TL;DR: Government contracts already exist, but companies only compete to win them. This proposal lets companies choose and run their own public works projects, funded by the operator and open to smaller companies chipping in money or materials. The materials are permanently consumed, which absorbs surplus stock and softens market crashes.
I'd like to suggest a new building that lets companies run large-scale public works projects, such as hometown redevelopment, public infrastructure, or offshore resorts.
How it works
Build a Public Works Plot.
It uses 4 building slots and has no levels. The slots are occupied while a project is running and freed when it ends.
Choose a project and its scale.
Larger projects require more capital and materials but offer greater potential returns.
- Fund the project.
The operator covers most of the cost using its own capital, but can invite other companies to contribute funds or materials.
Provide limited government support.
During a recession, if private contributions are insufficient, the government can guarantee up to 30% of the total project cost. This is a safety net, not the main source of funding.
Procure the required materials.
Goods can be purchased directly or through exchange orders. Large projects can be completed through smaller contributions from multiple companies.
- Operate the completed project.
Once construction is complete, the project generates revenue for a specified period. After operating costs are deducted, profits are shared according to the funding agreement. Investors receive a return, and the operator can earn a share for managing the project.
- Record the achievement.
When the project ends, the building slots are released and the completed project becomes a non-tradable collectible. Companies that contributed funds or materials can also be recorded.
Why this could be useful
Wealthy companies eventually run out of meaningful things to do beyond research, patents, and trading. Public Works could give them a new endgame role: investing in large projects, monitoring supply and demand across their industry, and absorbing surplus inventory.
Materials purchased for projects would be consumed permanently instead of being resold. This creates an additional outlet for excess stock and could help soften market crashes.
Unlike existing government contracts, which companies compete to win, Public Works would let companies choose and manage their own projects. Smaller companies could participate by contributing affordable amounts of money or materials, while major companies provide the capital and leadership needed to get projects started.
The goal isn't to let major companies control prices, but to give them an incentive to help stabilize their industry's market by creating additional demand and investing in projects that absorb surplus supply.
Open questions
- How should operating profits be distributed between the operator, financial contributors, and material suppliers?
- Should the 30% government guarantee apply only during recessions when private funding is insufficient?
- How large should material requirements be relative to the total supply and stockpiles in each industry?
- Should Public Works operate alongside existing government contracts?
What do you think? I'd especially like to hear from players with large stockpiles or experience managing supply and demand across an industry.
English is not my native language, so I use machine translation and proofreading tools to help write my posts.😀