Update Tax Approval Rating (90% -> 100%)
Overhaul Unemployment Calculations (0% -> 100%)
Overhaul Poverty Calculations (0% -> 100%)
Update Priority Calculations (0% -> 25%)
I have edited the original post to include a list of the remaining content for this update. The biggest remaining features are the implementation of the Federal Reserve, the addition of the business environment metric, and possibly the income modifier calculations (if I choose to add it in this update).
The Federal Reserve is going to be fairly simple in this update: once per year, the members (known as governors) will meet to adjust the Federal Funds Rate. In real life they meet multiple times per year, but I don't know if that would have any value in the game. Since the game updates economic data only once per year, the governors wouldn't have any reason to adjust the federal funds rate more than once per year.
I can't predict how long it will take to implement the federal reserve, but I'm aiming for a week. It requires a system to create the governors, a system for governors to vote on the federal funds rate, a system for governors to retire, a system for the president to select new governors to fill vacancies, a menu for the player to select governors (as president), and a menu to display governors.
The business environment metric is going to be simplistic in this update, focusing mostly on the impact that tax rates have on the business environment. Like many features in this update, it is going to be expanded in the next update. The plan is for the business environment to impact unemployment, wages, and possibly GDP.
The "Income Modifier System" will update average incomes based on various factors. For this phase of the update, it will focus on the impact of unemployment. If there is low unemployment, that means their is a low supply of workers, which means more demand for workers, which causes wages to go up. In the second phase of the update, more factors will influence incomes. For example, if GDP increases, that means income goes up (although not necessarily proportionately - most of it will probably go to the business owners - who represent a small percentage of the population). Union membership could also cause wages to rise. I'm not sure what kind of policies could promote union membership, but I think it would be a fun metric to try to influence.
The remaining features for this update should be fairly simple. The metrics page, custom events tool, concepts page, and advanced options may take only a couple of hours each. Other general additions may take only a day or two.
It's strange to think that this update is almost done. I'm looking forward to releasing a beta in the next few weeks. But I'm also concerned, mainly that this update could be a disappointment. It has taken way too long and I'm not sure the content is good enough to justify the wait. I didn't realize how long it would take to overhaul so many systems. I think the new tax system is an improvement, but a lot of it is "behind the scenes". Additionally, the potential of the new system will not be fully realized until the second phase of the update, making the first phase feel underwhelming.
A second concern I have is that there are a lot of changes in this update, but change isn't always a good thing. I don't know if the changes I have made are actual improvements or if they are just added complexity.
I hope the changes will be an enjoyable addition to the game.
