>>13318331This is more economic history that straight economics but they key component to ever single long lasting mutually benefical trade route has been goods traveling in both directions. On the silk road silk traveled west and artisian goods like glassware(amongst a bunch of other shit I cant bother to look up) traveled east. They key to perpetuating this trade route was the exchange of goods both parties had the comparative advantage in producing. One way trade would lead to a trade decifict one end that would eventually make them unable to import at the same volume, and thus all unequal trade relations can only exists temporary. Truly lasting mutually benefical trade always has goods flowing in both ways. It's this fact that makes the "single file, single way" way trade flows in EU4 and those fucking immovable "end nodes" simply ridiculous. It would be like walking using only one of your legs.
If you got an half hour to spare I'd recommend watching this video as a TLDR on macro economics, even though it doesnt cover international trade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHe0bXAIuk0Then again international trade in economics can be summarized very easily:
It costs me 5 labour to produce dildos and 7 to produce Fleshlights.
It costs you 6 labour to produce dildos and 4 to produce Fleshlights, therefore we are both better of and get more resources for less if I just produce dildos, and you fleshlights, and then we exchange them with each other. Just apply this shit to nations with natrual resources (note: education of the people and insititutional experience is also sort of an natrual resource in this sense) and you get trade theory. Google "Comparative advantage" if you want a longer answer.
I used to like paradox vidya when I was in high school, dunno if it's my age or my education (recent Msc grad) but I dont find em fun anymore.
