Make creation of civics objects, bank accounts, registrars require paper

[PsychoRomeo]

I'd say go a step further and make some of the less mundane interactions with these objects (such as starting an election, creating a new title, or transferring currency from a government bank account) also require paper. What better use of paper than for bureaucratic logistics.

[johnkslg]

thats a good idea

[legionaw]

I support this proposal. However, I would like to point out that the increasing digital technology use in real world may lead to decreasing paper use over the long run (However, see Note 1 below). I would respectfully advise that, in connection with digitization in late-game, the paper cost be reduced to reflect that tech level.

Obviously, this would be very late game but the tech tree we have right now seem to also go beyond the Late Modern period (see Note 2 below) in real-world history since it contained Laser object used to destroy the Meteor. I would consider the Laser object a Future tech as I am not aware of any currently viable implementation of laser weapon against a meteor in real world at present. I suspect that the Laser object is just a preview of the tech in Eco that could go beyond what is currently present in our real world today if that is the SLG's intent. But, Mr. @johnkslg, feel free to correct me on that.

Anyway, following that line of thinking in first paragraph, it stands to reason that the real world beyond today in future would see a significant decline in use of papers. Perhaps the presence itself of electronic objects such as Computer Lab and even possibly portable digital devices, if implemented, to equip a player with, either via clothing part of the Backpack window or the toolbar, may provide the cumulative cost modifiers, to be capped, based on their number of instances or something.

P.S. Somewhat off-topic but the presence of digital tech in-world does make me wonder whether this might also imply the possibility of an in-game internet and such to reflect this shift in terms of how we exchange the information in real world as result of the diffusion of technologies such as Internet, mobile devices, and so on. But it is not clear how feasible or viable that things like the in-game Internet would be. To be sure, in-game websites may significantly add to the disk storage space requirements. But that is something to discuss elsewhere for another day.

---

Notes (click to expand)

**Note 1:** The cause(s) for real-world declines in paper consumption over last two decades, particularly in developed countries, is not quite straightforward since there are other factors in addition to digitization that may have impacted the paper consumption in real world during this timeframe. For example, a series of recessions we have seen recently ([the early 2000s recession](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_2000s_recession), the Great Recession in late 2000s, and the currently ongoing [COVID-19 recession](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_recession)) and the decline of paper-based editions of traditional publications including newspapers and magazines (however, this factor was an indirect effect of digitization), most of which have now offered digital editions (some traditionally paper-based publications even discontinued the paper editions in favor of offering digital editions only) may have played significant roles in the declining paper consumption during that period. Moreover, a significant majority of the population today in developed countries such as the United States and the European countries had grown up in a society when papers were practically the predominant means of exchanging, communicating, and storing the information, in addition to things that had already existed over last six decades such as telephone, television, and computer. And papers is still significantly utilized even today; for example, you may still have to fill out paper-based forms at your doctor's office or you might sign a paperwork. This may partly reflect the reluctance to significantly reduce the use of papers. So it may be too early, even with the diffusion of digital technologies such as Internet, to see any significant impact from these technologies on the paper consumption. Furthermore, the use of paper as the media for exchanging, communicating, and storing information is not the only use for the paper. For example, papers are still significantly used for the packaging, certain signage, money, cleaning, and so on. And, of course, the use of papers in artwork is unlikely to disappear at all even in far future. In fact, I suspect that the decline would be very gradual and I do not think we will see this impact being quite apparent until at least the middle of or the end of this century when the generations that had grown up extensively using the Internet, and are likely far more receptive to using papers significantly less in favor of digital medium, begin to dominate the demographics. Please note that the impact will vary across the world at different times, as it is likely that the developing world with a few key exceptions (namely, China and possibly India), will continue to see significant paper consumption much longer than in the developed world as far as the long-term future goes, in the second half of this century and beyond. Likewise, we may see the dominant use of paper persisting much longer in rural areas compared to urban areas, though there may be some exceptions to this. **Note 2:** In real-world history, the Late Modern period is conventionally dated between 1789, on the eve of French Revolution, and the present. Late Modern period is preceded by the Early Modern period which are commonly given as a timeframe between 1453 and 1789. For further information, please see this Wikipedia [entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_modern_period).