NOVPUBBehind the rapid economic development, there are also many hidden dangers, the most typical of which is the widening gap between the rich and the poor.
There is not yet an index to show it, Franz can just look directly at the big data from the statistics. It’s for the eyes of the government’s higher-ups only, not to be made public, so naturally, there’s no need to pad the numbers.
In 1875, the domestic Gross National Product was about 5.46 billion Divine Shields, rightfully the number one in the world. (Accounting for the African localisation area and the Sub-States)
Looking solely at the big data, the domestic Gross National Product is twice that of the United Kingdom’s, and the data do look beautiful. However, if you compare it with the following data, it becomes less pleasing to the eye.
The population of the Austrian part of Europe is around 78.2614 million, and the population of the African localisation area is about 6.2152 million, totaling approximately 84.4766 million, while the British only have a population of just over thirty million.
The population is 2.8 times larger, but the total economy has just surpassed double, and on a per capita basis, the British have pulled ahead again.
Due to incomplete data, the Vienna Government can only roughly estimate that Austrians’ per capita income is only a little more than seven-tenths of the British. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝔠𝔬𝖒
The only consolation is that it has surpassed the French, ever since the Italian area has become a drag, France’s per capita income has fallen behind Austria’s.
Of course, the total economic output of France has increased and has surpassed that of the United Kingdom’s mainland, just like Austria, due to their large populations.
Looking at the total amounts alone is meaningless. Other than Austria’s which are extracted from surveys, estimations for other countries are made by economists, and an error of ten to twenty percent is very normal.
However, this ten to twenty percent difference is significant, and currently, Austria’s domestic economic community agrees on the world’s top five economies: Austria, Britannia, France, Far Eastern Empire, India.
But the debate over the rankings is endless, and no one can convince another.
The first kind: Austria > France > Britannia > Far Eastern Empire > India;
The second kind: Far Eastern Empire > India=Austria > France > Britannia;
The third kind: Far Eastern Empire > India > Austria > France > Britannia;
...
Without detailed survey data, everyone has their own theoretical basis, and Franz cannot be sure who is right. This does not prevent the Vienna Government from placing itself in the first position.
Even if it’s not the world leader now, it won’t be long before it becomes the world leader. It is currently the Industrial Revolution, a period of rapid economic growth, where industrial countries have a huge advantage over agricultural countries.
Apart from the mainland, the GDP of Austria’s colonies was also listed, and what surprised Franz was that the production value of the Southeast Asia colonies was almost catching up to that of Austro-Africa. (Only accounting for non-localised areas)
One must know that the Vienna Government places far more importance on Austro-Africa than the Southeast Asia region, and the scales of the two are vastly different.
Currently, the main areas in Austrian Southeast Asia are Kalimantan Island and New Guinea Island, along with some surrounding small islands. These regions are not the richest in Southeast Asia, yet they are able to generate such high production values.
Specific data:
Austro-Africa: 450 million Divine Shields;
Austrian Southeast Asia: 360 million Divine Shields;
Austrian Central America: 250 million Divine Shields;
Austrian South America: 11 million Divine Shields;
Austrian Alaska: 54,000 Divine Shields;
(The Austrian Arabian Peninsula is not fully occupied and is in a period of chaos, not included in the statistics)
Looking at the data, there is still a 20% gap between the two, which seems to be a significant difference, but compared to data from five years ago, the difference has narrowed by eight percentage points.
Seemingly sensing Franz’s confusion, Colonial Minister Stephen explained, "Your Majesty, the development of Austrian Southeast Asia in recent years has been very rapid. Particularly, the Lanfang Autonomous Province has advanced very quickly in agriculture.
Now, the largest rubber plantations in the world have been established there, and pepper plantations have started to develop. The local residents have cleared about fifteen million hectares of farmland for crops like rice, corn, pumpkins, and other agricultural products.
In addition, several gold mines have been newly discovered on the island, and coal mines were found in the southwest, which have already been exploited."
This answer only deepened Franz’s bewilderment, as in his memory, apart from a few fertile areas, most of the land in Kalimantan was not very good.
Of course, it was viable for growing food, but in an age without fertiliser, the yield would be very sentimental.
Franz knew that the Chinese liked to farm, but they would also consider the return on investment. With so much farmland being opened up, does Kalimantan Island really have so much fertile soil?
