to the world. Exxon is forced to record a profit for
this would on shareholder statements. NAC, seeing a chance for a great tax
revenue, annexes the new world. Galatic Teamsters unionizes would. Exxon
encourages startup colony on new world. Exxon expands up "company store" for
imports. Exxon encourages local government, controled by Exxon, to charge
tarrifs to all companies except Exxon in exchange for land grants by Exxon.
Exxon Explorer Team finds new neto world. Exxon pulls major resources from the
planet and stops all investment in it. Exxon exploits new world.