"Sweden offers a trade route"

[nukkxx5058]

During the resolution turn , I receive some trade proposals like:
"Sweden offers a trade route
7 money from Gottenburg for 7 food from Kiev"

and I have the following complement: (trade advisor recommend accept)


My question is:

How can I know (apart my advisor recommendation) that this is a good deal and that I can afford it ? Because I am during resolution phase and the only possibilities are "yes" no" or "later". I don't think I can remember the production and stocks situation in each province.

Thanks

[donkuchi19]

The trade advisor will reccomend accept on any trade that is an even trade or better. It would reccomend accepting a trade that would give away your last 10 food if it was for 20 money or something like that.

You need to know what you can afford to trade and what you cannot. Keep an eye on your development screen to know what you are producing, what you need, and what you can afford to trade.

That is the only way to do it.

[Naomi]

I worry the advisor's suggestion is arbitrary if not unwise, considering the sub-optimal allocation of labor for provincial production if the advisor is called on.
However, thinking positively, trade improves attitude after all.

[Beorn]

My working theory is this:

You need to decide whether you are going to try to be as self sufficient as possible, so as to avoid needing trades when you have several enemies.

If yes:
* First, go through the development screens and do your best to produce as close as possible a complete list of your needs.
* When you are done, note your rather narrow needs and surpluses.
* Back on the map, right click and go to the "set policy" screen. Indicate those few needs and surpluses. You might also want to limit the countries you are even going to start trade routes with. (You may even want to make your own trade proposals, so as to target exact needs and trading partners, but don't overdo this -- it costs you a lot of $, especially if the two provinces are not ports.)
Result: incoming offers will generally fit your needs, and, in any case, you will be clear in your own mind what you want.

If no:
* First, go through the development screens and do your best to produce as many total units as possible in each province. The recommendations in the lower left are not always accurate.
* Be much more freewheeling, accepting any trade where you take in more units than you send out, and most that are even.
Upside: Econimically, you will come out way ahead this way. Not only does this increase production (realistic efficiency) but it also will lead to a lot of profitable trade, and assumedly all these trade links will do your relationships a lot of good. (I have not played long enough to know for sure how far this goes, and whether the impact is equal, whether you initiate the trade or not.)
Downside: You will have to initiate a lot of trades, in order to even things out and get enough of your specific needs. And this certainly costs $, although it is doubtful that it will be nearly as many units as you are gaining.