As one of the most important agricultural products on New Saul Island, this season's rice production is related to many things. This is not only related to the island's food reserves, but also related to the future relationship between the island and its surrounding neighbors.
The next development direction of the entire region. Therefore, when Saifer reported that the overall rice production was higher than expected, Lawrence breathed a sigh of relief and showed a smile on his face.
Although the overall construction of the island could be said to be very good before, both in terms of construction speed and construction results. However, the price paid was not small. At least the interest-free loan Lawrence had previously obtained from the royal family was spent.
It's more than half, so he is now eager to find a way to revive the economy, and this harvest is the first step.
"In addition to rice, the first batch of capybaras we raised can now be slaughtered. Some of the meat will be used in this banquet and the other part will be pickled for later preservation." After talking about food, Sai
Phil began to report other harvests. "We also made a batch of dried fruits from the bananas, coconuts and jackfruit we discovered before. At the same time, we used these fruits to brew a batch of low-alcohol wine, which has basically replaced everyone's expectations for
The need for imported beer.”
This change is not through administrative orders. But for most people, drinking alcoholic beverages is just to use the alcohol in them to relax their brains. Therefore, as long as the price is similar to before, most people on the island will
You don’t care what the alcoholic beverages you drink are made of.
Not to mention that these locally produced fruit wines are much cheaper than imported beers due to the deduction of a large amount of shipping costs. For most people on New Sauer Island, they can drink the same wine for less.
Spending a few bucks is much more important than the so-called flavor and tradition.
In addition, a series of daily necessities such as grain, salt, simple metal tools and some daily necessities have also been independently produced on the island, and have successfully replaced those imported products with huge cost-effective advantages. This substitution can suddenly
Reduce most of Lawrence's foreign exchange expenditures.
This substitution is very important for the development of the entire island, because it allows Lawrence to save a sum of foreign exchange for use in more important places. According to tradition, every independent or semi-independent political entity in the Star Sea can issue its own currency or token.
However, except for a few islands that are prosperous enough and have sufficient hard currency support to issue currencies that can be used outside the island, the currencies issued by most islands can only be used by their own people.
This is mainly because the currency issued by most islands is purely credit currency and is not allowed to be exchanged for any hard currency. It can only be used to purchase goods on the island or spend money on the island. But the problem is that it is common on islands in the sea of stars.
The economy is too small and there are not many goods and services for sale. Therefore, people naturally do not trust these currencies very much. Except for a few businessmen who have done business with these islands for a long time, they will not use these currencies as international settlements.
After all, in this era, the mainstream currencies in the world are directly linked to hard currencies. Therefore, in this era, credit currencies, which are more advanced in Lawrence's opinion, are often associated with things like excessive issuance of banknotes and inflation.
At the same time, naturally everyone will try to avoid using this currency.
Of course, because the outbreak of the Industrial Revolution was accompanied by the accelerated development of productivity, every country is now actually issuing more currency. But those big countries can still guarantee their currency because they have enough economic size and enough hard currency to support them.
Prices are firm.
But for the small islands in the sea of stars, most of the small islands have various economic problems? So if these islands want to issue currency, the only option is those pure credit currencies. Otherwise? Even if there is
With enough hard currency as support, everyone will convert the currency in their hands into hard currency.
The only characteristics of the few islands that have their currencies internationally recognized are their large size and good economic development. Therefore, after obtaining enough hard currency and using it as the basis for issuing currency, everyone is willing to hold on to it.
Do you have these currencies? Rather than converting these currencies into various hard currencies as soon as you get them.
From the perspective of the lords or rulers of the island? This kind of real currency is what everyone wants to issue, and now issuing their own credit currency is a last resort. On the one hand? They are definitely not willing to give up seigniorage.
This is a huge revenue, so except for the direct territories of some big countries, the remaining islands have issued their own currencies.
On the other hand? If the currency of other places is used? Judging from the fact that most of these islands are plantations with a single economy, it is easy for either inflation, deflation, or change due to changes in the prices of the products produced.
Two economic situations occur repeatedly. Both inflation and deflation will seriously damage the island's economy. Therefore, the island must have its own currency to avoid this situation.
Of course? For the owners of these islands, they definitely hope that their currency can further become a formal currency recognized internationally. But in view of various inherent shortcomings, most people can only think about it in this regard.
Just thinking about it. For those lords, it would be great if they could turn this currency into a long-term and stable credit currency in the territory.
The work-point coupons issued by Lawrence on the island were such self-issued tokens. They were only used for emergency purposes at first. However, with the arrival of the Church of the Goddess of Fortune, a new island was established on the island with the help of the priests of the Church of Fortune.
Seoul Bank, let the work-point coupons begin to transform into a formal credit currency? The island has also slowly evolved from the era of rationing to the era of commodity economy.
However, because this currency was created for such a short period of time, it is currently only used by more than 70% of the population under Lawrence's control on New Saul Island. If you want to buy anything from the outside world, you must use hard currency or the Sea of Stars.
Only the currencies of the surrounding big countries are acceptable.
Therefore? The situation he is facing now is very similar to that of the motherland in his previous life in the 1980s and 1990s. He needs to save foreign exchange as much as possible to buy a large amount of things he needs from the outside world. So for him? These things that he can produce by himself are the most important.
It is best to produce it yourself, so that you can save enough foreign exchange for external purchases.
According to Saifei? There are some unexpected gains from this method of developing production. For example, since the small metal processing factory was built, under the auspices of the mechanic captured from the pirate group, it has been used to
The metal raw materials ordered from the merchant ships were used to make a variety of hardware products. As a result, these hardware products were not only used by the people on the island, but also people from the surrounding islands came to purchase them one after another.
"At the beginning? I actually felt that the path you chose was a bit too complicated." Seifer finally concluded, "It is different from the popular practice around planting various cash crops and then making money while watching the weather.
The cost of developing the island's production capacity is simply too high, and we won't see much benefit for a while."
"But judging from the recent situation, our island and the surrounding islands all have a huge demand for these industrial products. So no matter what, it is extremely necessary to develop capabilities in this area."
"You are right. After all, times have changed. Although this traditional plantation economic model in the tropics can continue to be maintained, there is definitely no way to make our territory rich by developing these alone. Only
Maintaining diversified development is the right path." Listening to Saifei's final summary, Lawrence nodded and said.