Franz asked, "How many people are there in the Lanfang Autonomous Province now, and how is the output of so much farmland?"
Colonial Minister Stephen: "The population of Lanfang Autonomous Province is growing very rapidly, now at over eight million, and it might break through ten million in a few years.
The agricultural production methods on the island are still somewhat backward, mainly relying on human and animal power for farming, with almost no machinery, so the yield is only slightly lower than domestically.
I have to say, the people of Lanfang are the best farmers, and they are still enthusiastic about reclaiming wasteland. If other regions had half their zeal, the entire world’s grain would be in surplus."
Compared to the British, French, Italians, and Germans, the Germans’ enthusiasm for farming is already considered high, as evidenced by the number of farms in the various colonies.
Nowadays, most people who go to the colonies do so to make a fortune, not to farm. They would rather take risks than settle down to farm.
Austria is lucky; many German farmers dream of becoming farm owners, and these people have become the core of the Austrian Colonies’ economic development.
However, everyone is rational; farming must be profitable. No one would dare touch the infertile lands, and most of Kalimantan Island belongs to such lands.
Franz frowned slightly: "How do they ensure food production? I remember the survey report seemed to indicate that the land in Lanfang Autonomous Province is infertile and has no value for agricultural development."
The Vienna Government has sent people to assess each colony, detailing what is suitable for development and what is not, providing comprehensive information for officials of the colonial government.
Lanfang Autonomous Province is no exception. Since the Austrian flag has been planted there, these basic tasks have not been omitted.
After pondering for a moment, Stephen replied, "Guano. Lanfang Province uses a large amount of guano as fertilizer. We have a few guano islands in the Pacific, near the Marshall Islands.
Initially, we didn’t occupy those islands; it was only after Lanfang Autonomous Province requested the government that the Colonial Department incorporated them into the ruled territories."
Franz nodded. If things did not deviate from expectations, it should be Nauru.
Austria has taken over no fewer than ten thousand islands, and due to the butterfly effect, many of the islands’ names have been completely changed, so naturally, Franz couldn’t distinguish them all.
"Well done. Guano is also a resource and is very effective for agricultural production. It’s a gift from nature, and for long-term development, we need to protect it in advance and exploit it judiciously.
The colonial government should quickly enact laws to prohibit anyone from hunting around guano islands. Even guano collection must be done in the appropriate season to not affect bird habitats.
In this respect, we can put in a bit more effort. Unclaimed islands can be enclosed more. Even if they have no value, we can still mark them.
Consider it an increase in maritime territory. Based on the current situation, next year’s international conference is likely to include the coastlines when delineating spheres of influence.
Especially the islands with ports, regardless of whether they are useful or not, we should occupy them first."
Protecting guano islands is essential—in the absence of birds, what guano would we sell?
This is wealth delivered to our doorstep; rational exploitation can last for many years, so we certainly mustn’t exhaust the resource.
Seizing islands is a must—in the age of sailing and land grabbing, it’s truly a matter of the quick getting and the slow having none.
Once the international situation stabilizes and everyone’s spheres of influence are established, such opportunities will come to an end.
For Austria, this is also a good thing. Once the new international order is established, the gold mines in Alaska can be exploited.
Franz has been eager to act, but alas, Alaska is not fit for human habitation, and even the climate in the canyon areas isn’t great.
This means that it’s difficult for Austria to establish a solid foundation there. Perhaps no one dares to steal it openly, but we can’t ignore those who might stab us in the back.
Not to mention, just along the lengthy border between Alaska and Canada, the Vienna Government cannot eradicate gold thieves.
After the establishment of the international order, it will be different. Once treaties are signed and back-stabbing is agreed to be avoided, the parties will have to restrain themselves.
If someone breaks the pledge right after making it, do they not care about their international standing?
Although the gold mines of Alaska are rich, they’re not something that can be exploited overnight; with the current technology, whether or not mining there could produce several million British Pounds in profit annually is a question.
Actions that harm others but don’t benefit oneself may be something John Bull would do; but when it comes to harming both themselves and others, the London Government would need to think thrice.
Colonial Minister Stephen: "Yes, Your Majesty. The Colonial Department will strive to bring as many unclaimed islands under rule as possible before the conclusion of the Paris conference."
