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Reading the galactopedia the only thing it says happiness does is keep the colony safe from rebellions and suggests to aim for +5. Why does the game default to keeping happiness at 35 for new colonies? It only says growth is affected by total pop and suitability. Doesn't say it has an effect on development in any way. Low taxes impact migration, but if I discount that, then is there any reason I shouldn't be taxing all my colonies to a point that keeps their happiness no lower than 5?

High happiness and lower taxes increase population growth and, eventually, migration.

Low Taxes are picked for high happiness.

High Happiness has a impact on Growth. However, the bonus is far from what it was in DW1.
Funding levels (Shift+F2) -> Colony Growth is the bigger factor now.
You can actually get more growth by increasing taxes!

Lower taxes on low population colonies increase migration

Thanks for answers; sounds like high taxes is almost always better due to the colony growth funding boost, but is probably worth sacrificing the tax on low pop planets as the income will be so small that the additional funding will not be greater than the happiness+immigration growth boost.

I might have missed it, but although I assumed happiness would increase growth, I didn't see that mentioned anywhere in the galactopedia, so thanks for clarifying.

this is a paradox. its actually better to be on +1 happiness near the baseline and push your economy into surplus as u get usually 6% or more pop growth vs being in the negative with 30+ happiness for a 3% bonus money is always more imporant that happiness for growth and u reach max science this way

alexmannen91@gmail.com wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 6:44 pm this is a paradox. its actually better to be on +1 happiness near the baseline and push your economy into surplus as u get usually 6% or more pop growth vs being in the negative with 30+ happiness for a 3% bonus money is always more imporant that happiness for growth and u reach max science this way

Not always.
The maximum amount you can spend on growth seems to be [Empire Population in Millions] x 10.
After this point, only high happiness can increase the growth.

I a betting the Growht Spending works as a multiplier on the "normal" growth rate.